SES Astra Boasts HD Coup

SES Astra has claimed another high-definition (HD) first in Europe with a potential landmark in commercial free-to-air (FTA) television. It teamed with ProSiebenSat 1 to announce that on Oct. 14, ProSiebenSat 1 Produktion will, for the first time, simultaneously broadcast a high-resolution HDTV signal in parallel with the traditional digital standard-resolution via ASTRA 19.2 degrees East.

Ferdinand Kayser, SES Astra’s president and CEO, commented, “We are very pleased to be able to assist one of Germany’s leading private broadcasting companies in testing HDTV and, based on current market trends, remain convinced that the successive transfer from standard resolution to HDTV will have the same impact on the television sector as the introduction of color TV.”

The program in question, “Pride – The Law of the Savannah,” a wildlife program about the adventures of a young lion, will be available to viewers equipped with appropriate receivers via conventional standard-definition (SD) reception and, exclusively via ASTRA, in the new, crystal-clear HDTV standard.