High Definition TV continues to gain ground across the broadcast satellites operated by Eutelsat Communications with the 240 HD channels launched in 2016 equaling the total number launched during the previous two years.<\/p>\n
The symbolic landmark of 1,000 channels was crossed this month with the launch at Eutelsat\u2019s HOTBIRD neighborhood of CGTN HD, the news and current affairs channel of China\u2019s CCTV media organization, marking its first foray into HDTV in Europe.<\/p>\n
Eutelsat\u2019s key video neighborhoods all saw HD growth in 2016, with three distinguished for exclusive content and market leadership.<\/p>\n
Accelerating HD growth at the HOTBIRD neighborhood<\/strong><\/p>\n The upwards curve of HD take-up was particularly strong at Eutelsat\u2019s flagship HOTBIRD position where HD channels increased by 25% to 250, now accounting for almost one in four channels in the HOTBIRD line-up. This dynamic is driven by three key trends:<\/p>\n Progressive HD adoption by public broadcasters including RAI that has transitioned nine channels to HD and CCTV that launched three channels<\/p>\n New premium pay-TV content in flagship platforms including Sky Italia, Polsat, nc+ and Nova<\/p>\n A wave of new free-to-air channels that include Euronews HD and Al Jazeera English<\/p>\n Eutelsat 7\/8\u00b0 West position sets the trend in Middle East, North Africa and features exclusive HD channels<\/p>\n With almost 150 HD channels (up 40% in one year), of which 100 are exclusive, the 7\/8\u00b0 West position hosted by Eutelsat and Nilesat satellites leads the transition to HD in the Middle East and North Africa. Free-to-air channels in HD now outnumber pay, with strong brands launched exclusively at this neighbourhood including five channels launched by Kuwait TV and Echourouk News HD, the 24\/7 Algerian news channel.<\/p>\n Eutelsat 36\u00b0 East neighborhood hits new high spot in Russia and Africa<\/p>\n Eutelsat satellites at 36\u00b0 East that serve Russian and African markets clocked 14 additional HD channels over the last 12 months, rising to 114 HD channels. Russia\u2019s leading NTV+ and Tricolor platforms each broadcast around 40 channels, to which can be added 32 HD channels broadcast to homes in Siberia from 56\u00b0 East. In Africa, MultiChoice Africa and Zap are in the vanguard of HD, broadcasting 16 and 17 channels respectively and underscoring the trend towards higher resolution in Africa\u2019s TV market.<\/p>\n Michel Azibert, Commercial and Development Director at Eutelsat, said: \u201c2016 marked a tipping point for High Definition TV across our portfolio of video neighbourhoods, culminating in a new landmarkof 1,000 channels, many of which are exclusive to Eutelsat. We are fully equipped to accommodate this accelerating pace and to work closely with broadcasters as they transition to an enhanced viewing experience.\u201d<\/p>\n –<\/p>\n Source:\u00a0Eutelsat Communications<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" High Definition TV continues to gain ground across the broadcast satellites operated by Eutelsat Communications with the 240 HD channels launched in 2016 equaling the total number launched during the previous two years. The symbolic landmark of 1,000 channels was crossed this month with the launch at Eutelsat\u2019s HOTBIRD neighborhood of CGTN HD, the news […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[106],"tags":[4354,4355],"yoast_head":"\n