Sky HD to begin roll-out in May

[BGonaSTICK]

As had been rumoured, Sky is to start installing its new high-definition television set-top boxes in May, it has announced.

Customers will pay £300 plus subscription for a box to receive HDTV, which provides a sharper, clearer and more colourful image than standard TV.

The announcement comes a day after the BBC confirmed it would start its HDTV trial in time for the World Cup.

Sky will broadcast seven channels in HD but has not announced when they will start transmitting.

Sky's HDTV package will include new sports and movie channels plus high-definition versions of some existing channels.

Customers will pay £299 for the Sky HD box and a monthly subscription of £10 in addition to their Sky digital subscription, currently between £15 and £42.50 a month.

"Sky is just weeks away from an exciting new era that will transform the television viewing experience," said Brian Sullivan, Sky's director of product strategy and management.

The BBC will make its HD World Cup coverage available to all viewers with a Sky HD box on a non-subscription channel.

Cable company Telewest launched the UK's first high-definition television service earlier this month, though the service is currently limited to programmes made by BBC Worldwide.