Satellite operator SES will distribute the two Ultra HD channels German pay-TV broadcaster Sky Deutschland will launch in autumn 2016 for DTH households on Astra (19.2 degrees East).
Sky Sport Bundesliga UHD will transmit one live game per match day from Germany’s first-division football league while Sky Sport UHD will show selected matches from the UEFA Champions League live.
“Sky customers will be the first ones to enjoy the best football matches in Germany and Austria live in Ultra HD. They will get the best programming in the best quality, ahead of everyone else,” Stefan Kunz, vice president broadcast services at Sky Deutschland, said in Munich. “We are trusting our long-term partner SES to ensure the reliable and uninterrupted broadcasting of our exclusive Ultra HD content, opening new doors to the future of TV.”
Norbert Hölzle, senior vice president, commercial, Europe at SES, added: “SES is excited to be supporting our long-term customer, Sky Deutschland, in launching their first two Ultra HD channels. Just as our satellite capacity enabled Sky Deutschland to launch their first HD channels back in 2005, SES will provide the same, if not better, quality of capacity and services to ensure the seamless broadcasting of Sky Sport Bundesliga UHD and Sky Sport UHD.”
Sky Deutschland also aims for cable carriage of its two Ultra HD channels.