After last year’s launch of high-definition channels for Seven and Ten, tomorrow (Monday) is Nine‘s turn as it plans a quiet launch to 9HD.
Details from Nine of the new channel have been scant to say the least, but in The Australian last week, Nine did concede that the HD channels are not the main game but rather next year will see a far more intense battle as the commercial networks are permitted to launch additional standard-definition channels on their digital signals – in the same way that ABC and SBS have been operating additional digital channels such as ABC2 and the World News Channel.
Like Seven and Ten rivals, 9HD, in addition to simulcasting much of the normal Nine schedule in high-definition, plans to offer a limited amount of time-shifted programming and some separate program content such as documentaries, movies or mini-series not being shown on the standard channel.
The new channel 9HD will broadcast through Nine’s digital signal in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, as well as Nine’s stations in Adelaide and Perth that are owned by regional broadcaster WIN. No word yet if the 9HD channel will be fed to WIN’s regional stations, or to Nine’s Northern NSW outlet NBN.
