Sky today moved closer to the launch of its high definition television service with the announcement of pricing details and confirmation that the first installations of Sky HDTV are scheduled to begin in May 2006.
Customers will pay £299 for the Sky HDTV box and a Sky HDTV subscription of £10 a month in addition to their Sky digital subscription*. As an introductory offer, standard installation of Sky HDTV is free for all new or existing Sky digital subscribers taking a Sky HDTV subscription**.
Brian Sullivan, Sky's Director of Product Strategy and Management, said:
"Sky is just weeks away from an exciting new era that will transform the television viewing experience. Sky HDTV customers will be able to enjoy stunning picture and sound quality from the widest range of HDTV channels in the UK and Ireland. We're delighted that the BBC has said that its HDTV coverage of the World Cup will be available to all customers with a Sky HDTV box as a non-subscription channel."
Consumers who registered their interest in Sky HDTVprior to 23 March now have the chance to pre-order online. Sales will open to the general public in April.
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*Sky digital subscription is currently £15-£42.50 per month. Sky One HD, Artsworld HD, National Geographic HD, Discovery HDTVand Sky Box Office HDTV(pay-per-view charges apply) will be available to all Sky HDTVsubscribers. To get Sky Sports HDTVyou will need Sky Sports 1 & 2 in your Sky digital package. To get Sky Movies 9 HDTVyou will also need Sky Movies 1 in your package and for Sky Movies 10 HDTVyou will need Sky Movies 2. The Sky+ capability of the Sky HDTVbox requires a Sky+ subscription (free when you subscribe to two or more Sky Premium Channels, otherwise £10 a month).
**Until 31 May or while initial stocks last (if earlier).
About Sky HDTV
High Definition TV will be the biggest revolution in TV picture quality in decades, offering TV picture and sound that is much closer to a cinematic experience. Sky HDTVwill deliver, sharper, brighter more vibrant pictures, enabling viewers to become immersed in the programme as if they are part of the action or seeing nature in its true colour and detail for the first time. In order to enjoy Sky HDTVconsumers will need to have a compatible HD TV, a Sky HDTVbox and the relevant Sky HDTVand Sky digital subscriptions. Sky estimates that 2.1 million HD TVs will have been sold in the UK by the end of the 2006, compared with 700,000 at the end of 2005.
The initial Sky HDTVchannel line up will consist of:
Sky Sports HDTV
Live Barclays Premiership football and Guinness Premiership Rugby union are already being produced in High-Definition by Sky Sports in preparation for Sky's HDTVlaunch. From the start of the domestic cricket season, England's home Tests and one-Day internationals and country matches will also be produced in HD. From the 2006-07 season, Sky HDTVwill offer live matches in the Coca Cola League in high definition, together with live coverage from the Carling Cup.
Sky Movies HDTVand Sky Box Office HD
Viewers will be able to choose from two Sky Movies HDTVscreens dedicated to films broadcast in HD, and up to ten extra movies in HDTVeach week on Sky Box Office. Sky Movies HDTVtitles will include Kill Bill: Vol 1, Spider-Man 2 and Big Fish.
Sky One will be simulcast in HDTVoffering a selection of high quality entertainment with a range of Sky One shows and cutting edge series from the US in HD. Sky One series confirmed for HDTVinclude 24, Rescue Me, Bones, Over There, Stargate and Stargate Atlantis.
Artsworld will be simulcast in HDTVshowing a selection of arts programming including opera, dance and classical music. Artsworld HDTVperformances confirmed for 2006 include The Marriage of Figaro, Othello, The Who Live at the Isle of Wight, Jimi Hendrix Live at the Isle of Wight Festival (fully remastered in HD) and Anthony Minghella Directs Madam Butterfly.
Discovery HDTV
Delivering the ideal viewing experience, Discovery HDTVwill bring audiences even closer to their world with breathtaking imagery and expansive detail, featuring a selection of programming from Discovery's extensive library of more than 1,000 hours of high-definition content ranging from culture, engineering, science, technology and nature to travel and lifestyle themes.
National Geographic HDTV
An HDTVNational Geographic channel will be available at launch offering a range of HDTVcontent including innovative factual programming, produced in the UK and around the world, covering natural history, wildlife, science and world exploration with the added benefit of Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound