SES ASTRA to launch 3D demo channel

SES ASTRA, an SES company announced that it will launch the 3D demo channel on ASTRA. Following initial testing, the channel will go live on May 4, 2010 right in time for the opening of ANGA cable, the international trade fair for cable broadband and satellite taking place from May 4-6, in Cologne, Germany. ASTRA‘s new 3D demo channel will be available free-to-air via ASTRA's orbital position 23.5 degrees east, and will initially target retailers and installers featuring high quality 3D content including sports, music, and entertainment.

Ferdinand Kayser, President and CEO of SES ASTRA, said that with the first 3D television sets now available in the market, the launch of the 3D demo channel comes right in time to support this exciting technology. The new ASTRA 3D demo channel demonstrates the huge advantages of satellite for the transmission of high quality 3D TV signals, and the leading role of SES ASTRA in driving innovations in broadcasting technology. By working closely with leading TV set manufacturers, broadcasters and other industry partners, the company again demonstrates its ability to position itself at the forefront of new technological developments, and to bring together key-industry players to foster innovations.

Many broadcasters which are customers of SES ASTRA have already engaged the new technology and either started first test transmissions or launched regular 3D broadcasting. While British pay-TV operator BSkyB has been broadcasting soccer matches in 3D to pubs and clubs across the U.K. and Ireland since early April, French pay-TV operator Canal+ announced the launch of its first 3D channel in December 2010.

Eutelsat teams with General Satellite and St Petersburg's Mariinsky Theatre

In a new display of how 3D is rapidly redefining the viewing experience, Eutelsat Communications is teaming with Russia's General Satellite Corporation and the Mariinsky Theatre for a satellite transmission on April 15, from St. Petersburg of an exceptional sequence of classical ballet performances by leading Russian dancers. The 3D content will be received live in Moscow and Paris and displayed for the first time on Samsung's first generation of Full HD 3D TV sets.

This European premiere of satellite-delivered 3D content to TV displays will be transmitted on Eutelsat's all-3D channel on the EUROBIRD 9A satellite. Launched over one year ago, this first All-3D channel for Europe has enabled Eutelsat to collaborate with industry leaders in the burgeoning 3D market, including Samsung, Sony, Hyundai, Sensio, France Televisions, SKY Italia, Ciel Ecran, and OpenSky.

In an agreement announced today between Eutelsat and General Satellite, up to 500 hours of 3D content produced by General Satellite will further enrich the line up of Eutelsat's all-3D channel. General Satellite is already Russia's leading supplier of HD content for the platforma HD package broadcast across European parts of Russia via Eurobird 9A.

The dance sequences in St Petersburg will be filmed in 3D (two video signals and one audio signal), mixed, encoded and uplinked to Eutelsat satellite capacity from an SNG truck at the Mariinsky Theatre. The live signal will be delivered to six Samsung 3D ready 55-inch displays via a standard HD set-top-box produced by General Satellite. Viewers will watch the ballet sequences using Samsung Active glasses to show the lifelike depth and colour clarity that is now possible in consumer homes.

The 3D broadcast of the evening of ballet is part of the Mariinsky Theatre's strategy to promote the use of the latest communications technologies in the theatre's artistic endeavours.