Voom Launching Equator HD June 15

Voom wants to take its subscribers to the Equator.

Rainbow DBS’ HD direct-broadcast satellite service will launch Equator HD June 15.

The new network -- a Voom exclusive -- will offer a high-definition look at some of the world’s most exotic and unique places.

“The goal of Equator HD is to savor natural sights and sounds and make viewers feel like they are actually in the hills of Tuscany or the mountains of Tibet," Equator HD vice president of programming Bill Roberts said in a prepared statement.

“The unrivaled clarity of high-definition and immersive 5.1 surround sound allows viewers to fully experience the stories of people, places and cultural traditions as they unfold,” he added.

Highlights of Equator HD’s programming include:

Eye Over, which offers spectacular aerial views of England, France and Italy;

Shirikami Mountains: Legacy of the Beech Forest, which documents one year in this Japanese UNESCO world heritage site as the passing seasons take their toll on the Beech trees and the wildlife that inhabits the forest;

Heavenly Maidens Dance Again, which examines a traditional Cambodian cultural dance that was suppressed by the Communist government and survived due to the courage and strength of one woman; and

• Video essays from India, Japan, Papua New Guinea, Thailand and Egypt seen through the eyes of locals.