NEWS did not say in which markets the channels will be available. The cable operator still provides less than 50 HD channels in many small and mid-size markets due to bandwidth constraints and other issues. Comcast has frequently issued national press releases saying it will carry a certain HD channel, but it might take months (if then) before it’s actually added to each market. DIRECTV ADDS FOX SOCCER HD DirecTV has added the Fox Soccer Channel in High-Definition just in time for the start of the English Premier League season. The Fox Soccer Channel has the broadcast rights to carry EPL games. DirecTV is also working to add Fox Soccer Plus in HD as well. VERIZON ADDS TWO NEW HD CHANNELS TO FIOS TV Verizon’s FiOS TV customers received two new HD channels in July, as the company launched Nat Geo WILD HD and Investigation Discovery HD. These two channels join FiOS TV’s channel lineup which includes up to 142 HD channels and more than 3,300 HD VOD titles every month. L A T I N A M E R I C A BRAZIL HDTV & 3D Programmes EMBRATEL OFFERS 9 HDTV CHANNELS TO SUBSCRIBERS The Via Embratel HDTV service started being marketed in June, initially in Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo. A total of nine HD channels are available initially. To receive the free-to-air HD channels, subscribers must request a terrestrial module, which is coupled to high-definition decoder, as is the case with Sky HDTV. According to Antonio Joao, executive director of Via Embratel, the HD decoder produced by Pace will undergo constant updates. NET CLAIMS LEADERSHIP POSITION IN HD SEGMENT According to the president of Net Servicos, the Brazilian triple-play operator is the absolute leader in the high definition segment, increasingly moving away from second placed Sky Brasil. Speaking during a conference call with journalists, he did not want to mention the number of subscribers, saying only that in June the growth in HD was 44 percent higher than expected for the month. The manager is betting that the growth follows the sales of HD TV sets and that the acceleration of sales of subscriptions is maintained even after the World Cup. CHILE MOVISTAR LAUNCHES HD PACKAGE Spanish operator Movistar (Telefonica group) has launched a package of 9 HD channels via <strong>satellite</strong>, which will thus be added to the packages that this operator already offers in this South American country. The Movistar TV HD Plus service is sold from €10 per month (depending on the chosen receiver) and can be received through two terminals: one simple and one with integrated internal hard drive. A S I A & P A C I F I C WORLD CUP BOOSTS HDTV SET SALES According to market research firm GfK Asia, in the first week of June alone, combined sales of HDTVs in eight Asian markets — Malaysia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, and Vietnam reached almost 90.000 units, hitting a total value in excess of RM 235.4million (US$74 million). GfK Asia said this reflected a massive 250% growth in units sold compared with the same period last year. INDIA OPERATORS LAUNCH HDTV PRICE WAR ONLY TWO CHANNELS AVAILABLE IN HD IN INDIA A price war took place in the DTH segment during the World Cup in South Africa, with broadcasters that air HD content slashing rates by 50%. Tata Sky launched HD services at Rs 2,599, forcing market leader Dish TV to cut prices by more than 50% within days of launch. The competition has intensified as rivals such as Videocon and Airtel launching similar services. Currently, only a dozen or so channels such as Discovery, National Geographic, Colors, Zee TV, Star Plus, Star Movies and Sun TV are available in HD, while another 12 or so channels are expected to be added in the coming months. JAPAN JAPANESE HAVE NO PLANS TO ACQUIRE 3DTV GLASSES Almost 70% of Japanese consumers have said they have no plans to buy a 3D TV for their home. Respondents said they were turned off by the special viewing glasses and also blamed steep price tags and scarcity of available content for their lack of interest, the survey by the price comparison website operator Kakaku.com showed. Of those who have no plans to buy a 3D TV, nearly 70% cited the hassle of wearing special
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