Sky’s 10 HDTV channels for Brazil

Chris Forrester

DirecTV-backed Brazilian DTH operator Sky has added 10 high-def channels to its line-up. Sky is a joint-venture between DirecTV (74%) and Globo Comunicacoes e Participacoes (Globo) with some 26%. The new high-def channels make an impressive initial bundle.

The channels include Discovery Theatre HD, Fox-NatGeo HD, ESPN HD, MGM HD, TNT HD, Voom HD, Space HD, HBO HD, HBO and perhaps an all-important adult channel SexZone HD. Seven of the channels contain original programming (different from the standard-def) that is only available through Sky.

“I am very proud of this launch. After a long merger process (Sky and DirecTV), leading this market is vitally important. For the first time, we will be able to provide 1,800,000 customers with a product/service that has no equal in the Brazilian market,” said Luiz Eduardo Baptista, Sky’s President. Sky is the largest digital pay TV service provider in Brazil with approximately 1.8 million digital subscribers.