Five HD headed to Sky+ HD boxes

Channel Five and Sky have today announced that Five will be launching a HD service for Sky+HD subscribers this July.

It means Five's many top-rated US dramas such as CSI and FlashFoward will get a HD makeover, as well as Aussie soaps Neighbours and Home & Away, Europa League Football, international cricket and movies.

Five becomes the 42nd channel to hit Sky's HD line-up, following news that ITV 1HD, Sky News HD, Sky Sports HD 4 and the Hallmark Channel HD are all set to launch in the coming months. Sky plan to have 50 HD channels by this Christmas.

Charles Constable, Five's Director of Strategy, said: "This is an exciting opportunity for Five. Our programme schedule is more suited to HD than that any other major free-to-air commercial broadcaster given the wide range of high quality series we broadcast, such as our top-rated line-up of US dramas.  We're delighted to begin our HD journey with Sky."