Computeractive: People across the UK will get free access to high-definition (HD) television programmes but to view these they will have to replace their set-top boxes.
Currently only people who subscribe to Sky or Virgin can watch HD programmes but Ofcom has announced a planned upgrade of digital terrestrial television (DTT) technology.
This will provide extra capacity for four HD channels and other new services can be broadcast free to air. One will be reserved for the BBC.
Broadcasters ITV, Channel 4, Five and Welsh language broadcaster S4C will have to bid for the other three based on what they can offer viewers and how well they can manage the spectrum.
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