Sky+ HD has grabbed Five HD, just days after Ofcom announced that Five would not have a spot on Freeview HD until 2012. Sky+ HD announced that it has also snaffled up ITV 1 HD and the Hallmark Channel in HD earlier this week. Is Sky getting the jump on Freeview HD?

Sky+ HD will begin showing Five HD in July with HD versions of American hit shows including CSI and Flashforward. Sky+ HD is also promising that Five HD will bring us Neighbours in HD as well as international cricket and Europa League football.

With 42 channels committed to joining the Sky+ HD lineup, it’s boasting that it will provide the widest selection of HD content in the UK. While Virgin Media has secured Film 4 HD and the Sci Fi Channel in HD, Sky+ HD will match it and Freeview HD with HD channels from the BBC, ITV and Channel 4.

Ofcom’s announcement that Five had not secured an HD channel on the Freeview HD service included the promise of an additional HD channel from the BBC but no firm details of what that might be have emerged.

Will Freeview HD keep hold of the extra BBC channel or will it also make its way to Sky+ HD too. The battle for the hearts of HD lovers is definitely on.

Due July | £varies | Sky+ HD

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  • Neil Deadman

    Not having Five on SD wouldn’t bother me, so not having it on HD won’t!

    I suspect that most will get Virgin or Sky’s service if they want HD anyway!

    • http://www.electricpig.co.uk Ben Sillis

      You’re right about Five – turns out it got knocked off my Freeview box in the retune last year and I didn’t even notice until last week. But I’d welcome more channels on Freeview HD though. Right now, if you want HD it’s a case of going to Virgin or Sky first, sure, but I look forward to the day when it’s a standard, and that means being available through a free to air service (which doesn’t need a dish either).

    • blackcoffeenosugar

      I was thinking about the same thing. It would be interesting to find out how much Sky has agreed to pay Five to be the exclusive carrier of its HD channel though. Five has been lagging behind other channels ever since it was founded. A few extra million pounds of income wouldn’t hurt.

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