Why bother with separate HD channels?

[flobadob]

On Sky TV there are two separate BBC1 channels, the normal one and a HD one. But why bother broadcasting both, why not just broadcast the HD one only as it will still work on ordinary tvs and if you have a HD tv then it will work in HD?

[hopalong]

Not everyone has a HD TV though.

[ojread2]

I prefer to watch the 'normal' channel. The HD one messes up so often you can miss chunks of important dialogue

[boxtops]

It's not just on Sky, you get the two on terrestrial as well.

[cazzz1975]

I think if you dont have a hd box (sky,virgin,BT or freeview) you cannot get the HD signal so it wouldnt work on a normal TV.

[sunny-dave]

Exactly cazz - the HD channels broadcast using an entirely different encoding algorithm - normal Sky/freeview boxes can't decode them.

[Frank97]

Round here you can't get the local news on the HD channel so you have to switch back to the SD version to view it.

[Buenchico]

DX97x7 has given the answer:
http://www.pocket-lin...ps-hd-and-sd-channels

[flobadob]

Cool.

[erin-x]

People also often pay more for a HD package. If everyone got it, Virgin, Sky etc would be losing out on their money making scheme....

[VHG]

Virgin dont charge extra for HD channels, and Freeview HD and Freesat HD are both free anyway.

[erin-x]

You don't get HD channels in the basic Virgin package though. If you want them you have to pay for a better package.

[ojread2]

Virgin Media give 6 HD channels in their basic package
BBC HD
BBC One HD
Channel 4 HD
Channel 5 HD
Film4 HD
ITV1 HD (England & Wales only)