Sky Deutschland to test Ultra HD via satellite

Pay TV operator Sky Deutschland is to launch test transmissions of Ultra HD via satellite in partnership with satellite operator SES Astra to coincide with the forthcoming IFA and IBC trade shows. 

Sky will air a test broadcast at 3,840 x 2,160 pixels resolution. The move follows a trial recording of a Bundesliga football match in Ultra HD in December last year.

The satellite demo will include a mix of sports, movie and documentary content, encoded using the new HEVC/H.265 format.

The broadcast will be played out at both IFA and IBC via decoders supplied by Technicolor and Pace respectively.