Archive notice: This article was originally published on June 21, 2005. Links and embedded videos are preserved as part of the historical record.
Under the motto “The Future Begins”, Premiere has launched a web presence on the subject of High Definition Television (HDTV). The offering provides basic information and at the same time serves as promotion for the introduction of HDTV at Premiere in November 2005.
At the address http://www.premiere.de/hdtv, the pay-TV provider offers, among other things, first visual impressions of HDTV at Premiere. The presentation focuses on the differences and advantages of HDTV compared with conventional television in the PAL format. The chapters “Crystal Clear”, “Three-Dimensional”, “Brilliant” and “Rich” in the section “What is HDTV?” are intended to convey the advantages of High Definition Television convincingly, with image examples and short film sequences making the difference clear at first glance.
In addition, visitors to the website also learn which devices they need for high-definition television. In the section “What You Need”, the label “HD ready”, which identifies displays and projectors as suitable for HDTV, therefore plays the main role (DP reported). The “Info & Download” section rounds out the offering with a dealer list as well as a glossary and FAQs with the most important questions about HDTV. According to the provider, anyone who wants to experience a first impression of HDTV will also soon be able to download the Premiere HDTV trailer and view it on their computer or an HD-ready TV set. The web presence was developed in-house by Premiere Interactive Business.
Premiere plans to launch three HDTV channels under the “Premiere HD” brand in November 2005. The offering will consist of three 24-hour full-service channels and show films, sport and documentaries in high resolution. The broadcaster is expected to announce details of Premiere HD at the International Radio Exhibition 2005, which takes place in Berlin from September 2 to 7.
A foretaste of Premiere HD is shown by the subscription broadcaster’s HDTV trailer, which can be seen via the ASTRA HDTV promotional channel with an appropriate receiving device (frequency 12,4410 GHz; SR 27.500; FEC 3/4; transponder 102; vertical). Digital receivers from the manufacturers Humax, Pace and Philips suitable for Premiere HD are to come onto the market in time for the launch. The devices are designed for reception via satellite and are distinguished by the highest degree of flexibility and future-proofing: Already integrated are the new MPEG 4/H.264 compression standard and DVB-S2, the further development of the previous DVB-S standard for digital satellite reception. In addition, the HDTV receivers can reproduce the common formats 720p and 1080i (each at 50 Hz and 60 Hz). With the new receivers, all other Premiere programmes as well as digitally broadcast free-TV channels can also be received via satellite.
Further Links:
- Premiere HDTV Information Offering
