List of HD channels in the United Kingdom

This is a list of current high definition channels that are available in the United Kingdom, together with those coming in the future, and those that have ceased broadcasting.

All HD channels in the UK broadcast at 1080i, apart from Sky Sports Main Event UHD channel and the BT Sport Ultimate 4K.

[1] HD channels can dynamically switch between 1080i/25 and 1080p/25 when broadcast via Freeview HD.[2]

HD channels

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Channel name Content Type Owner/parent company Launch date
4seven HD HD/upscaled SD mix Simulcast Channel Four Television Corporation 1 July 2014
Al Jazeera English HD Al Jazeera Media Network 26 November 2013
Alibi HD UKTV (BBC Studios) 3 July 2012
AMC from BT HD AMC Networks International Zone 28 August 2015
Animal Planet HD Warner Bros. Discovery EMEA (Warner Bros. Discovery) 27 February 2012
Arirang TV HD 100% HD Independent Korea International Broadcasting Foundation 26 September 2016
BBC Alba HD HD/upscaled SD mix Simulcast BBC October 2021
BBC One HD Simulcast[n 1] 3 November 2010
BBC One Northern Ireland HD[n 2] Simulcast 24 October 2012
BBC One Scotland HD[n 3] 14 January 2013
BBC One Wales HD[n 4] 29 January 2013
BBC Two HD 26 March 2013
BBC Two Northern Ireland HD[n 2] 29 November 2018
BBC Two Wales HD[n 4]
BBC Three HD 10 December 2013
BBC Four HD
BBC News HD
BBC Parliament HD April 2022
BBC Scotland HD 24 February 2019
Bloomberg HD Bloomberg L.P. 1 March 2017
Boomerang HD Warner Bros. Discovery EMEA (Warner Bros. Discovery) 24 June 2015
Cartoon Network HD 14 September 2011
Cartoonito HD 28 September 2024[3]
CBBC HD BBC 10 December 2013
CBeebies HD
Channel 4 HD Channel Four Television Corporation 10 December 2007
Channel 5 HD Paramount Networks UK & Australia 13 July 2010
CNBC Europe HD Universal Networks International (NBCUniversal) 1 March 2019
CNN International HD Turner Broadcasting System Europe (Warner Bros. Discovery) 28 June 2016
Colors HD Viacom 18 14 February 2017
Comedy Central HD Paramount UK Partnership (Paramount British Pictures/Sky) 9 August 2010
Create & Craft HD Ideal Shopping Direct plc 23 September 2019
Crime + Investigation HD A+E Networks UK (A+E Networks/Sky) 5 November 2008
U&Dave HD UKTV (BBC Studios) 10 October 2011
Daystar HD 100% HD Independent Daystar TV Network 23 November 2015
Discovery HD HD/upscaled SD mix Simulcast Discovery EMEA (Warner Bros. Discovery) 22 May 2006
E! HD NBCUniversal 8 October 2012
E4 HD Channel Four Television Corporation 14 December 2009
U&Eden HD UKTV (BBC Studios) 4 October 2010
eir Sport 1 HD[n 2] eir 15 August 2010
Eurosport 1 HD Warner Bros. Discovery EMEA (Warner Bros. Discovery) 25 July 2012
Eurosport 2 HD 3 September 2012
Film4 HD Channel Four Television Corporation 20 July 2010
France 24 English HD Independent France Médias Monde 28 June 2018
FreeSports HD Simulcast Premier Media S.à.r.l. 25 September 2018
GB News HD All Perspectives Ltd 13 June 2021
Gold HD UKTV (BBC Studios) 2 October 2017
Ideal World HD Ideal Shopping Direct plc 23 September 2019
Iran International HD Independent Global Media Circulating Ltd 3 April 2018
ITV1 HD[n 5] Simulcast ITV plc 7 June 2008
ITV2 HD ITV Digital Channels Ltd (ITV plc) 7 October 2010
ITV3 HD 15 November 2010
ITV4 HD
ITVBe HD 19 November 2014
La Liga TV HD Independent Premier Media S.à.r.l. 13 January 2020
LFCTV HD Liverpool F.C. 28 October 2014
Loveworld TV HD Loveworld Ltd 13 August 2019
More4 HD Simulcast Channel Four Television Corporation 4 February 2013
MTV HD Paramount Networks UK & Australia 13 February 2013
MTV Live HD 100% HD Independent 16 December 2008
MUTV HD HD/upscaled SD mix Simulcast Manchester United F.C. 14 July 2014
National Geographic Channel HD NGC-UK Partnership (National Geographic Society/Disney Channels Worldwide) 22 May 2006
National Geographic Wild HD 1 April 2009
NHK World HD 100% HD Independent NHK 9 September 2011
Nick Jr. HD HD/upscaled SD mix Simulcast Nickelodeon UK Ltd. (Paramount Networks UK & Australia) 5 July 2016
Nickelodeon HD 5 October 2010
Viaplay Sports 1 HD Independent 20 July 2015
Viaplay Sports 2 HD 8 March 2019
Quest HD Simulcast Warner Bros. Discovery EMEA (Warner Bros. Discovery) 3 August 2018
QVC HD Qurate Retail Group 21 April 2015
QVC Beauty HD Qurate Retail Group
Racing TV HD Racing UK Ltd 7 March 2016
RTÉ2 HD[n 2] Raidió Teilifís Éireann 16 May 2012
S4C HD S4C Authority 6 June 2016
