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BGonaSTICK · 09-09-07, 11:54 AM

Austrian public broadcaster Österreichischer Rundfunk (ORF) will join the HDTV bandwagon next year.

Based on the results of a HDTV working committee, general director Alexander Wrabetz has decided to immediately commence technical preparations. A high-definition quality service is timetabled to be ready in time for the soccer European Championship to be held in Austria and Switzerland and the Olympic Games in China next year. The legal and financial basis for the permanent HD transmissions as well as the technical specifications for the reception devices should be finalised by the end of November and presented to ORF’s board for approval by December.

“ORF is making a decisive step in the future of high definition television and, through this powerful quality thrust, affirms its claim to be an innovative company and technological market leader in Austria,” said Wrabetz.

The decision to launch an HDTV offer by mid-2008 comes as a surprise. At the beginning of August Wrabetz was still hesitant and referred to complex questions of costs, rights, technical aspects and design. He said that there would most probably be no HDTV offer for the European Championship: “That would be a surprise, if we did that after all.”

The first public broadcaster in German-speaking Europe to offer an HDTV service is Switzerland’s SRG SSR idée suisse. The channel will be launched via cable and satellite on December 1 with one of the first highlights being live coverage of the European Championship. German public broadcasters ARD and ZDF do not plan to offer HDTV until the Winter Olympics in Vancouver in February 2010.

Source: World Media

remlap · 09-09-07, 01:39 PM

SRG Swiss I was under the impression was already on c@ble, possibly a test bed and not a full launch ala BBC HD?

ORF im wondering what their plans are, I'm not sure how well cabled Austria is or how free their DVB-T service is.

I dont quite understand ARD, they rolled out PAL as soon as was technically possible, maybe due to the fact PAL was German made and the cold war?

09-09-07, 11:54 AM	#1 (permalink)
BGonaSTICK Dodgy Geezer Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Brighton Posts: 9,718 Thanks: 3 Thanked 166 Times in 60 Posts	ORF to offer HD from 2008 Austrian public broadcaster Österreichischer Rundfunk (ORF) will join the HDTV bandwagon next year. Based on the results of a HDTV working committee, general director Alexander Wrabetz has decided to immediately commence technical preparations. A high-definition quality service is timetabled to be ready in time for the soccer European Championship to be held in Austria and Switzerland and the Olympic Games in China next year. The legal and financial basis for the permanent HD transmissions as well as the technical specifications for the reception devices should be finalised by the end of November and presented to ORF’s board for approval by December. “ORF is making a decisive step in the future of high definition television and, through this powerful quality thrust, affirms its claim to be an innovative company and technological market leader in Austria,” said Wrabetz. The decision to launch an HDTV offer by mid-2008 comes as a surprise. At the beginning of August Wrabetz was still hesitant and referred to complex questions of costs, rights, technical aspects and design. He said that there would most probably be no HDTV offer for the European Championship: “That would be a surprise, if we did that after all.” The first public broadcaster in German-speaking Europe to offer an HDTV service is Switzerland’s SRG SSR idée suisse. The channel will be launched via cable and satellite on December 1 with one of the first highlights being live coverage of the European Championship. German public broadcasters ARD and ZDF do not plan to offer HDTV until the Winter Olympics in Vancouver in February 2010. Source: World Media __________________ Dreambox 7000, Skystar2 PCI, Skystar USB, Fibo 90cm on Moteck SG2100, Triax TD110 multi-LNB. Sky + ART cards. 45.0°E - 58.0°W

09-09-07, 01:39 PM	#2 (permalink)
remlap Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: South Wales Posts: 831 Thanks: 0 Thanked 15 Times in 12 Posts	Re: ORF to offer HD from 2008 SRG Swiss I was under the impression was already on c@ble, possibly a test bed and not a full launch ala BBC HD? ORF im wondering what their plans are, I'm not sure how well cabled Austria is or how free their DVB-T service is. I dont quite understand ARD, they rolled out PAL as soon as was technically possible, maybe due to the fact PAL was German made and the cold war?