Cablecom to launch HDTV
Switzerland’s largest cable operator, Cablecom, will launch high-definition television services on November 27.
In German and Italian-speaking parts of the country viewers will be able to receive German commercial channels SAT.1 HD and Pro Sieben HD and, from December 1, HD suisse, the multilingual HDTV channel offered by Switzerland’s public broadcaster SRG SSR idée suisse. In French-speaking regions HD suisse, ARTE France HD and Canal+ HD will be offered. Two or three further channels will be added in the first half of 2008.
The HDTV channels can be received together with standard-definition digital TV and radio services via the HD Mediabox which can be rented for CHF15 (EUR9) per month. The box can be ordered with immediate effect, while HD boxes with recording function are expected to become available from summer 2008.
At the same time, Cablecom’s IPTV package and video-on-demand offer for broadband internet customers will be expanded. Broadband households can receive the IPTV bouquet comprising 20 channels, which has been running as a pilot project since the beginning of the year, without additional cost. Next year further broadcasters will be added to the offer.
The IPTV video-on-demand portal, which currently comprises more than 170 feature films, will have a further four movies per week added from December. Viewers can gain 24-hour access to the films for CHF3.50 (EUR2.10) each. From the end of 2008 a similar “real” video-on-demand service is planned for conventional digital cable households, which will replace the current “near” video-on-demand offer which only provides fixed starting times.
Additionally, Cablecom is currently evaluating together with selected TV stations the feasibility of a catch-up service which would offer viewers the chance to view missed programmes after their initial screening. Around 215,000 of the company’s 1.5 million cable customers have so far signed up for the digital offer, with a further 10,000 being won for the service each month.
By the end of 2008 Cablecom plans to invest an additional CHF100 million (EUR60 million) in upgrading its cable networks for triple-play services. By that time, over one million households will be able to subscribe to TV, telephony and broadband internet from Cablecom.
Regards Satdude. :thum:
Switzerland’s largest cable operator, Cablecom, will launch high-definition television services on November 27.
In German and Italian-speaking parts of the country viewers will be able to receive German commercial channels SAT.1 HD and Pro Sieben HD and, from December 1, HD suisse, the multilingual HDTV channel offered by Switzerland’s public broadcaster SRG SSR idée suisse. In French-speaking regions HD suisse, ARTE France HD and Canal+ HD will be offered. Two or three further channels will be added in the first half of 2008.
The HDTV channels can be received together with standard-definition digital TV and radio services via the HD Mediabox which can be rented for CHF15 (EUR9) per month. The box can be ordered with immediate effect, while HD boxes with recording function are expected to become available from summer 2008.
At the same time, Cablecom’s IPTV package and video-on-demand offer for broadband internet customers will be expanded. Broadband households can receive the IPTV bouquet comprising 20 channels, which has been running as a pilot project since the beginning of the year, without additional cost. Next year further broadcasters will be added to the offer.
The IPTV video-on-demand portal, which currently comprises more than 170 feature films, will have a further four movies per week added from December. Viewers can gain 24-hour access to the films for CHF3.50 (EUR2.10) each. From the end of 2008 a similar “real” video-on-demand service is planned for conventional digital cable households, which will replace the current “near” video-on-demand offer which only provides fixed starting times.
Additionally, Cablecom is currently evaluating together with selected TV stations the feasibility of a catch-up service which would offer viewers the chance to view missed programmes after their initial screening. Around 215,000 of the company’s 1.5 million cable customers have so far signed up for the digital offer, with a further 10,000 being won for the service each month.
By the end of 2008 Cablecom plans to invest an additional CHF100 million (EUR60 million) in upgrading its cable networks for triple-play services. By that time, over one million households will be able to subscribe to TV, telephony and broadband internet from Cablecom.
Regards Satdude. :thum: