The new arrangement facilitates transmission of Channel 4 HD for the first time on Freesat, while maintaining the channel’s presence on the Sky platform. Arqiva is providing encoding, teleport services and satellite capacity to enable the channel to be uplinked simultaneously to both platforms via one transponder.
The service takes advantage of Arqiva’s technologically advanced DVB-S2 MPEG-4 encoding platform on Eurobird EB1, enabling Channel 4 to deliver the high quality HD signal more efficiently.
Arqiva has also installed the necessary compression equipment at Channel 4’s Playout Centre and is providing the necessary Sky adaptation and Freesat EPG insertion.
Barrie Woolston (pictured), commercial sales director at Arqiva Broadcast & Media, commented: “Arqiva provides Channel 4 with all its multiplexing systems and its terrestrial broadcast transmitter network, and this agreement means we now also provide Channel 4 HD’s satellite distribution. We launched our state-of-the-art DVB-S2 MPEG-4 platform on EB1 to meet the growing demands for high definition channel distribution. The exceptional efficiencies and superb UK coverage it offers makes this the ideal platform for a major national broadcaster like Channel 4.”
Kevin Burrows, CTO – broadcast and distribution at Channel 4, added: “We have a long and excellent relationship with Arqiva and we are delighted to entrust this final and important element of our transmission network to their care. Their ongoing support has been invaluable in enabling even more UK viewers to enjoy their favourite Channel 4 programmes in spectacular high definition.”
The new arrangement facilitates transmission of Channel 4 HD for the first time on Freesat, while maintaining the channel’s presence on the Sky platform. Arqiva is providing encoding, teleport services and satellite capacity to enable the channel to be uplinked simultaneously to both platforms via one transponder.
The service takes advantage of Arqiva’s technologically advanced DVB-S2 MPEG-4 encoding platform on Eurobird EB1, enabling Channel 4 to deliver the high quality HD signal more efficiently.
Arqiva has also installed the necessary compression equipment at Channel 4’s Playout Centre and is providing the necessary Sky adaptation and Freesat EPG insertion.
Barrie Woolston (pictured), commercial sales director at Arqiva Broadcast & Media, commented: “Arqiva provides Channel 4 with all its multiplexing systems and its terrestrial broadcast transmitter network, and this agreement means we now also provide Channel 4 HD’s satellite distribution. We launched our state-of-the-art DVB-S2 MPEG-4 platform on EB1 to meet the growing demands for high definition channel distribution. The exceptional efficiencies and superb UK coverage it offers makes this the ideal platform for a major national broadcaster like Channel 4.”
Kevin Burrows, CTO – broadcast and distribution at Channel 4, added: “We have a long and excellent relationship with Arqiva and we are delighted to entrust this final and important element of our transmission network to their care. Their ongoing support has been invaluable in enabling even more UK viewers to enjoy their favourite Channel 4 programmes in spectacular high definition.”
