Ten HD

]

Although originally expected to be the first free-to-air commercial television channel introduced to metropolitan areas since 1988,cite news
title = New channel, new era: Introducing TEN HD
publisher = Ten Network Holdings Limited
date = 2007-09-14
url = http://www.tencorporate.com.au/library/documents/Introducing%20TEN-HD%2014%20Sept%2007.pdf
accessdate = 2007-09-14] the surprise launch of Seven Media Group's HD offering, Seven HD, on October 15, 2007, two months before transmissions were scheduled to begin,cite news
title = Seven's new multi-channellling is on-air
publisher = Seven Media Group
date = 2007-10-16
url = http://www.sevencorporate.com.au/_uploads/Files/7-hd-16-october.pdf
accessdate = 2007-12-01] meant that Ten HD was launched as the second high-definition multichannel in Australia. PBL Media announced the creation of a similar multichannel, Nine HD, on September 27,cite news
title = Gyngell to lead network revival
publisher = Herald Sun
date = 2007-09-27
url = http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,22488771-662,00.html
accessdate = 2007-09-27] which was launched on March 17, 2008.

Ten's parent company, and shareholder in metropolitan ratings system OzTAM, Ten Network Holdings Limited, began discussions with the ratings system operator to have digital multichannels, such as Ten HD and ABC2, included in television ratings for the first time on September 17, 2007.cite news
title = Ten seeks separate ratings for digital TV
publisher = The Australian
date = 2007-09-17
url = http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,22428502-7582,00.html
accessdate = 2007-09-17] As well as this, on the same day, it was announced that the national weekend editions of "Ten News" would be timeshifted from Network Ten onto Ten HD, an hour delayed at 6pm, in order to directly compete with "Seven News" and "National Nine News". This would have seen Ten News formally broadcast at 6pm for the first time since 1992,cite news
title = Ten has news for big rivals
publisher = The Australian
date = 2007-09-17
url = http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,22429516-7582,00.html
accessdate = 2007-09-17] however, the timeslot was later amended to 5:30pm.

In preparation for the launch of Ten HD, Ten's digital terrestrial channel lineup was updated on November 19, 2007, with changes consisting of LCN1 redirecting Network Ten's current high-definition simulcast.cite news
title = FAQ for TEN's Digital Services
publisher = Ten Network Holdings Limited
date = 2007-10-24
url = http://ten.com.au/ten/tv_ten-hd-faq.html
accessdate = 2007-10-25] Following this, on November 21, 2007, Ten Network Holdings Limited announced that it would launch the channel on December 16, 2007 at 5:00pm, with the first program, "Totally Wild". [cite news
title = Ten reveals 2008 lineup
publisher = The Age
date = 2007-11-21
url = http://www.theage.com.au/news/Business/Ten-reveals-2008-lineup/2007/11/21/1195321860592.html
accessdate = 2007-11-21]

Opening night

Ten HD officially commenced transmission on December 16, 2007 from the network's five metropolitan owned-and-operated stations in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, and Perth. Prior to the official launch, at 5:00pm the first program, "Totally Wild", was broadcast. Following this, for the first time since 1992, "Ten News" and "Sports Tonight" were broadcast in direct competition with "Seven News" and "National Nine News", timeshifted by thirty minutes to 5:30pm and 6:00pm respectively.

The first official program on launch night began at 8.30pm, the 2001 movie "Black Hawk Down". This was followed by Bon Jovi's "Lost Highway Tour" at 11:30pm and "" at 12:25am. "Video Hits Up-Late" marked the end of the first night of transmission for Ten HD at 12:50am.

