Five has announced that it will launch its first high-definition channel later this summer following an agreement with BSkyB.
The surprise announcement comes just days after Five revealed that it wouldn't launch a HD channel on Freeview before 2012, claiming that it "was always going to be financially challenging to provide the fourth HD service on DTT at a time when all advertising-funded businesses are under considerable pressure."
Having opted not to commit to Freeview HD, the broadcaster has now confirmed that Five HD will be made available to over two million Sky+HD customers this July. Five's high-definition service will become the satellite broadcaster's 42nd HD channel, with Sky revealing that it aims to offer 50 HD channels by Christmas 2010.
The announcement makes Sky the only TV supplier to offer access to HD channels from all four major UK terrestrial broadcasters, with Five HD, BBC HD, Channel 4 HD and the upcoming ITV1 HD to be available for free to any Sky customer with a Sky+HD receiver.
Commenting on the announcement, Five adds that its programming - including the likes of CSI, FlashForward, Neighbours and live Europa League football - is "more suited to HD than that any other major free-to-air commercial broadcaster".
Five's announcement comes shortly after media regulator Ofcom revoked broadcast capacity which had been reserved for Five HD on Freeview. Ofcom had stated that Five failed to provide a launch date or programming schedule for its planned service, and the spare capacity has since been awarded to the BBC, who could now introduce a second HD service via Freeview.
Press release: Five to Make HD Debut on Sky this Summer
