View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

  1. News
April 29, 2010

Sky News to launch in HD on election night

By Dominic wireposts

Sky News says it will be first news channel to be available in HD as of election night next Thursday.

Here’s the full press release:

Sky News today announced that it will launch in High Definition on Thursday 6th May at 9.00pm to coincide with the channel’s election night show Decision Time. Sky News HD will be broadcast on Sky channel 517 and will be simulcast alongside Sky News’ existing Standard Definition channel 501.

As part of a premium service, the new High Definition channel unites first-class journalism with sharp picture quality and uses a widescreen format to show more detail about the key stories of the day, bringing HD customers closer to the news. The new channel is supported by an updated HD studio and HD resources in the field, while HD graphics create a striking on air look to deliver a clear, crisp and compelling new television experience.

John Ryley, Head of Sky News said: ‘We’ve made the news ourselves in 2010 by launching the first UK news service in HD with sharper pictures and enhanced services for HD viewers. It’s an innovation which clearly defines Sky’s strengths, our passion and our restless pursuit to be first and to be the best. The detail of Sky News HD is stunning – I hope our viewers will enjoy the new experience.”

From Monday 10th May 2010, viewers will benefit from a new and innovative way of story telling – HD Premium Panels – providing contextual detail about the key stories of the day. Content will include live video feeds from developing stories, rich graphics that enhance Sky News coverage and real-time text analysis from Sky News specialist correspondents during live speeches and events.

The launch of Sky News HD responds to increasing customer demand for high quality programming with the intensity and vividness of HD, and follows the channel’s successful HD broadcast last week of The Sky News Debate with Gordon Brown, David Cameron and Nick Clegg.

Content from our partners
MHP Group's 30 To Watch awards for young journalists open for entries
How PA Media is helping newspapers make the digital transition
Publishing on the open web is broken, how generative AI could help fix it

With the launch of Sky News HD, all Sky channel brands are now available in HD, with 40 HD channels spanning all genres. As of 31st December 2009, 2.1 million customers had signed up to receive Sky’s HD pack of channels.

Topics in this article : ,

Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog

Select and enter your email address Weekly insight into the big strategic issues affecting the future of the news industry. Essential reading for media leaders every Thursday. Your morning brew of news about the world of news from Press Gazette and elsewhere in the media. Sent at around 10am UK time. Our weekly does of strategic insight about the future of news media aimed at US readers. A fortnightly update from the front-line of news and advertising. Aimed at marketers and those involved in the advertising industry.
  • Business owner/co-owner
  • CEO
  • COO
  • CFO
  • CTO
  • Chairperson
  • Non-Exec Director
  • Other C-Suite
  • Managing Director
  • President/Partner
  • Senior Executive/SVP or Corporate VP or equivalent
  • Director or equivalent
  • Group or Senior Manager
  • Head of Department/Function
  • Manager
  • Non-manager
  • Retired
  • Other
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
Thank you

Thanks for subscribing.

Websites in our network