In the lead-up to the opening night, the channel promised up to eleven hours of time-shifted programming from Network Ten in addition to fifty hours of exclusive programming, which included live sport, entertainment, films, documentaries, science fiction and news. This consisted of six movies per week, in addition to National Geographic documentaries in the afternoon, from 3pm to 5pm, music-oriented programming following the "Sunday Night Movie", along with a primetime breakaway schedule on Thursdays and from 10:30pm to 11:30pm Monday to Wednesday.cite news
title = TEN-HD Arrives
publisher = Ten Network Holdings Limited
date = 2007-11-30
url = http://www.tencorporate.com.au/library/documents/TEN%20HD%20program%20schedule%2030%20Nov%2007.pdf
accessdate = 2007-12-16]

Programming

Ten HD broadcasts programming consisting of news, live sporting events, entertainment, films, documentaries and science fiction. In addition to this, themed programming lineups are broadcast on specified days, including "Sci-Fi Thursday".cite news
title = TV's big switch
publisher = Herald Sun
date = 2007-10-10
url = http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,22561938-11869,00.html
accessdate = 2007-10-11] The channel provides fifty hours of exclusive content per week including up to eleven hours of time-shifted programming from Network Ten, as well as additional programming from popular Network Ten franchises such as "Australian Idol", "The Biggest Loser", "Big Brother" and "So You Think You Can Dance".

Overseas programming on Ten HD includes; "Psych", "Battlestar Galactica", "Cane", "Conviction", "Eureka", "Friday Night Lights", "Journeyman", "One Tree Hill", "Over There", "Smallville", "The 4400", "The Bold and the Beautiful", "The Shield" and "Veronica Mars". In addition to this, high-definition documentaries from the National Geographic Channel and Granada Television screen on weekdays from 3pm to 5pm.

News & Current Affairs

To compete directly with "Seven News" and "National Nine News", Ten HD broadcasts local editions of Ten News, timeshifted by half an hour, on weekdays at 5:30pm, allowing the second half of the bulletin to compete with the offerings from the other commercial networks.cite news
title = New channels for 7, 10
publisher = Melbourne Observer
date = 2007-09-19
url = http://www.melbourneobserver.com.au/ob_19sep07_p15z.pdf
accessdate = 2007-10-11] On weekends, the national bulletin is delayed half an hour to 5:30pm, with Sports Tonight following at 6:00pm.

Ten HD simulcasts the Early News and Morning News, 6am and 11am respectively. It doesn't simulcast Late News but instead shows exclusive programming from 10.30pm with a drama series and then the late TEN HD movie which is often followed by repeats of Video Hits specials.

port

Ten Sport broadcasts live or near live exclusive and simulcast sporting events on Ten HD. These include "Nascar Sprint Cup Series", "Nascar Nationwide Series", "Formula One", "MotoGP", the "NFL", the "Indian Premier League",cite news
title = Australia to get live coverage of IPL
publisher = cricinfo.com
date = 2008-02-11
url = http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ipl/content/current/story/335886.html] the "World Golf Championships", the "WGC-Bridgestone Invitational", the "Mission Hills World Cup" and the "New Zealand PGA Championship".cite news
title = Ten Announces Winning 2008 Lineup
publisher = Ten Network Holdings Limited
date = 2007-11-21
url = http://www.tencorporate.com.au/library/documents/TEN%20announces%20winning%202008%20lineup%2021%20Nov%2007.pdf
accessdate = 2007-11-27]

In addition to this, the "Australian Football League" is simulcast on the channel, with all of Ten's games filmed in High Definition. [ cite web
url = http://australianit.news.com.au/articles/0,7204,20883722%5E15321%5E%5Enbv%5E,00.html
title = Ten gives HD sporting chance
accessdate = 2007-11-28
date = 2006-12-07
publisher = The Australian]

Formula One Grand Prix races are usually televised on Ten HD Live.

Availability

Ten HD is available exclusively in 1080i high definition from the network's five metropolitan owned-and-operated stations, TEN Sydney, ATV Melbourne, TVQ Brisbane, ADS Adelaide, and NEW Perth.

Southern Cross Ten is due to commence retransmission of Ten HD in the middle of 2008. [cite news
title = Ten HD - Frequently Asked Questions
publisher = Ten Network Holdings Limited
url = http://ten.com.au/ten/hd-faq.html#regional-areas
accessdate = 2008-03-12]

It is not known whether Network Ten's other regional affiliates, Mildura Digital Television, Tasmanian Digital Television and DTD Darwin Digital Television, will carry the multichannel.
Foxtel will add the channel to its line up for cable customers in June 2008, when the subscription television provider launches its Foxtel HD+ service.

References

External links

* [http://www.ten.com.au/hd Official Site]
* [http://www.tencorporate.com.au Corporate Site]