Yle’s high definition broadcasts began on 2 May 2011
The distribution of the YLE HD channel in the antenna network has been organised with television service operator TV Viihde.
Yle’s high definition channel YLE HD started its broadcasts on 2 May, in the terrestrial network’s multiplex F.
During the first two weeks of operation, YLE HD will only broadcast YLE TV2 programmes in high-definition. This two-week period will culminate with the finals of the Eurovision Song Contest on Saturday, 14 May, and with the Ice Hockey World Championship finals on Sunday, 15 May.
After this, YLE HD will broadcast YLE TV2 programmes from Monday to Friday and YLE TV1 programmes on weekends as simultaneous broadcasts, or simulcasts. This solution enables the maximisation of genuine HD-quality programming in the Yle supply.The broadcasts start at 5.00pm and end at approximately 11pm.
Yle and TDF Entertainment Oy, provider of the TV Viihde service, have agreed on the distribution of the YLE HD channel in the terrestrial network until 2016. YLE HD is available via multiplex F in the channel supply of all TV Viihde’s HD customers. At the current time, the coverage area is some 60 per cent of the population. The broadcast stations for multiplex F are located in Espoo, Eurajoki, Jyväskylä, Lahti, Oulu, Tampere, and Turku. If the antenna is currently directed towards one of these transmitters, it does not have to be redirected. In order to receive the channel, an ‘Antenna HD Ready’ television receiver and a conditional access card, which is available free of charge from TV Viihde, are required.
The YLE HD channel is covered by the must-carry obligation, which means that it can also be viewed in the cable network. In households within the cable network, a ‘Cable HD Ready’ television receiver and a conditional access card are required. The YLE HD channel is also cost-free for viewers within the cable network.
Yle has been producing programmes in HD since 2005, and all of Yle’s internal drama productions, for example, are produced entirely in HD, including the Kotikatu (“Home Street”) series and the daily drama comedy Uusi päivä (“A New Day”). Upcoming HD productions include the finals of the hugely popular Tangomarkkinat tango singing contest, the opening of the new Music Centre in Helsinki, the popular weekly singing competition Tartu mikkiin (“Grab the Mike”), and the children’s Christmas favourite, Joulukalenteri 2011 (“The Advent Calendar 2011”).
For more information, please contact:
Yle:
yle.fi/hd
Olli-Pekka Heinonen, Chief Operating Office, tel. +358 9 1480 2311
TV Viihde:
tvviihde.fi
Vesa Mars, Chief Operating Officer, tel. +358 50 447 7681
Coverage area of multiplex F
For more information on cable television distribution, please contact the operators: kaapelitelevisio.fi
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2 May 2011
Communications
