What is a TV broadcast?

What does it take for a TV channel broadcast to go HD?

• Over the last few years, a hell lot of channels have gone from SD broadcast to Full HD broadcast. Yet, a lot of channels still haven't. What technical changes does the broadcaster need to make to make the switch?

• Answer:

  1) Content in HD. Lots of channels are still showing repeat shows which weren't shot in HD or they need to pay extra for HD versions of their shows. You can just up-convert all the SD but it doesn't add much value for the expense of transmitting an HD service if most, or all, of your content is SD. 2) New TX equipment to handle playout and encoding. 3) extra bandwidth. You will have to maintain the SD channel as long as you want to maximise your customer base and not abandon those customers who haven't upgraded to HD yet (and many haven't). So you are going to have to get bandwidth for another channel and that bandwidth is probably twice as expensive (unless you compromise quality). 4) carriage. How much will it cost to launch this 'new' channel? What licences do you need? What will the network operator do to support you? or will they charge you more?