Foxtel whose revenue streams are set to come under pressure from the likes of Fetch TV, T Box and a host of new IPTV services has announced dedicated 3D TV Channel. They have also announced four new HD channels and which will go live on November 1, 2010.
The new channels include Speed(channel 505), Speed HD (channel 206), MTV Hits (channel 808), MTVN Live (channel 812), MTVN Live HD (channel 252), BBC Knowledge HD (channel 242), Nat Geo Wild HD (channel 238) and FOXTEL 3D (channel 201).
Kim Williams, Chief Executive and Managing Director of Foxtel L said: “With the five new HD channels we add even greater depth to our HD offering. Our customers are now able to choose from 20 HD channels including a 3D channel. Our new dedicated 3D channel will allow customers to experience movies, sports and documentaries in stunningly clear and immersive 3D pictures.
Foxtel said that their new 3D channel will be a single destination for 3D content which will be expanded as new content becomes available. Content will include local 3D sporting content however the two NRL and AFL Grand Finals which are being shot in 3D will not be available Live on Foxtel.
Also included in the new 3D channel, will be content from the US Network ESPN including 3D simulcast from ESPN HD channel which include NBA, College Football and XGames.
Fox Sport will also broadcast Wimbledon Tennis.
What Foxtel has not said is whether the 3D channel will be included in the basic package or whether a premium will be charged for access.
In coming weeks both Fetch TV and Telstra via their T Box offering is tipped to launch dedicated 3D content channels.
As for the new HD Channels Foxtel is launching the following:
SPEED is a dedicated motorsports channel from Premier Media Group with extensive racing coverage 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including live coverage of every Superbike World Championship race, NASCAR Sprint, Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series, the GT1 World Championship, Monster Energy Super X plus prime time racing from the V8 Supercars, Dakar Rally, Formula 2 and World Series Sprintcars. SPEED will lift the hood on the latest from the world of motorsport. From the garage to the track, and pit-lane to the Chequered Flag, whether it’s on four wheels or two, on land, water or in the air – if it goes fast SPEED and SPEED HD will have it covered.
MTVN Live is a mix of new and classic concerts and music festivals from around the world bringing viewers the best of MTV’s live music, music videos, and music documentaries in high-end visual quality. The channel will also be available in stunning 1080i High Definition and immersive Dolby Surround 5.1 surround sound on MTVN Live HD.
MTV Hits is round-the-clock fresh music hits featuring exclusive access to the hottest music videos from the world’s biggest superstars including Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga, Usher, Miley Cyrus, Katy Perry and Justin Bieber.
FOXTEL 3D will be a mix of All HD channels – SPEED HD, MTVN Live HD, BBC Knowledge HD, and Nat Geo Wild HD – will be a simulcast of the standard definition channel.
FOXTEL also welcomes the following +2 channels National Geographic Channel +2 (channel 622), Nat Geo ADVENTURE +2 (channel 629), 13th STREET +2 (channel 163), and TLC +2 (channel 647), this is the new-look Discovery Travel & Living channel.
The following will be moving to new channel numbers to accommodate the new channels: ESPN HD (channel 211), UKTV HD (channel 214), MAIN EVENT (channel 510) and Discovery +2 (channel 620).
