ITV1 HD coming to Freesat

ITV have announced the planned launch of ITV1 HD, which is said to be in place by the end of the year when Freeview switch-over begins. The channel has also been confirmed as being available from the off on the Freesat platform, whilst no agreement is yet in place with Sky or Virgin Media.

ITV1 HD will run in a similar fashion to Channel 4 HD, with simulcast programmes and up to an expected 50% of peak-time programming in native HD by 2010, and 70% by 2014.
ITV1 HD is expected to replace the current red button ITV HD service, no lauch date has been announced at present. There are rumours, that the public service broadcasters may share a dedicated transponder for HD satellite broadcasts using DVB-S2.