List of HD channels in the United Kingdom explained

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

Channel nameContentTypeOwner/parent companyLaunch date
4seven HDHD/upscaled SD mixSimulcastChannel Four Television Corporation1 July 2014
Al Jazeera English HDAl Jazeera Media Network26 November 2013
Alibi HDUKTV (BBC Studios)3 July 2012
AMC from BT HDAMC Networks International Zone28 August 2015
Animal Planet HDDiscovery EMEA (Warner Bros. Discovery)27 February 2012
Arirang TV HD100% HDIndependentKorea International Broadcasting Foundation26 September 2016
BBC One HDHD/upscaled SD mixSimulcast[3] BBC3 November 2010
BBC One Northern Ireland HD[4] Simulcast24 October 2012
BBC One Scotland HD[5] 14 January 2013
BBC One Wales HD[6] 29 January 2013
BBC Two HD26 March 2013
BBC Two Northern Ireland HD[7] 29 November 2018
BBC Two Wales HD[8]
BBC Three HD1 February 2022
BBC Four HD10 December 2013
BBC News HD
BBC Parliament HDApril 2022
BBC Scotland HD24 February 2019
BBC Alba HDOctober 2021
Bloomberg HDBloomberg L.P.1 March 2017
Boomerang HDTurner Broadcasting System Europe (Warner Bros. Discovery)24 June 2015
Cartoon Network HD14 September 2011
CBBC HDBBC10 December 2013
CBeebies HD
Channel 4 HDChannel Four Television Corporation10 December 2007
Channel 5 HDParamount Networks UK & Australia13 July 2010
CNBC Europe HDUniversal Networks International (NBCUniversal)1 March 2019
CNN International HDTurner Broadcasting System Europe (Warner Bros. Discovery)28 June 2016
Colors HDViacom 1814 February 2017
Comedy Central HDParamount UK Partnership (Paramount British Pictures/Sky)9 August 2010
Create & Craft HDIdeal Shopping Direct plc23 September 2019
Crime + Investigation HDA+E Networks UK (A+E Networks/Sky)5 November 2008
Dave HDUKTV (BBC Studios)10 October 2011
Daystar HD100% HDIndependentDaystar TV Network23 November 2015
Discovery HDHD/upscaled SD mixSimulcastDiscovery EMEA (Warner Bros. Discovery)22 May 2006
E! HDNBCUniversal8 October 2012
E4 HDChannel Four Television Corporation14 December 2009
Eden HDUKTV (BBC Studios)4 October 2010
eir Sport 1 HDeir15 August 2010
Eurosport 1 HDDiscovery EMEA (Warner Bros. Discovery)25 July 2012
Eurosport 2 HD3 September 2012
Film4 HDChannel Four Television Corporation20 July 2010
France 24 English HDIndependentFrance Médias Monde28 June 2018
FreeSports HDSimulcastPremier Media S.à.r.l.25 September 2018
GB News HDAll Perspectives Ltd13 June 2021
Gold HDUKTV (BBC Studios)2 October 2017
Ideal World HDIdeal Shopping Direct plc23 September 2019
Iran International HDIndependentGlobal Media Circulating Ltd3 April 2018
ITV1 HD[9] SimulcastITV plc7 June 2008
ITV2 HDITV Digital Channels Ltd (ITV plc)7 October 2010
ITV3 HD15 November 2010
ITV4 HD
ITVBe HD19 November 2014
La Liga TV HDIndependentPremier Media S.à.r.l.13 January 2020
LFCTV HDLiverpool F.C.28 October 2014
Loveworld TV HDLoveworld Ltd13 August 2019
More4 HDSimulcastChannel Four Television Corporation4 February 2013
MTV HDParamount Networks UK & Australia13 February 2013
MTV Live HD100% HDIndependent16 December 2008
MUTV HDHD/upscaled SD mixSimulcastManchester United F.C.14 July 2014
National Geographic Channel HDNGC-UK Partnership (National Geographic Society/Disney Channels Worldwide)22 May 2006
National Geographic Wild HD1 April 2009
NHK World HD100% HDIndependentNHK9 September 2011
Nick Jr. HDHD/upscaled SD mixSimulcastNickelodeon UK (Paramount Networks UK & Australia/Sky)5 July 2016
Nickelodeon HD5 October 2010
Paramount Network HDParamount Networks UK & Australia21 July 2018
Viaplay Sports 1 HDIndependent20 July 2015
Viaplay Sports 2 HD8 March 2019
Quest HDSimulcastDiscovery EMEA (Warner Bros. Discovery)3 August 2018
QVC HDQurate Retail Group21 April 2015
QVC Beauty HDQurate Retail Group
Racing TV HDRacing UK Ltd7 March 2016
