ESPN Preps Australian HD Launch
Down Under Net Marks Sports Giant’s First International HD Play
By Mike Reynolds -- Multichannel News, 1/31/2008 11:13:00 PM
ESPN will go high-def Down Under.
The sports giant will launch its initial ESPN-branded high-definition service outside the United States, when it begins televising ESPN HD Australia sometime in the middle of this year.
Not a simulcast of ESPN domestic product, the service, which will feature major sporting events and local programming tailored specifically for Aussie sports fans, will be one of four new HD channels added by Foxtel in Australia.
Officials said that ESPN HD Australia will be transmitted via undersea fiber optic cable, providing over 100 Mbps of signal bandwidth service. Moreover, the fiber transmission path not only has the capacity to send/ receive feeds from the region, but to provide additional regional program services down the road.
”The launch of ESPN HD Australia reinforces our commitment to provide fans worldwide the best quality sports programming,” said Russell Wolff, executive vice president and managing director, ESPN International, in a statement. “ESPN HD and ESPN2 HD have been important drivers of HD growth in the U.S and continue to be among the most frequently watched HD services. We are pleased to be offering fans in Australia that same big picture experience.”
Stateside, ESPN HD and ESPN2 HD reach more than 15 million and 12 million subscribers, respectively. Down Under doings aside, ESPN is scheduled to launch ESPNEWS HD on March. 30and ESPNU HD on Aug. 28.
