SRG television channels in HD picture quality in future
In the future, SRG television channels—with the exception of SF info—will also be broadcast in high definition (HD). SF 1, SF zwei, TSR 1, TSR 2, RSI LA 1, and RSI LA 2 will begin broadcasting in HD on Leap Day, February 29, 2012.
SRG broadcasts the programs via satellite, according to a statement on Tuesday. They are included in the offer by cable and telecom network operators. In some cases, however, there will be additional costs for the HD channels. The major network operators such as Cablecom and Swisscom have already agreed to include them, as SRG spokesperson Daniel Steiner told SDA on request. Negotiations are still ongoing with some smaller providers.
The resolution is five times higher with HD and enables a cinematic experience at home with razor-sharp images even on huge flat screens, SRG advertised in its press release on Tuesday. The new HD programs have teletext and offer a third sound channel with surround sound in addition to two stereo channels. SRG is currently also conducting internal tests with Internet-enabled television sets. However, SRG will remain an observer of the development of 3D technology for the time being. SRG programs will probably continue to be broadcast in the current digital standard (SD) until the end of 2015. The SF info repeat channel will not be offered in HD for the time being.
According to SRG, over 75% of all Swiss television households already have an HD-capable TV set. Many foreign TV stations such as ARD, ZDF, RTL and ORF have already been offering HD channels for some time. SRG initially relied on a single multilingual HD channel: HD suisse. This test and experimental channel, which was launched at the end of 2007, will be discontinued on January 31, 2012, according to the press release.
