New launch for Vivicast takes SES to eight Ultra HD channels


Details

Joseph O'Halloran

| 21 January 2016




As it ups its pace in delivering 4KTV to global operators, SES has teamed with Vivicast Media to launch UHD-1, an Ultra HD channel for North American cable operators, telcos and their audiences.



UHD-1 will be delivered over the SES-3 satellite, one of three satellites — namely SES-1, SES-3 and AMC-18 — that make up SES's Ultra HD distribution neighbourhood at the centre of the orbital arc over North America. Under the terms of the deal, Vivicast Media will add new Ultra HD content and titles to the programme line-up of feature films, TV series, exclusive concerts and documentaries for viewers in America and beyond.

SES claims to be the first satellite operator to introduce Ultra HD in the US and Europe, and now boasts eight such 4KTV channels worldwide. The new launch will be the fourth unique Ultra HD channel to be featured on the satellite operator’s Ultra HD platform which is claimed to be accelerating the delivery of linear live Ultra HD programming to North American homes served by multiple video program distributors (MVPDs). In addition to UHD-1, SES's Ultra HD neighbourhood also features NASA TV UHD, Fashion One 4K and High 4K TV.

“Now that Ultra HD is becoming reality, we're very excited about our collaboration with SES, a true innovator in solutions that are accelerating the delivery of Ultra HD to the home,” said Vivicast Media president Stuart Smitherman. “We're focused on providing the very best Ultra HD programming on UHD-1, and we continue to search for new partnerships we can explore to expand on our Ultra HD portfolio. Our relationship with SES enables us to offer content producers broad access to the North American marketplace, which will be a key driver in the timely delivery of this new frontier in television content.”

Added SES Steve Corda, vice president North America business development: “As consumers continue to add Ultra HD TVs into their homes, a robust channel offering is essential to meet their thirst for compelling high quality Ultra HD programming. Our agreement with Vivicast Media and the launch of UHD-1 brings a fourth Ultra HD channel to our North American platform. SES and its centre of the arc Ultra HD satellite neighbourhood has become the partner of choice and place to be for cable operators and other MVPDs ready to deploy Ultra HD across their networks.”