YLE is today making a suite of four high definition channels available to all distribution platforms in Finland, on equal terms.
The broadcaster says it will not make any money from the scheme – nor does it expect its distribution partners to make any money.
DNA has become the first operator to distribute the HD channels on its terrestrial networks. Both TV1 HD and TV2 HD will be broadcast through DNA’s cable and terrestrial networks.
DNA will broadcast all four of YLE’s high definition channels through its entire cable network, which covers approximately 600,000 households in the Helsinki metropolitan area as well as the economic areas of Oulu, Lahti, Kuopio, Turku, Pori, Rauma and Lohja.
”We are thrilled to be able to offer all four of YLE’s HD channels through our cable network as soon as they start broadcasting. Home televisions are being rapidly updated to high definition devices, but a big HD screen will only come into its own when watching true high definition content, such as films, sports or music entertainment. Finnish people now have a unique opportunity to witness, for example, our own legendary ice hockey heroes, Teemu included, in the Olympic Games, in true high definition,” says DNA’s Director of Television Business Mikko Saarentaus.
Satellite TV operator Canal Digital will also distribute YLE TV1 HD and Yle TV2 HD. These channels will be added to all channel packages, so they will be available to all Canal Digital satellite TV customers.
Following recommendations by the Finnish Communications Regulatory Authority (FICORA), all cable operators within DNA’s terrestrial coverage area will also distribute YLE TV1 HD and YLE TV2 HD, while negotiations are still ongoing about the HD-distribution of other YLE channels.
Yle is steadily increasing its High Definition content, and aims to have all its own production in HD by 2015. Most of the Sochi Winter Olympics programming is already available in HD.
