The Russian DTH platform Platforma HD is making a major push to acquire more HD subscribers.
According to Comnews, the service entered into an agreement last month with Eldorado, one of the country’s largest electronic retailers, to popularise HD. As a result of the deal, customers who buy certain full HD sets are receiving pre-paid subscriptions for three months to Platforma HD’s channels in the format.
By Platforma HD’s estimates, there are currently around 100,000 HD subscribers in Russia, of who 35,000 receive its services. It would like to increase its HD subscriber base by 30% by the end of this year and account for 40% of the HD market, which it expects will number 120,000-130,000 subscribers, in 2011.
There are around 5 million sets in Russia that support the HD format. All told, viewers can receive up to 20 HD channels.
Platforma HD is one of at least six DTH platforms operating in the country. It started off providing viewers just HD channels but subsequently added SD services to its offer
