I would like to see Freeview extended to HD, but knowing this government, I guess they will sell to the highest bidder.

But, thinking back, other than DAB what happened to the spectrum released when vhf tv closed? Bear in mind that the lower channels (Band I) 1-5 went from about 45Mhz to somewhere under Band II VHF/FM and the higher channels (Band III) 6-13 were higher than the aeronautical and marine VHF bands. Ok DAB took some, and I guess mobile radio, but what about the rest? Was it "sold" or what.

I'm guessing/assuming that it will be the higher end of the UHF band that will become vacant?

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There's a lot of people (including myself) whose only chance of seeing HDTV in the next decade is via satellite.

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That's the same as saying that BT have a monopoly on service provision on small exchanges. They may well be the only provider, but that's only because nobody else is interested in the business in these areas. Cable will carry HD before long and compete with Sky in the areas that cable serves. It's in this sense that I meant that Sky won't have a monopoly.

Cable already carries HD.

He was refering to the fact that he cannot get cable.

In reply to:

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I'm guessing/assuming that it will be the higher end of the UHF band that will become vacant?

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No, little lumps of it will become vacant in certain areas when analogue is shut down. That is the only hope that HD Freeview has, that frequencies vacated by analogue stations closing down won't be available on a national basis.

BTW, only a tiny chunk of Band II was used for DAB, the rest was sold off.