ITV HD launches for Euro 2008

ITV plc can today confirm that its high definition television service will launch on Saturday June 7th.

ITV HD will launch with live coverage of the Euro 2008 Championships in Austria and Switzerland and will initially be available to viewers watching on Freesat.

The service will be accessible as a simulcast via the red button, with on-screen prompts directing viewers with Freesat HD boxes that high definition programming is available.

In addition to live coverage of the European Championships, ITV’s HD coverage over the summer will also include a range of top movies.

ITV HD coverage through 2008 will encompass an unrivalled range of free-to-air premium football including the new season of UEFA Champions League, The FA Cup, and England internationals – followed later by selected ITV dramas and acquired programming.

Jonathan Rogers, Director of Operations, ITV Channels, said: “We’re delighted to be able to launch the ITV HD service in time for the European Championships. Alongside an unrivalled line up of free-to-air premium football, as we move through 2008 ITV HD will offer a range of top movies and drama premieres shown in high definition.”

“Our HD service will be easily accessible by pressing the red button during existing ITV programming – eliminating the need to switch out to a different channel.”

Coverage of Euro 2008 begins on June 7th with live coverage of Portugal v Turkey from 7.15pm on ITV1. ITV is the joint UK broadcaster of UEFA Euro 2008 alongside the BBC.