C'est tellement facile: - TELE-satellite International Magazine

NEWS
E U R O P E
GERMANY
HDTV & 3D Programmes
Edited by
Branislav Pekic
OVER 1 MILLION CARDS SHIPPED FOR HD+
In the German market, HD+, the high definition
services platform, has enjoyed considerable success,
with over 1 million smart cards now already
shipped to equipment manufacturers. With a broad
range of some 20 HD+ set top box models available,
the offer can also be accessed with other receivers
via a CI+ module, of which over 100,000 have been
sold. SES Astra is managing the HD+ platform
for commercial HD broadcasting in Germany.
HUNGARY
ANTENNA HUNGARIA TESTING
3DTV WITHOUT GLASSES
Antenna Hungária and iPont have concluded
a 3DTV test, broadcasting 3D video content
through a DVB-T system and visualizing it on a
special “glass-free” device. The software from
iPont allows users to watch TV in 3D without
wearing special glasses. The video content was
broadcast in FullHD format with 8MBit/s speed.
SCANDINAVIA
HDTV BOOSTS TELENOR REVENUE
Telenor Satellite Broadcasting (TSB) revenues
increased 6.1% to US$ 43.9 million in its 2010
second quarter ending in June. TSB said its
revenues have been driven by the continued
growth of its HDTV services in the Nordic region,
as well as price increases for service delivery.
Following the launch of the Thor 6 satellite last
year, the operator is likely to announce a followup
satellite in the near future due to better than
expected take-up of capacity on Thor 6.
SPAIN
SES ASTRA HELPS SOGECABLE
BOOST HD DEPLOYMENT
SES Astra is further intensifying its cooperation
with Sogecable and supporting the development of
its HD DTH offer. As part of the cooperation, SES
Astra is providing two additional satellite transponders
to Sogecable in 2010 at its 19.2 degrees
East orbital position. SES Astra is the leading HD
platform in Europe, with 135 HD channels and
around six million HD viewers on its satellite fleet.
TURKEY
BBC HD LAUNCHES ON TURKSAT
BBC HD has launched on satellite operator Turksat’s
digital cable network, bringing hit shows all
subtitled in Turkish. BBC HD becomes the second
BBC-branded channel to launch in Turkey, with
BBC Entertainment already on Turksat, TT Net and
Digiturk TV. The HD channel also airs in Poland,
Australia and Scandinavia. Turksat’s cable platform
claims it now has more than 1.2 million subscribers.
UNITED KINGDOM
CHANNEL FIVE ABANDONS
PROJECT CANVAS
Channel Five has pulled out of Project Canvas,
the BBC-backed venture to bring VOD to Freeview
and Freesat. Five, which has been put up for
sale by its parent company RTL, is one of seven
partners in the venture, which is expected to launch
next year. One of the conditions each partner
has to adhere to is to fund an equal share of the
development costs. The BBC Trust has said that
the cost of Project Canvas, including development,
launch, and the first four years’ running
costs, will be £115.6 million. Meanwhile, Five
HD launched on satellite platform Sky+HD and
cable platform Virgin Media’s V+HD service.
VIRGIN MEDIA BOOSTED BY HD UPTAKE
Virgin Media has posted strong 2Q results, with
revenues up 7.1% to £ 964 million thanks to a
notable increase in HD customers. It said about
260.000 customers signed up for HDTV in the
quarter, a year-on-year increase of 79%, taking
its total HD user base to 1.2 million. Virgin Media
is currently offering a total of 26 HD channels.
BSKYB TO LAUNCH 3D NETWORK1
BSkyB will launch its 3D network on October 1
and has signed deals with Disney, Fox, Universal,
Warner Brothers, Paramount and DreamWorks to
“showcase the very best of Hollywood in 3D.” Other
programming includes live coverage of golf’s Ryder
Cup and English Premier League football. Sky 3D