Freeview and Freesat customers will finally be able access Channel 5 in HD on their TVs and set-top boxes this week.
Despite Channel 5 HD launching way back in 2010, it won’t be until tomorrow, Wednesday May 4, that customers with Freeview (or equivalent DTT hardware) and Freesat viewers will be able to pick up the high definition simulcast channel by heading the HD section or channel 105 in their programme guides.
Until recently, Channel 5 HD had only been available to Sky and Virgin Media pay TV customers; now it’s going fully free to air on digital terrestrial and satellite TV.
This means that BT TV, TalkTalk TV and EE TV subscribers will be able to pick up the new HD channel, as will anyone who has bought a YouView box off the shelf.
Paul Dunthorne, chief operating officer for Channel 5 said: “Channel 5 is on an exciting journey as we evolve our content and broaden the appeal of our channel to audiences through increased investment in new genres of programming.
“We’re delighted that Freeview HD viewers will have the opportunity to enjoy the raft of quality programming in high definition.”
Shows that are heading to Channel 5 in the coming months include the fifth season of Suspects, factual shows GPs: Behind Closed Doors and The Yorkshire Vet and history programmes Ben Fogle: The Great African Migration and Henry VIII and his Six Wives, presumably not with music by Rick Wakeman.
Channel 5 is currently broadcasting the second season of DC Comics series Gotham, which is roughly two-thirds of the way through its 22-episode Rise of the Villains arc. While you can catch up with previously broadcast episodes on My5 now, you can’t currently stream any content in HD.
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