More ITV HD regions to launch on satellite

ITV is preparing to launch more HD versions of ITV HD by the end of the year.
The move will enable viewers on satellite to see a more localised version of ITV, and will make at least one sub-region from each of the main ITV regions in England and Wales vailable in HD.

In the South West, HD versions of both sub-regions serving the area – covering the former TSW/Westcountry and HTV West regions, reflecting the fact that both these regions were once standalone ITV stations before they were merged in the last round of Channel 3 licence changes.

The launch is expected to take place in late November, probably on November 24th, though this has not yet been confirmed. Last week ITV secured an Ofcom licence to broadcast the service in HD.

ITV Border is also expected to gain an HD, though it is not yet known whether it will be the Border England or Border Scotland that will launch in HD.
ITV has recently increased the number of HD channels it carries per transponder to make room for the extra regional versions, there are currently three carrying ITV London region in HD.

Following these additions, all ITV regions will be represented in HD on satellite, following the addition of HD versions of ITV Anglia, Tyne Tees and Yorkshire earlier this year.
Whether any sub-regions, that provide regional news opt-outs for viewers in places such as the East Midlands, East Yorkshire, Cambridgeshire and Oxfordshire, turn up in HD in the future remains to be seen. In the meantime, these viewers will continue to see news programmes covering the other half of their region in HD, and will need to switch to SD to see the most relevant news stories for their area.

There has been no information on additional HD regions coming to Freeview. Currently, only ITV Central (West), Granada, London, Merdian (SE) and Wales are carried on Freeview HD.
Freeview has been unable to support the addition of HD services for the Anglia, Yorkshire and Tyne Tees regions.