Sky to offer 50 HD Channels
Sky has announced that they plan to offer 50 high-definition channels by Christmas 2010. The company will include ITV1 HD, Sky Sports HD 4 and Hallmark Channel HD in their line-up over the next few months, allowing viewers to watch some of their favorite shows and sports matches in high-definition.
ITV1 HD will be launched on April 2, and sports fans will get to see World Cup matches in HD. Viewers will also get to watch Survival with Ray Mears, Britain’s Got Talent and Law and Order: UK in high-definition. Then on April 29 Sky will launch Sky Sports HD 4, allowing supporters to see The Barclays Premier League, UEFA Champions League, The Ryder Cup, The Ashes and Guinness Premiership rugby in better picture.
During the summer, Sky plans to launch Hallmark Channel HD on June 28. Viewers will get to watch high-definition versions of Without a Trace, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and Law & Order: Criminal Intent. Sometime later in the year, the company will also launch Sky News HD, which will be the first European news channel broadcast in high-definition.
With these channels, Sky will offer more than 40 HD channels through the Sky+HD service, which is more than other high-definition services in the UK. Hilary Perchard, the product management director, says that they are increasing the value of their HD service by adding more channels. They have seen a record high demand for HD, she continued, both in the amount of customers signing up and how many programs they are watching in high-definition. She added that they look forward to meeting their target of 50 HD channels before Christmas.