HDTV (high definition TV) fans will be pleased to hear that Sky has announced 3 new HDTV channel launches in the coming weeks. Sky+HD viewers will soon get access to ITV1 HD, Hallmark Channel HD and Sky Sports 4 HD.
This five times more HDTV channels than any other UK digital TV service. As recently confirmed, Sky will also be launching Europe's first HD news channel, Sky News HD, in the coming months. Sky plans to reach 50 HD channels by Christmas this year.
ITV1 HD launches on 2nd April just in time for the World Cup. And Sky Sports HD 4 will launch on 29th April enabling Sky Sports to build on its 9,200 hours a year of live sport in HD.
Sky asserts that this year will be the busiest ever for HD content on Sky Sports, with the schedule including The Ryder Cup, The Ashes, Barclays Premier League, UEFA Champions League, Heineken Cup and Guinness Premiership rugby plus US Open tennis.
And Hallmark Channel HD will launch on 28th June and show a range of its most popular titles in HD for the first time, including Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Law & Order: Criminal Intent and Without A Trace.
Sky currently has 2.1 million HDTV customers with Sky+HD boxes currently accessing up to 37 HDTV channels spanning entertainment, sports, movies, arts, drama, kids and documentaries, including channel brands such as Sky Sports, Sky Movies, FX, Discovery, Channel 4, Sky Arts, MTV, Nat Geo, ESPN, Disney, the BBC and Sky1.
Sky recently standardised its set-top strategy by automatically offering a Sky+ HD box to anyone joining Sky TV, and all new and existing customers can receive the box for free when subscribing to the Sky+HD channel pack for the first time.
The Sky+HD box not only provides access to Europe's most comprehensive HD service and Sky's new HD electronic programme guide (EPG), but later this year it will also offer customers access to full broadband-enabled video-on-demand service and Sky 3D, Europe's first 3D TV channel.
Sky intends to launch Sky 3D to pubs and clubs in April before reaching residential homes later this year once 3D TVs begin to reach homes.
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