The French serious music channel Mezzo will launch its HD version Mezzo Live HD on April 1. The original plan was to launch this March.
The channel will promise 270 fresh hours of live recording in native HD per year. On air 24 hours a day, Mezzo Live HD will broadcast on the Eurobird 9 satellite at 9 degrees East.
Concerts will include performances by artists such as Angela Georghiu, Roberto Alagna, Rolando Villazon, Natalie Dessay, Cecilia Bartoli, Philippe Jaroussky, Claudio Abbado, Daniel Barenboim, Alfred Brendel, Maurizio Pollini, and Murray Perahia.
Although no distribution contracts have been announced, the Dutch based Brava HDTV has stolen the limelight with a similar programming format. Brava HDTV has already secured extensive distribution contracts with operators across Europe and overseas, including those in France.