Sky Sports agree HD broadcast deal

Sky Sports have today announced a three-year contract with Arqiva who will provide HD facilities on location.

The deal will see Arqiva migrating from the standard definition format it currently provides for Sky Sports’ coverage of the Football League competitions, to HD in time for the 2006-07 football season.

Arqiva’s outside broadcast facilities will be used to provide HD coverage of the Coca Cola Leagues - Championship, League One and League Two - and the Carling Cup knock-out competition. Sky Sports has already started to produce Barclays Premiership football and Guinness Premiership Rugby in HD and will produce England’s Test and One-Day internationals and county cricket in HD this summer.

Darren Long, Head of Sky Sports operations, added, "High definition is the next big step in broadcasting and is simply stunning for sport. Arqiva is a great partner for us and will provide excellent facilities on location. We are glad to be working with them on our HD coverage."

Sky HD is on track to launch next month (May 2006) bringing viewers a cinema-like experience with sharper, clearer and more vibrant pictures and, with compatible home cinema systems, Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound. Sky HD will capture detail and movement with greater clarity, providing four times the picture detail of standard definition. In order to enjoy Sky HD consumers will need a compatible HD-ready TV, a Sky HD box and the relevant subscriptions.