BigShinyThing

The BBC is preparing to launch a high definition television service early next year after signing a multimillion pound satellite broadcasting deal.

This week (12th July 2005), the corporation confirmed it had increased the amount of satellite capacity it rents from Luxembourg-based SES Global. The BBC said it would use the extra space to ‘reconfigure’ the satellite broadcasting of its TV, radio and interactive services. Sources close to the deal said the corporation had snapped up the capacity on the Astra 2A satellite so it could launch a HDTV package when BSkyB unveils its much-anticipated HD service early next year.

BSkyB wants to launch a HD service this year, according to recent trade press reports, but it is understood the pay-TV group will wait until it has a full-blown HD offering and will not test HD’s appeal by soft-launcing the service one channel at a time.

BSkyB is also planning the simultaneous of launch an updated version of its personal video recorder, Sky+, that will be able to record and play back HD broadcasts. The HD service is expected to launch in the spring of next year.

The full story appeared in Mediaguardian (free subcription required).

Posted by Anne-Fay |

Add a Comment

Need to Know

Product Displacement

UK culture minister says product placement “contaminates” TV programmes.

Lessons from Tyra

From supermodel to media brand.

Genius as a Product

And how to make a business from it

IM bttr

Surprise! Using IM improves kids’ linguistic skills.

Twitter “Not Pointless” Shock

Microblogging officially tips over into the mainstream

Web 3.0 Starts Today

No, really.

RIP Albert Hofmann

Inventor of LSD dies aged 102.

Make3D (Does Exactly That)!

The latest contender for ‘coolest imaging/photography tool’ turns snapshots into 3D scenes. And it works!

Skirting the issue

Women in Johannesburg have been staging a miniskirted protest

Overheard on the tube

What did the twentysomething guy say to the other twentysomething guy?

Flickr Burns

More Flickr zeitgeist

How to advertise in social media

Stop the clock!! We saw another ad on the internet!

The Day the Music (Industry) Died

A choice quote from The Economist

Way to Go, Hasbro

Toy giants crack down on Scrabulous, one of Facebook’s most popular applications

Nice to Know

100proofTRUTH Issue 5

[Image relating to the story 100proofTRUTH Issue 5]

Getty Hijacked

Video hackers take down Getty’s video ‘art’ site.

Street Art Gets ‘Urbanised’ at Selfridges

Buy a Banksy on your storecard!

The Cross Bones Geese

[Image relating to the story The Cross Bones Geese]

Brand Tags

Free association brand perception

Big Shiny …er Sea Slugs

[Image relating to the story Big Shiny …er Sea Slugs]

The Polaroid Kid

[Image relating to the story The Polaroid Kid]