_default _132_pages.indd - TELE-satellite International Magazine
_default _132_pages.indd - TELE-satellite International Magazine
_default _132_pages.indd - TELE-satellite International Magazine
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sion of its Film4 channel, which would broadcast 17 hours a day, ceding<br />
four hours a day to S4C, which would broadcast a children’s TV block<br />
in English and Welsh. Five, meanwhile, is proposing simulcasting of its<br />
existing terrestrial channel between 18:00 and 23:00, while from 05.00<br />
to 17.00 it would offer an HD service “supplied by another broadcaster.”<br />
BSKYB AIRS KEANE CONCERT IN HD<br />
BSkyB became the first UK broadcaster to air a live concert in 3D<br />
during April. The live performance by rock act Keane was transmitted<br />
using BSkyB’s <strong>satellite</strong> network and existing Sky Plus HD set-top boxes.<br />
A specially invited audience watched the transmission on a 46-inch<br />
HD screen at London’s Abbey Road studios next door to the live gig.<br />
N O R T H A M E R I C A<br />
LATENS AND MINERVA EXTENDS IPTV PARTNERSHIP<br />
Latens and Minerva Networks have renewed and extended their<br />
partnership to provide IPTV solutions in the Americas. To date, both<br />
companies have been highly successful in offering their joint solution<br />
combining Latens conditional access and Minerva’s middleware to operators<br />
in North and South America. The renewal of this agreement provides<br />
continued and new business growth for both companies. Under<br />
the terms of the partnership, Latens and Minerva will also collaborate on<br />
further integrations with market leading set-top box and VOD vendors<br />
to ensure operators have the best options for their IPTV network.<br />
CANADA<br />
MTS LAUNCHES HDTV SERVICE IN WINNIPEG<br />
MTS Allstream has launched MTS HDTV, the next generation of<br />
HDTV, PVR, improved guide features and other TV advancements<br />
to residents in Winnipeg. MTS is the first company in Canada to<br />
launch a digital TV service that includes combined technology from<br />
Alcatel-Lucent and the Microsoft Mediaroom IPTV software platform.<br />
Along with an extensive line-up of over 250 digital TV and<br />
music channels and features like VOD, the new services include<br />
30 HDTV channels, with more channels to come in 2009.<br />
UNITED STATES<br />
UNIVISION AND AT&T REACH IPTV DEAL<br />
Univision Communications and AT&T have signed a multi-year<br />
content agreement as part of the AT&T U-verseSM TV channel<br />
line-up. The agreement includes continued carriage of Univision’s<br />
owned and operated broadcast stations; affiliated stations<br />
owned and operated by Entravision Communications Corporation,<br />
Equity Media Holdings Corporation, Calipatria Broadcasting Company,<br />
and JKB Associates; and distribution of the cable network,<br />
Galavisiуn, and the network feeds for Univision and TeleFutura.<br />
AT&T OFFERS 100 HD CHANNELS<br />
AT&T is now offering at least 100 HDTV channels in every market<br />
it offers its IPTV service U-verse, having recently expanded its<br />
line-up with HD channels from Disney-ABC-ESPN Television,<br />
including ABC Family HD, Disney Channel HD, Disney XD HD,<br />
ESPNews HD and ESPNU HD. AT&T U-verse has two HD subscription<br />
options - the U450 programming package costs US$ 10<br />
per month, while the HD Premium Package offers even more HD<br />
channels for an extra US$ 5 per month. Most packages include<br />
the HD-ready Total Home DVR, which enables users to record HD<br />
programmes on a single DVR and stream them to any connected TV.<br />
VERIZON OFFERS 110 HD CHANNELS IN CALIFORNIA<br />
Verizon has added 18 new channels to market areas in California<br />
including several new HD channels, bringing the total to 110 HD<br />
channels. In comparison, DirecTV provides 104 HD channels. The<br />
channel counts do not take into consideration HD VOD, of which both<br />
companies offer a substantial amount of HD titles in their libraries.<br />
TIME WARNER REACHES 100 HD CHANNELS IN NYC<br />
Time Warner Cable has arrived to 100 HD channels in<br />
their New York City market areas. The company now<br />
offers 65 HD channels in its standard high-definition package,<br />
and 35 HD channels in its premium HD line-up.<br />
NRTC AND NTCA OFFER MORE THAN 80 HDTV CHANNELS<br />
The National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative (NRTC) and<br />
the National Telecommunications Cooperative Association (NTCA)<br />
have announced that telecom operators now have the opportunity to<br />
deliver more than 80 HD channels. Recently, NRTC has more than