MIPTV – CANNES. VOOM HD Networks has announced the launch of Rush HD, a channel devoted to extreme sports, on Sky on April 7. This represents the channel’s international debut and follows several weeks of testing on the Sky platform. The launch of Rush will increase the number of dedicated HD channels on the Sky platform to 17. However, there are no immediate plans to include VOOM HD itself within the Sky HD package.
Last October, VOOM announced plans for the channel to be distributed over its 50 Mbps broadband service, but was dropped after Virgin shelved plans for a separate IPTV offer.
Rush HD is delivered in 1080i with Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound on Eutelsat Eurobird 1. In addition to the 24/7 channel, Sky will make selected programming from Rush HD available on the Sky Anytime on PC service. The channel is represented by Chello Zone. Sky HD currently has 422,000 subscribers.
