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View Full Version : Sky TV shows off hi-def plans



Apsattv
11-06-2008, 11:59 PM
From http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/story.cfm?c_id=5&objectid=10515781


Sky TV today unveiled its high-definition service - and its plans to spend $22 million on HD broadcasts over the next two years.

New MySky HDi set boxes, the same as the Foxtel STBs used in Australia, will be available to customers at a one-off cost of $599 or for a monthly rental of $15.

On top of that, customers will pay another $10 for the 1080i-formatted HD service, across Sky Sport 1 and 2, Sky Movies, Sky Movie Greats and TV3. Some programming will carry a Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack.

The Sky network, controlled by Rupert Murdoch's New Corp, plans to broadcast over 100 sports events in high-definition this year, including local rugby, NRL, English Premier League soccer and US Open golf.

Sky aims to get 80,000 set top boxes installed - a big improvement on the current 31,000 installed, non-HD MySky boxes.

Sky spokesperson Tony O'Brien told nzherald.co.nz that Sky anticipated enough demand for high-definition content to install the 80,000 units.

The hi-def MySky HDi boxes feature three tuners and an Ethernet port in readiness for IPTV services, which are expected in the next year.