The stupid thing is that Seven is pulling shows available in high definition - such as Lost, Boston Legal and The Practice - from the HD channel so it can show standard definition programs such as That 70s Show.

It's not unreasonable to assume that the networks would multi-channel when the program on the SD channel isn't available in HD, so as to get more HD content to air. Pulling one HD show to screen another, or worse still to screen SD, is the kind of stupid stunt that has turned so many Australians off free-to-air television and driven them to downloading instead.

Seven has just released its HD schedule for next week and nothing has changed. There are plans to completely relaunch the HD channel in November, so why has Seven preceded it with several weeks of half-arsed multi-channelling? It reeks of something that was thrown together at the last minute, with no regard for viewers, just to get the jump on the other networks.

To add insult to injury, Seven's schedule still lists programs such as Boston Legal as available in HD, even though you can't actually watch it in HD any more. Even worse, Seven's promos for the new 7HD broadcasts rave about how good HD is, even though it's clear Seven is only using the HD channel as a de facto SD multi-channel until the ban on SD multi-channeling for commercial networks is lifted in 2009.

Seven's approach to HD multi-channeling is a slap in the face to those who have bought HD televisions and expect to be able to watch shows such as Boston Legal in HD. Australia's television networks have proven time and again they don't give a stuff about viewers, so why should the introduction of multi-channelling be any different?
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