BBC regional channels, including BBC West Midlands, will be launching in HD from October 21 this year.

According to the website Media Mole, the broadcaster had announced plans earlier in the year to launch HD versions of BBC One across all English regions by the end of 2022.

However, it is now set to come in from next month.

All 12 English regional versions of BBC One, as well as three sub-regional variants, currently broadcast in SD quality only on platforms including Freeview, Sky and Freesat.

BBC One Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are already served by dedicated HD simulcasts, but in England there is only a single HD feed of BBC One, which is forced to go on pause whenever regional programming is broadcast.

That will change as part of the broadcaster’s long-term plan to reconnect with audiences outside of London.

BBC West Midlands covers Birmingham and the Black Country, Coventry and Warwickshire, Hereford and Worcester, Shropshire and Stoke and Staffordshire.

Full list of regional channels that will go HD on October 21

  • Cambridgeshire
  • Channel Islands
  • East
  • East Midlands
  • London
  • North East & Cumbria
  • North West
  • Oxfordshire
  • South East
  • South West
  • West
  • West Midlands
  • Yorks & Lincs
  • Yorkshire