Sicilian
23-03-10, 18:09
Sky has confirmed plans to launch Sky Sports 4 HD and the Hallmark Channel HD on its satellite television platform.
The HD version of Sky Sports 4, which recently rebranded from Sky Sports Xtra, will launch on April 29 to broadcast over 9,000 hours of HD sport every year.
Arriving on June 28, the Hallmark Channel HD will carry HD versions of major US dramas, such as Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and Without A Trace.
The satellite firm also recently confirmed plans to launch Sky News HD in the "coming months", which is claimed to be Europe's first news channel entirely in high definition.
The channel launches, along with today's announcement of the April arrival of ITV1 HD, brings Sky close to the milestone of 40 HD channels. The firm now plans to grow its HD lineup to 50 by Christmas.
Sky director of product management Hilary Perchard said: "It's great news for customers that we are making our HD channel pack even better value with more high quality channels. We're seeing record demand for HD, both in terms of the number of customers signing up for Sky+ HD and the amount of HD programmes they are watching.
"While other TV platforms are only now recognising the growing demand for HD, we're excited to extend our leadership even further by offering more choice to our customers. We look forward to reaching our next milestone, of 50 HD channels, by Christmas."
Laurence Dawkin-Jones, UK managing director of Hallmark-operator Universal Networks International, said: "Hallmark Channel has a huge number of loyal viewers and I'm delighted that we can now deliver their favourite US shows like the Law & Order titles, CSI and Without A Trace in high definition to really maximise their enjoyment."
Sky Sports managing director Barney Francis added: "Sky Sports 4 HD gives our viewers even more choice in high definition sports coverage. Since May 2006 we've covered 15 sports in HD and this channel will allow us to accommodate the quality programming our subscribers expect."
Sky recently confirmed plans to offer all new customers joining the platform a Sky+ HD set top box as standard. Later in the year, the firm intends to start offering customers access to IP-enabled video on-demand services, possibly including the long rumoured Anytime+ service.
The HD version of Sky Sports 4, which recently rebranded from Sky Sports Xtra, will launch on April 29 to broadcast over 9,000 hours of HD sport every year.
Arriving on June 28, the Hallmark Channel HD will carry HD versions of major US dramas, such as Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and Without A Trace.
The satellite firm also recently confirmed plans to launch Sky News HD in the "coming months", which is claimed to be Europe's first news channel entirely in high definition.
The channel launches, along with today's announcement of the April arrival of ITV1 HD, brings Sky close to the milestone of 40 HD channels. The firm now plans to grow its HD lineup to 50 by Christmas.
Sky director of product management Hilary Perchard said: "It's great news for customers that we are making our HD channel pack even better value with more high quality channels. We're seeing record demand for HD, both in terms of the number of customers signing up for Sky+ HD and the amount of HD programmes they are watching.
"While other TV platforms are only now recognising the growing demand for HD, we're excited to extend our leadership even further by offering more choice to our customers. We look forward to reaching our next milestone, of 50 HD channels, by Christmas."
Laurence Dawkin-Jones, UK managing director of Hallmark-operator Universal Networks International, said: "Hallmark Channel has a huge number of loyal viewers and I'm delighted that we can now deliver their favourite US shows like the Law & Order titles, CSI and Without A Trace in high definition to really maximise their enjoyment."
Sky Sports managing director Barney Francis added: "Sky Sports 4 HD gives our viewers even more choice in high definition sports coverage. Since May 2006 we've covered 15 sports in HD and this channel will allow us to accommodate the quality programming our subscribers expect."
Sky recently confirmed plans to offer all new customers joining the platform a Sky+ HD set top box as standard. Later in the year, the firm intends to start offering customers access to IP-enabled video on-demand services, possibly including the long rumoured Anytime+ service.