Viasat launches first Ultra HD channel in the Nordics

Nordic pay-TV operator MTG’s Viasat pay-TV division is to launch what it says is the world’s first Ultra HD sports channel to be broadcast via satellite.



MTG 14 May 2016The Viasat Ultra HD channel will be launched after the summer in Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Finland via an SES-5 satellite operating at 5 degrees East.

Viasat customers equipped with a Samsung Ultra HD set top box, plus a new TV-module to be launched during the summer, will be able to experience a number of sports events, including selected live Champions League matches, and other content from MTG's portfolio, specially produced in Ultra HD. The channel will initially be available to all Viasat satellite customers with sports channels in their package.

“It’s great that real Ultra HD content now is being produced and that sport is leading the way,” said Bartek Gudowski, chief technology officer of MTG Broadcasting. “The picture quality is amazing and brings a wonderful experience of being so close to the action. We are really excited to be the first out in the Nordics, and look forward to building on this successful partnership with Samsung and SES to bring even more Ultra HD content to our customers over time.”

With the addition of Viasat Ultra HD, the SES Ultra HD channel portfolio now comes to a total of 24, including test channels and regional versions. This represents 46% of all channels broadcast in this format via satellite worldwide. SES also boasts that it transmits 27% of all HD/Ultra HD satellite channels worldwide.

“Viasat has been relying on SES services to broadcast its approximately 230 channels for more than 20 years,” said SES chief commercial officer Ferdinand Kayser. “As sports have always been predicted to be a key driver for Ultra HD, we are very pleased to take this important step together with Viasat to drive the next generation viewing experience forward. With more and more Ultra HD channels expected in the future, satellite will remain the optimal infrastructure to deliver this new and substantially improved viewing experience.”