ITV has just announced that its HD service will go live on Saturday, just in time for the Euro 2008 football.
The service, which the company says "will initially be available to viewers watching on Freesat", 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 movies, with ITV saying its "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."
Coverage of Euro 2008 begins on Saturday with live coverage of Portugal v Turkey from 7.15pm on ITV1.