ITV signs high definition World Cup deal with ntl Telewest

ITV has announced a deal with cable operator ntl Telewest to provide ITV’s World Cup matches in high definition format, making it the only commercial platform to broadcast every live World Cup match in High Definition.
Alongside the World Cup matches and commentary, viewers will be able to see documentary material including the epic new wildlife series ‘Jean-Michel Cousteau’s Ocean Adventures’, classic films including ‘All Quiet on the Western Front’ and ‘The Big Sleep’, courtesy of a deal with Granada International (GI), ITV’s leading international programming distribution subsidiary.
GI will also be providing a range of drama including a number of Agatha Christie’s Poirot specials ‘Death on the Nile’ and ‘Murder in Mesopotamia’.
The deal comes as ITV prepares to launch a six-month trial of HD over digital terrestrial (DTT) test frequencies with the other commercial broadcasters and transmission provider Arqiva this summer in the London area.
The service will launch on both platforms shortly prior to the start of the World Cup competition.
Simon Fell, Controller of Emerging Technologies at ITV, said: “We are delighted to be able to broadcast the World Cup in high definition with ntl Telewest – making it the only place viewers can watch every live match in HD. With the popularity of large-screen HDReady sets we are excited by the opportunity to extend the content from our HDTV Terrestrial trial to ntl Telewest customers subscribing to its new TVDrive service.
“This trial service will allow us to evaluate the technology and give us valuable insight into viewer attitudes to HD programming, helping to show the possibilities for HD broadcasts delivered over Digital-Cable platforms and DTT should spectrum become available in future."
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