Advanced Television

Sky Deutschland commits to 60 HD channels

April 5, 2012

By Chris Forrester

Overshadowed by James Murdoch’s departure from Sky UK, some may have missed the headline numbers from Sky Deutschland, announced April 3rd, and in particular the commitment from CEO Brian Sullivan that the pay-TV broadcaster would boost the number of HDTV channels on air from today’s 42 to 60.

Sky-D also said it still expects EBITDA numbers to be significantly better in 2012 than in 2011, and positive in 2013, CFO Steve Tomsic told the company’s AGM. News Corp has a 49.9 per cent stake in Sky Deutschland

However, key to maintaining this financial progress is the outcome of the bidding war over broadcasting rights for the nation’s 2013-2014 Bundesliga football. It is widely reported that as many as 12 different bidders have emerged, and besides Sky-D, it is reported that Deutsche Telekom, Pro7/Sat1, Kabel Deutschland and other well-funded bidders are already in the frame.

 

Categories: Articles, Broadcast, Pay TV, UHD