Animal Planet becomes Sky's 60th HD channel

[bassethound]

Sky has announced the addition of the 60th high definition channel to its satellite TV lineup, as HD viewing on the platform increases by almost two thirds.

The Discovery Communications-operated Animal Planet HD has now started broadcasting on channel 525 on Sky's electronic programme guide.

The wildlife channel becomes the 32nd network in Sky's Entertainment Extra HD pack, excluding the six free-to-air channels.

Sky now beams HD programming to more than 4m homes in the UK via its Sky+ HD set top boxes, including movies, sports and entertainment.

in January 2012, the HD share of viewing within Sky+ HD households rose 68% year-on-year, including Sky1 shows Treasure Island, Ruth Jones' Stella and Mad Dogs proving popular in HD. Sky News has also started the year with its highest ever HD viewing figures.

HD viewing on Sky has been boosted by the EPG swap scheme launched in February 2011, which automatically swaps HD networks with their standard definition counterparts in Sky+ HD homes to make them more prominent on the guide.

The satellite broadcaster has also geared its marketing and communications to always focus on the availability of HD versions of its major channels.

Next Friday, Sky will launch its new Sky Sports F1 channel in standard and high definition, broadcasting live coverage of every Grand Prix each season.

Sky's director TV products Luke Bradley-Jones said: "As we add our 60th HD channel, we've never seen higher demand from our customers to watch TV in stunning HD.

"Sky continues to extend its leadership in high definition TV and with every new HD channel we launch, we're giving our HD customers more of what they love."

Sky also said that all customers with an internet-connected Sky+ HD box will be able to access video on-demand service Sky Anytime+ by Easter, regardless of their broadband provider.