More than 50 MPs have signed an Early Day Motion in Parliament calling on the government to secure a future for hi-def on Freeview.

Tabled by John Grogan, MP for Selby, the motion calls on the Secretary of State “to ensure that digital switchover is not undermined by the prospect of millions of TV viewers, who either cannot afford or do not want to receive television by satellite, being consigned to a second class service by calling on Ofcom to provide a fair allocation of spectrum for HD on Freeview.”

The motion, which has been signed by a cross party group of 55 MPs so far, was tabled in the House of Commons last week following a briefing session to allow MPs to experience HD television for themselves.

Mr Grogan said: “In the sixties the dividing line in broadcasting was between black and white and colour.  In the 21st century the dividing line is between standard and high definition television (HDTV).  At the moment, Government must not allow HDTV to be a luxury for those who can afford to pay over £75 to Sky.

"The sale of spectrum to the highest bidder may provide funds for the Treasury, but HDTV is the future, not just of television transmission, but production too.  A failure to act now to provide HD on Freeview will not only price the experience of HDTV out of the budget for the ordinary household, it will also have an impact on the production industry which adds so much to our economy and prestige.  Because HD is fast becoming the international standard for television, if programmes aren’t made in HD, they just don’t sell across the globe as they used to.

"I would not like to be the Minister or former Minister in 2012 when the Olympics is available in HD only to those who pay a subscription upwards of £75 with Sky, rather than to the vast majority of people in this country who have and will switch to digital television through Freeview.  Television is one of the few things that unites this country in the best and worst of times.  The solution is simple, make HD on Freeview a reality.  I urge every reader to write to their MP and ask them to sign Early Day Motion 944, so that we can make Ministers sit up and listen.”