Unlike Seven and Ten, the Nine Network amazingly hasn't betrayed HDTV owners by using its NineHD high definition channel as a de facto second standard-def channel.

Thankfully Nine's HD channel doesn't mean less HD content on the air

Australia's Nine Network is certainly no friend on the consumer, but with NineHD it seems to be the only commercial television broadcaster that hasn't burned viewers when introducing its high definition channel. I know some people will criticise Nine for not using the HD channel to screen as many extra programs as Seven, but that's not what I think a HD channel is for.

That sound you hear is Satan skating to work, as regular readers know I'm not a fan of the Packer-backed Nine Network. Exhibit A; Nine's questionable practices such as suing the IceTV electronic program guide. Exhibit B: Nine's arrogance and stupidity in thinking a judge wouldn't ban Underbelly in Victoria. Still, I criticised Seven for treating viewers like idiots when launching its HD channel, so I need to praise Nine for surprisingly having enough sense not to do the same.

Seven's HD channel launch was a rushed job and a disaster, designed to beat the other networks to the punch rather than to meet the needs of viewers. Seven and Ten took the ludicrous approach of just treating its HD channel as a second SD channel, screening SD comedy reruns on the HD channel when the program on the SD channel was actually available in HD. There's no faster way to piss off viewers who've spent a lot of money on high-def gear than to pull high-def content off the air.

Director of strategy for Nine’s owner PBL Media, David Coleman told Jesse Hogan at The Age this week that NineHD programming could not differ substantially from the SD channel because an increasing amount of programs had already been filmed in high definition.

“What that means is that if we want to continue to show those programs in HD, which obviously we do, we have to use the HD channel at that time,” Coleman said.

Halle-fricken-lujah, a commercial network the finally seems to grasp the fact that people want to watch high-def shows like CSI in their full glory. It's a good idea, I wonder who they paid to think of it for them?

NineHD will predominantly show what is on the network's main channel, as well as about 12 hours a week of unique content between 11pm and 2am. This is compared to more than 30 hours of unique content each from Seven and Ten. Unlike Seven with Boston Legal, Nine has less of a tendency to screen high quality programs after 10.30pm so viewers aren't likely to care that late night viewing isn't simulcast. Of course in years gone by sci-fi lived in Nine's graveyard slot.

Coleman said Nine was much more excited about the additional SD channel the free-to-air stations will have permission to broadcast from January 1 next year. Seven and Ten betrayed HDTV owners by using their HD channels as a de facto second SD channel, so perhaps when SD multi-channelling is introduced they'll turn their HD channels into actual HD channels. Meanwhile, Nine appears to have the moral high ground. It's an Easter miracle.