Sky Targets 50 HD Channel Offering

Sky customers will be pleased to know that the company is including Sky Sports HD 4 and ITV1 HD in its plans to offer 50 high-definition channels by Christmas this year. Anyone who’s subscribed to the Sky+HD service be able to watch high-definition versions of programs like Without a Trace, Britain’s Got Talent and The Prisoner soon.

Along with the two mentioned HD channels above, Sky will also add Hallmark Channel HD to its line-up over the next few months. With these three new high-definition channels, their service will provide more HD channels than any other UK service at more than 40.

Sky director of product management Hilary Perchard says that they are making their high-definition channel package an even better value by adding more channels. There is a record demand for HD seen at Sky, she continued, both in the number of HD programs customers are watching and in the amount of customers signing up for the Sky+HD service. They look forward to offering 50 HD channels by Christmas, Perchard added.

Sky plans to add ITV1 HD on April 2, which will allow viewers to watch World Cup matches in high-definition, along with other shows like Survival with Ray Mears and Law and Order: UK. Sky Sports HD 4 will be available from April 29, allowing supporters to see The Ashes, The Ryder Cup, Barclays Premier League, Guinness Premiership rugby and UEFA Champions League in HD. On June 28, Hallmark Channel HD will be made available, which will let viewers see their most popular titles in high-definition for the first time, including Law & Order: Criminal Intent and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.

On top of these channels, Sky also plans to launch Sky News HD in the coming months. This will be the first HD news channel launched in Europe.