SES announced that the BBC has contracted one additional transponder at Astra 28.2 degrees East from the duration of the 2014 Wimbledon Tennis Championships and Glastonbury Festival – both in June – till the Commonwealth Games in August.
This additional capacity will be used to broadcast multiple HD and SD video streams and will be available to satellite and cable viewers in the UK.
These households will enjoy the flexibility that satellite has to offer through simultaneous live feeds of events. Viewers will be able to watch the Wimbledon tennis match of their choice, alternative sound stages at the Glastonbury Festival and various events at the different locations hosting the Commonwealth Games.
“Feedback from viewers after the 2012 Olympic Games showed overwhelmingly that the provision of more choice of live events made the Games even more popular and enjoyable,” said Garazi Goia, acting director, BBC Distribution.
“We are pleased to be able to expand our coverage again for the major sporting and music events taking place this summer.”
“The BBC’s additional services give viewers more flexibility and extra choice in live simultaneous content and set themselves apart from other broadcasters,” added Ferdinand Kayser, CCO, SES.
“Satellite is the ideal infrastructure as the additional capacity required can be quickly deployed to millions of household, enabling viewers to have a more engaged and enjoyable viewing TV experience at home.”
