Five HD launches on Sky & Virgin Media

Virgin Media and Sky viewers will now be able to watch cricket, Neighbours and The Mentalist in high definition following the launch of Five HD. Five HD is available at position 171 on Sky’s EPG and 150 on Virgin Media.
Five HD has not current plans to join Freesat or Freeview HD. The channel, which will is a simulcast of Five’s main channel, it will be free to Virgin Media’s subscribers and will also roll out on Sky from today.

Shows made in HD include the channel’s new live entertainment series Don’t Stop Believing, which begins on Sunday July 18.
Austalian soaps Neighbours and Home & Away will also be broadcast in HD as will US dramas The Mentalist, Grey’s Anatomy, Law & Order: Criminal Intent and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.
Virgin Media has launched Fiver +1 at channel 151 on its EPG and Five USA +1 at position 154, offering an hour timeshift of both channels.
Richard Woolfe, Five’s channel controller, said the addition of HD was vital to the portfolio.
“So many of Five’s biggest programmes are shot in HD that it’s high time that audiences are able to enjoy their favourite programmes in the stunning picture quality that high definition offers,” said Woolfe.