Sky gears up for German UHD push

Sky in Germany has signed a new deal with satellite operator SES, leasing more capacity on Astra at 19.2 degrees East for Ultra High Definition (UHD) broadcasts.

Sky Deutschland’s chief officer of legal, regulatory affairs and distribution, Holger Ensslin, said that Sky has been investing in HD as part of its commitment to innovation.

“The agreement with SES gives us planning security in terms of capacity so that we can continue to develop Ultra HD and get it ready for the market,” he claimed.

Although Sky Deutschland has not formally announced plans for a dedicated UHD channel, its head of innovation and strategy, Stephan Heimbecher, said at a conference in London earlier this year that it could launch a 4K TV service in Germany at the end of this year or the beginning of next.

Sky in Germany has run several Ultra HD tests since 2012. A spokesperson for the company told DTVE that it will continue to do so with a goal of “moving forward step-by-step to bring Ultra HD to the consumers.”

So far, Sky’s UHD trials have focused around live productions around sports and concerts – including this year’s Champions League final. A Sky spokesperson said these types of broadcast offer the “biggest value for the viewers.”