RT UK HD(ANO) TV-Novosti19 January 2013
RTÉ2 HDRaidió Teilifís Éireann16 May 2012
S4C HDS4C Authority6 June 2016
Sky Atlantic HDSky1 February 2011
Sky Arts HD22 May 2006
Sky Cinema Action HD100% HD[10] 8 October 2008
Sky Cinema Animation HD23 July 2020
Sky Cinema Comedy HD15 October 2008
Sky Cinema Drama HD8 October 2008
Sky Cinema Family HD15 October 2008
Sky Cinema Greats HD8 October 2008
Sky Cinema Hits HD22 May 2006
Sky Cinema Premiere HD20 March 2008
Sky Cinema Sci Fi & Horror HD15 October 2008
Sky Cinema Select HD28 March 2013
Sky Cinema Thriller HD22 May 2006
Sky Comedy HDHD/upscaled SD mix27 January 2020
Sky Crime HD1 October 2019
Sky Documentaries HD27 May 2020
Sky History HDA+E Networks UK (A+E Networks/Sky)26 October 2006
Sky History2 HD1 December 2015
Sky Intro Channel HD100% HDSky9 May 2016
Sky Max HDHD/upscaled SD mix1 September 2021
Sky Nature HD27 May 2020
Sky News HD100% HD6 May 2010
Sky Showcase HDHD/upscaled SD mix1 September 2021
Sky Sports Action HD[11] 17 March 2008
Sky Sports Arena HD18 July 2017
Sky Sports Box Office HD100% HD2 April 2015
Sky Sports Box Office 2 HDIndependent28 October 2020
Sky Sports Cricket HDHD/upscaled SD mixSimulcast31 July 2006
Sky Sports Extra HD18 July 2017
Sky Sports F1 HD9 March 2012
Sky Sports Football HD18 July 2017
Sky Sports Golf HD29 April 2010
Sky Sports Main Event HD22 May 2006
Sky Sports Mix HD24 August 2016
Sky Sports News HD100% HD23 August 2010
Sky Sports NFL HDHD/upscaled SD mix3 September 2020
Sky Sports Premier League HD12 August 2014
Sky Sports Racing HDSky/Arena Racing Company13 December 2018
Sky Witness HDSky6 October 2009
Smithsonian Channel HDSNI/SI Networks LLC12 February 2019
Sony Entertainment Television HDSony Pictures Television1 August 2017
Sony Max HD1 August 2017
SportyStuff TV HDIndependentGreyhound TV Ltd1 February 2021
STV HD[12] SimulcastSTV Group plc6 June 2010
Syfy HDUniversal Networks International (NBCUniversal)26 January 2009
TCM Movies HDTurner Broadcasting System Europe (Warner Bros. Discovery)4 September 2012
TG4 HDTeilifís na Gaeilge3 August 2016
TJC HDThe Jewellery Channel Ltd28 November 2019
TLC HDDiscovery EMEA (Warner Bros. Discovery)30 April 2013
TNT Sports 1 HDWarner Bros. Discovery Sports Europe1 August 2013
TNT Sports 2 HD
TNT Sports 3 HD1 August 2015
TNT Sports Box Office HD100% HDIndependent17 April 2018
TNT Sports Box Office 2 HD4 November 2019
TNT Sports 4 HDHD/upscaled SD mixSimulcast3 August 2009
TNT Sports Extra 1 HD29 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 Ultimate100% UHDSeparate schedule1 August 2015
TRT World HDHD/upscaled SD mixSimulcastTurkish Radio and Television Corporation2 May 2017
Utsav Gold HDStar India (The Walt Disney Company India)6 December 2017
Utsav Plus HD5 July 2012
UTV HDITV plc5 October 2010
Virgin TV Ultra HD100% UHDIndependentVirgin Media (Liberty Global)17 September 2018
W HDHD/upscaled SD mixSimulcastUKTV (BBC Studios)12 October 2011
WION (World Is One News) HDIndependentZee Media Corporation Ltd15 March 2021
Zee Cinema HDSimulcastZee Entertainment Enterprises3 September 2018

Notes

  1. Web site: 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. Web site: BBC HD Begins Broadcasting in 1080p. Jane McEntegart. 23 May 2011. Tom's Hardware. Engadget. Feature of the Freeview HD spec that allows the broadcaster to dynamically select between 1080p / 25fps and 1080i / 25fps transmission..
  3. Except regional programmes
  4. Northern Ireland only
  5. Scotland only
  6. Wales only
  7. Northern Ireland only
  8. Wales only
  9. England, Wales and Scottish Borders only
  10. Sky Cinema channels are mainly HD, however there is the occasional upscaled SD broadcast where a HD source is not available
  11. 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.
  12. Scotland only

External links