Advanced Television

UHD

Spanish HD on DTT

From David Del Valle in Madrid Spain has paved the way for the launch of HDTV on DTT with Government approval of a Royal Decree to govern the new services using the standard H.264/MPEG 4. To promote HDTV, the law obliges manufacturers to equip TV sets of more than 21 inches with an integrated HDTV […]

May 25, 2010

Sony partners Samsung for 3D?

Sony’s chief executive is set to meet rival Samsung Electronics, for possible alliances, as the Japanese consumer electronics maker aims to turn its TV business profitable with aggressive sales targets. The meeting between Sony CEO Howard Stringer and Samsung’s Lee Kun-hee, is the first since Lee returned as chairman of the South Korean technology company […]

May 25, 2010

Sony ads feature 'fake' 3D

Sony is launching a marketing campaign using a “fake” 3D TV ad in which all the images are blurred as part of a push to convince consumers to trade up to 3D sets. The campaign, which will run across Europe features a bizarre montage that includes the footballer Kaka, a sports car doing a burnout, […]

May 25, 2010

General Satellite “3DV” channel

General Satellite Corporation has presented a demonstration of their recent 3D projects and announced the launch of their own 3DV Channel. It will be available on Eurobird 9A to subscribers of certain packages. The channel will specialise in culture and travel content, produced and transmitted in stereoscopic 3D. Seventy hours of new content will be […]

May 25, 2010

Philips Freeview+ HD PVR

STB specialist Pace has announced the availability of what it claims is the first Freeview+ HD PVR to be available to consumers in the UK. The Philips-branded box, designed by Pace, is now available to buy from retail outlets in good time for the start of the World Cup in June. The Freeview HD signal […]

May 21, 2010

Oz 3D trials

The Australian Communications and Media Authority has issued licences which allow the Nine Network and the SBS to conduct scientific trials of 3D TV in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, Newcastle and Wollongong. The licences allow the trial operators to test new radiocommunications technologies between May 19th and 19 July 19th 2010 by broadcasting 3D […]

May 18, 2010

Avail-TVN 3D programming

Avail-TVN, the largest digital media services company in North America, has confirmed plans to launch a suite of 3D programming services by the end of 2010 for both VOD and linear. Operators will have access to transactional 3D-VOD content and a companion free on-demand service, both in stereoscopic 3D. In addition, Avail-TVN is planning two […]

May 13, 2010

CSA seeks DTT pay and HD bidders

France's broadcasting regulator, the Conseil supérieur de l'audiovisuel (CSA), has issued a call for applications for three pay channels and two free channels in HD. It has also endorsed extending the coverage of the France O (overseas) service to any metropolitan area in the coming weeks. The CSA opened a public consultation in June 2009 […]

May 12, 2010

Terrestrial 3D TV for Korea

Korea will transmit its first stereoscopic 3D television programmes over terrestrial broadcasting networks on May 19th, the Korea Communications Commission (KCC) has confirmed. All four of the country’s land-based television stations – KBS, MBC, SBS and EBS – will participate in the trial services, beginning with the 3D broadcasts of the 2010 Colorful Daegu Pre-Championships […]

May 10, 2010

HDTV out of reach for half of Spain

From David del Valle in Madrid Around 12 million TV sets in Spain, 46 per cent of the total market, are not ready for HDTV and another 11 million need a special set-top-box to watch it, according to the Electronic Association, Asimelec. Most of those 12 million are “old TV sets”, capable of receiving DTT […]

May 10, 2010