Sky News is to break new ground in television news with the launch of a new channel dedicated to bringing its coverage to viewers with the stunning picture quality of high definition (HD) television.
The launch of Sky News HD is scheduled to take place in Spring 2010 following an upgrade to studios, production facilities and newsgathering operations in the UK and overseas. It will be
the first UK news channel to broadcast in HD, bringing together first-class journalism with the sharpest picture quality to bring viewers even closer to domestic and international news.
Sky News’ commitment to HD will reinforce its reputation for innovation alongside its ongoing mission to be first for breaking news. Sky News HD will be simulcast alongside Sky News’ existing standard definition channel, and with an updated HD studio, HD resources in the field and HD graphics capable of delivering a 3D look on-air, Sky News will deliver a clear, crisp and compelling new experience.
The commitment to launch Sky News HD follows the channel’s successful first ever HD broadcast and HD online streaming of Barack Obama’s Inauguration in January 2009 – and, from launch, Sky News will bring spectacular HD pictures to viewers from around the globe
as experienced HD cameramen work alongside the channels’ world class UK and foreign correspondents.
Sky News HD will launch in Spring 2010 once its headquarters in West London have been upgraded to provide an HD broadcast capability. In addition, work will also be carried out in
some of Sky News’ busiest bureaux in the UK and overseas to support HD production.
Sky News’ production teams will undertake dedicated training to get the most from HD technology, alongside staff in areas like make-up, which requires special techniques to be
used for HD broadcasts.
Over the last 20 years Sky News has established a reputation for innovation and pioneering technology through ground-breaking coverage including launching an interactive news service, live channel streaming online and introducing a newswall.
The move to embrace HD not only adds to this list of news broadcasting milestones, but also responds to increasing viewer demand for high-quality programming with the intensity and vividness of HD.
Jeremy Darroch, Sky’s Chief Executive, said: “Sky News continues to break new ground in television news and it’s only natural for it to become the first UK news channel to launch in HD. It’s great news for our Sky+HD customers, giving them access to award-winning breaking news in HD for the very first time and further expanding the choice on offer.”
Head of Sky News John Ryley adds: “Sky News HD marks another landmark for a news organisation, now in its 21st year of broadcasting. It’s an investment in the future of news, for the audiences of today and tomorrow. It is a vision that clearly defines Sky's strengths, passion and restless pursuit to be first and to be the best.
“As well as enhanced studio presentation and compelling on-air graphics, news is also about the drama of human emotion: from keynote speeches and police news conferences to picket lines and joyful crowds at ceremonial events, HD is an opportunity to bring our viewers much closer to events, building on one of Sky News’ existing strengths, and we’re delighted that we
can now announce we will be working towards launching this exciting new service next year.”
Sky+HD is Europe’s leading HD service with over 1 million customers. Today Sky+HD customers can watch 33 HD channels from leading brands such as Sky Movies, Sky Sports, Channel 4, Disney, MTV, BBC, Discovery, FX, Sky1 and National Geographic. Sky+HD customers can choose up to 400 hours a day – or 12,000 hours a month – of quality HD content, which is significantly more than any other TV platform.
With growing consumer demand for the richer, more immersive experience of HD and an ever expanding HD content line-up, the number of Sky+HD customers grew by 243,000 in the first three months of 2009. By 31 March 2009, the total number of Sky+HD customers stood at 1.022m, up from 465,000 a year earlier.
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For further information, please contact:
Stella Tooth
Head of Publicity, Sky News
Tel: 020 7800 4289
Mob: 07802 754877
stella.tooth@bskyb.com
Charlotte Dixon
Publicity Manager, Sky News
Tel: 020 7800 4341
Mob: 07824 824834
charlotte.dixon@bskyb.com
Notes to Editors:
Sky News and skynews.com: Since its launch in 1989, Sky News has established itself as a formidable and innovative force in the world of news broadcasting. It now provides news to around 145 million people in 36 countries in Europe alone, with distribution across Africa,
the Middle East and Asia.
Valued for fairness, balance and journalistic objectivity by both viewers and regulators, the award-winning channel has also earned a reputation for the speed of its 24-hour coverage and flexibility in reporting live news – first.
In addition to its status as one of Europe's leading 24 hour news channels, sky.com/news is
one of the fastest growing websites on the continent. It is also available on mobile phones, on desktops, on UK rail platforms and Virgin Atlantic flights.
Sky News now makes a number of programmes for web-only broadcast on skynews.com. These include, ‘Unplugged’ - a live show broadcast from Sky’s Millbank studio, during which Martin Stanford discusses the most topical and interesting stories of the day – but with no running order, the programme is able to respond to latest developments as they happen.
In April 2007 skynews.com launched embedded video clips as standard on the site.
Skynews.com won the Royal Television Society’s innovation award in 2007 for the user generated content it carried during Sky News’ Green Week. And in 2008, it won the Association
of Online Publishers award for website of the year.
About Sky
Sky is the UK’s leading entertainment and communications company, operating the most comprehensive multi-channel television service. Over 9.3 million homes - a third of households across the UK and Ireland - enjoy the very best entertainment, movies, news and sports channels on Sky Digital. In delivering entertainment through the TV, PC and mobile, customers have more control and flexibility over what, how and when they watch.
Over 5 million customers now choose Sky+, Sky’s digital video recorder, to record and store their favourite programmes and over a million homes enjoy the unprecedented picture and sound quality of Sky+HD, which offers 33 dedicated HD channels. Sky is also the UK’s fastest growing broadband and fixed-telephony provider with over 2 million customers taking Sky Broadband and just under 1.7 million customers taking Sky Talk.