BROADCAST SERVICES :: HDTV

Exceptional picture resolution, 3D effects and Dolby 5.1 digital sound: Eutelsat has joined forces with the broadcasting community for the commercial launch of high definition television (HDTV) in Europe. Together with the industry's leading broadcasting groups and producers, we are united in providing the best technology for experiencing HDTV.

10 years ago, Eutelsat participated in the DVB group, pioneering the first revolution in digital television. We believe that the same level of collaboration between the entire broadcasting chain, including programmers, hardware manufacturers and distributors, is essential for creating a successful HDTV market.

A number of initiatives have already been launched, in which Eutelsat is playing a lead or founder role, such as the HD Forum. The HD Forum assembles some of the key players in the French audiovisual community including TF1, M6, Thomson, Sagem and Fnac.

HDTV video signals offer an increased image resolution by incrementing the number of scan lines and the number of pixels per each line. HDTV signals offer up to 1080 active lines and 1920 pixels per line, instead of the 576 lines and 720 pixels per line provided by the PAL TV standard. Furthermore, the increased resolution at progressive scan instead of interlaced makes the picture extremely sharp. HDTV also has a screen ratio of 16:9 as compared with most of today's TV broadcasting, which has a screen ratio of 4:3. HDTV is normally provided with 5.1 independent channels of CD-quality stereo surround sound (also referred to as AC-3).

Find out more about HDTV by downloading our brochure:
:: HDTV - Defining the new broadcast standard (PDF, 742 KB)

Are you ready for HDTV? See the list of HD channels already broadcasting via Eutelsat.

CASE STUDIES

Action-packed channel launch for Arqiva on EUROBIRD™ 1

Arqiva Satellite Media Solutions, specialists in satellite video and data communications, outside broadcasts, satellite newsgathering, studios, and playout, has launched the extreme sports channel, RUSH HD on Eutelsat’s EUROBIRD™ 1 satellite at 28.5 degrees East. The new channel supports VOOM HD Networks’ expansion of international distribution into the UK HD market. more>

Hello HD HDTV platform launches in Hungary on EUROBIRD™ 9

Hello HD, Hungary’s first High-Definition television platform, owned by media services company Watchcable Corporation, is leasing two transponders on Eutelsat’s EUROBIRD™ 9 satellite. Hello HD’s new television platform will feature industry-leading HDTV services including Eurosport HD, National Geographic HD, Filmbox HD and HBO HD, complemented by high quality Hungarian channels broadcasting in Standard Digital. more>