MediaCorp to launch HDTV by end of the year
By Ng Baoying, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 06 July 2007 1205 hrs
SINGAPORE : By the end of this year, watching television in Singapore will be quite a different experience.
MediaCorp is launching a high-definition, or HD, TV channel, that promises sharper images.
It will be the first broadcaster in Southeast Asia to roll out an HDTV channel on terrestrial platform.
Since June 2006, MediaCorp had conducted an HDTV trial where 1,000 households, community clubs and retail outlets got to experience HD programmes such as CSI, Smallville as well as MediaCorp's locally-produced productions and co-productions with China.
And those who have had HDTV as part of a trial cannot get enough of it.
Chang Long Jong, Deputy CEO, MediaCorp TV, said: "Our decision to launch an HD channel this year is based on the very favourable feedback received from our trial users. We hope to offer our viewers the ultimate TV viewing experience, harnessing the latest technologies in visual and sound."
That is why MediaCorp will roll out an HDTV channel with 7 hours of HD programmes from the US.
There will be another 11 hours of non-HD local and foreign programmes, but even these will be specially enhanced for HD viewing.
Mr Chang said: "Based on our trial results, viewers really like to watch movies on HD. They like to watch 'live' events on HD. The question is would we be able to deliver our National Day, 'live' events on HD. That will be something they will enjoy.
"Along with that, they like sports, drama on HD. Progressively as we start to look at programming, these are areas we want to look at first to see how we can introduce them as soon as possible."
For MediaCorp, it is history in the making.
Mr Chang said: "In terms of terrestrial channel on HD, we're certainly (the first) in Southeast Asia. My colleagues have also told me that in terms of the technology that we use, in MPEG 4, it's also the world's first in that respect."
MediaCorp's trial channel HD5 is currently still on air and accessing it is free.
HD5 is a simulcast of Channel 5 with programmes enhanced for display on HD-ready TV sets. All a viewer needs is an HD-ready television set and a set-top box.
However at the moment, only half of the homes in Singapore can receive it.
Thus, stores like Courts and Best Denki have a scheme where customers can buy HD sets for test-viewing. If they cannot receive the channels, a refund is possible.
In the future, more homes will be able to receive the signal as the relevant infrastructure is developed. - CNA/ch
MediaCorp to launch HDTV by end of the year 
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