Sky Atlantic HD Sky 1 February 2011
Sky Arts HD 22 May 2006
Sky Cinema Action HD 100% HD[n 6] 8 October 2008
Sky Cinema Animation HD 23 July 2020
Sky Cinema Comedy HD 15 October 2008
Sky Cinema Drama HD 8 October 2008
Sky Cinema Family HD 15 October 2008
Sky Cinema Greats HD 8 October 2008
Sky Cinema Hits HD 22 May 2006
Sky Cinema Premiere HD 20 March 2008
Sky Cinema Sci Fi & Horror HD 15 October 2008
Sky Cinema Select HD 28 March 2013
Sky Cinema Thriller HD 22 May 2006
Sky Comedy HD HD/upscaled SD mix 27 January 2020
Sky Crime HD 1 October 2019
Sky Documentaries HD 27 May 2020
Sky History HD A+E Networks UK (A+E Networks/Sky) 26 October 2006
Sky History2 HD 1 December 2015
Sky Intro Channel HD 100% HD Sky 9 May 2016
Sky Max HD HD/upscaled SD mix 1 September 2021
Sky Nature HD 27 May 2020
Sky News HD 100% HD 6 May 2010
Sky Showcase HD HD/upscaled SD mix 1 September 2021
Sky Sports Action HD[n 7] 17 March 2008
Sky Sports Arena HD 18 July 2017
Sky Sports Box Office HD 100% HD 2 April 2015
Sky Sports Box Office 2 HD Independent 28 October 2020
Sky Sports Cricket HD HD/upscaled SD mix Simulcast 31 July 2006
Sky Sports Extra HD 18 July 2017
Sky Sports F1 HD 9 March 2012
Sky Sports Football HD 18 July 2017
Sky Sports Golf HD 29 April 2010
Sky Sports Main Event HD 22 May 2006
Sky Sports Mix HD 24 August 2016
Sky Sports News HD 100% HD 23 August 2010
Sky Sports NFL HD[n 7] HD/upscaled SD mix 3 September 2020
Sky Sports Premier League HD 12 August 2014
Sky Sports Racing HD Sky/Arena Racing Company 13 December 2018
Sky Witness HD Sky 6 October 2009
Smithsonian Channel HD SNI/SI Networks LLC 12 February 2019
Sony Entertainment Television HD Sony Pictures Television 1 August 2017
Sony Max HD 1 August 2017
SportyStuff TV HD Independent Greyhound TV Ltd 1 February 2021
STV HD[n 3] Simulcast STV Group plc 6 June 2010
Syfy HD Universal Networks International (NBCUniversal) 26 January 2009
TCM Movies HD Turner Broadcasting System Europe (Warner Bros. Discovery) 4 September 2012
TG4 HD[n 2] Teilifís na Gaeilge 3 August 2016
TJC HD The Jewellery Channel Ltd 28 November 2019
TLC HD Warner Bros. Discovery EMEA (Warner Bros. Discovery) 30 April 2013
TNT Sports 1 HD Warner Bros. Discovery Sports Europe 1 August 2013
TNT Sports 2 HD
TNT Sports 3 HD 1 August 2015
TNT Sports Box Office HD 100% HD Independent 17 April 2018
TNT Sports Box Office 2 HD 4 November 2019
TNT Sports 4 HD HD/upscaled SD mix Simulcast 3 August 2009
TNT Sports Extra 1 HD 29 July 2015
TNT Sports Extra 2 HD
TNT Sports Extra 3 HD
TNT Sports Extra 4 HD
TNT Sports Extra 5 HD
TNT Sports Extra 6 HD
TNT Sports Ultimate 100% UHD Separate schedule 1 August 2015
TRT World HD HD/upscaled SD mix Simulcast Turkish Radio and Television Corporation 2 May 2017
Utsav Gold HD Star India (The Walt Disney Company India) 6 December 2017
Utsav Plus HD 5 July 2012
UTV HD[n 2] ITV plc 5 October 2010
Virgin TV Ultra HD 100% UHD Independent Virgin Media (Liberty Global) 17 September 2018
U&W HD HD/upscaled SD mix Simulcast UKTV (BBC Studios) 12 October 2011
WION (World Is One News) HD Independent Zee Media Corporation Ltd 15 March 2021
Zee Cinema HD Simulcast Zee Entertainment Enterprises 3 September 2018

Notes

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  1. ^ Except regional programmes until 22 March 2023
  2. ^ a b c d e f Northern Ireland only
  3. ^ a b Scotland only
  4. ^ a b Wales only
  5. ^ England, Wales and Scottish Borders only
  6. ^ Sky Cinema channels are mainly HD, however there is the occasional upscaled SD broadcast where a HD source is not available
  7. ^ a b Due to a five year partnership deal, Sky Sports Action uses this slot from February to September while Sky Sports NFL uses the slot for the remaining five months.

References

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  1. ^ "BT Ultra HD (4K TV)". BT. Sport Ultra HD was the UK's first Ultra HD channel and it's exclusive to BT TV.
  2. ^ Jane McEntegart (23 May 2011). "BBC HD Begins Broadcasting in 1080p". Tom's Hardware – via Engadget. Feature of the Freeview HD spec that allows the broadcaster to dynamically select between 1080p / 25fps and 1080i / 25fps transmission.
  3. ^ "Virgin Media upgrades two children's channels to HD: Virgin Media's cable TV customers can now access children's channels Boomerang and Cartoonito in HD". RXTV. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
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