Winter Olympic Games in HDTV on SIRIUS
9 Feb, 2006
SES Sirius announces today that an agreement has been signed on broadcasting of the Winter Olympic Games 2006 in High Definition TV - HDTV on SIRIUS. The Games are broadcasted in Sweden on Euro1080s HDTV channel HD2.
click here to read the Swedish press release.
Benny Norling, Vice President of Business Development at SES Sirius AB, says that the company signed an agreement today for HDTV broadcasts with Belgian TV company Euro1080, which is producing the HDTV broadcasts from the Turin Winter Olympics. The broadcasts will run on Euro1080's channel HD2. Discussions are also underway about broadcasting this summer's World Cup in football.
"This is great news for all hockey lovers, who want to see the matches on big screens with the best possible sound and picture quality. We will broadcast all Olympic events that are produced in HDTV, including figure skating, ice hockey, speed skating, and freestyle skiing. The broadcasts will be shown at the National Federation of People’s Parks and Community Centres' (FHP) digital cinemas in Sweden.
Rickard Gramfors, FHP, says:
"Many of FHP's 40 digital cinemas – Digitala Hus – are already equipped to receive HDTV broadcasts from Sirius in an optimal viewing environment with superb picture and sound quality. We will show Olympic events that we believe are of interest to the public at these cinemas, which are located in places like Arvidsjaur, Boden, Boxholm, Emmaboda, Gällivare, Haparanda, Kiruna, Osby, Sandviken, Skaftö, Skelleftehamn, Skärhamn, Spånga, Söråker, Torslanda, Åseda and Örebro.
Norling describes how to see the broadcasts in Sweden:
"In order to see the broadcasts in HDTV you need an HDTV receiver with a programme card from Euro1080 and a TV screen with an ‘HD ready’ label. Or you can go to a digital cinema.”
Transition to HDTV
Norling comments on Sirius' rapid decision to broadcast the Winter Games:
"We want to show world-class sport in high-resolution TV so that as many people as possible will have the chance to see the broadcasts' fantastic picture and sound quality. And I promise, once you've seen HDTV, everything else pales in comparison, especially on big screens and projectors.” He says:
"HDTV will become our new TV standard. It is already available, but only via satellite. Euro1080 is already broadcasting the HDTV channel HD1 on SIRIUS. It requires high bandwidth and that's where satellite broadcasting has a huge advantage in terms of capacity compared with terrestrial broadcasting.
The next major sporting event in HD format will be the FIFA World Cup. In conclusion, Norling says:
"The entire industry agrees that HDTV is now making great strides. At our initiative the neutral organisation HDTV Forum came into being in Sweden to inform everyone on HDTV developments.”
More information about HDTV is available at www.hdtvforum.nu.
About SES Sirius
SES Sirius AB owns and operates the SIRIUS satellite system (Sirius 2 and 3). SIRIUS is a leading satellite system in the Nordic, Baltic, Central and Eastern European countries and offers cost-effective solutions for TV and radio broadcasting and broadband services in these regions. The SIRIUS satellites are located at orbital position 5˚ East and offer reliable communication links across Europe.
SES Sirius AB is 25% owned by the Swedish Space Corporation and 75% by SES ASTRA, one of the world's leading satellite operators.
The People’s Parks and Community Centres
The People’s Parks and Community Centres (FHP) is a national federation for Community Centres, People's Parks, theme parks and festivals throughout Sweden. Together, FHP's 800 members welcome 50 million visitors per year. FHP members offer the entire country the opportunity to enjoy culture, meetings, and entertainment. The organisation is based on participation and voluntary involvement.
Digitala Hus
FHP's digital cinemas form Europe's first and biggest digital cinema chain. By using a powerful digital projector, cinemas all over the country gain access to a current and broad selection of superior quality films, culture and entertainment.
For more information, please contact:
Benny Norling, Vice President, Business Development
SES Sirius AB
Tel: +46 8 505 645 31
Mobile: +46 708 94 25 89
E-mail: benny.norling@ses-sirius.com
www.ses-sirius.com
Rickard Gramfors, Programme Director at Digitala Hus
The People’s Parks and Community Centres
Tel: +-46 8 452 25 41
E-mail: rickard.gramfors@fhp.nu
www.fhp.nu/os
