Two U.S. service providers have launched commercial linear UltraHD video services to cable and IPTV subscribers using SES's (Euronext Paris:SESG) satellite-delivered, pre-packaged, UltraHD solution.
Marquette-Adams of Oxford, WI, and Highlands Cable Group of Highlands, NC, have licensed the SES-provided UltraHD programming through Vivicast Media and have initiated their UltraHD offerings following trials of the SES platform. Additional cable and IPTV operators are also close to launching their own milestone Ultra HD services on SES's managed system, which is aimed at accelerating 4K UltraHD deployments across North America.
More than 20 MVPDs, with a combined audience of nearly 10 million subscribers, are testing SES's all-in-one Ultra HD solution, which packages 4K/UltraHD channels, satellite distribution services, and reception equipment. The UltraHD channels are hosted on a trio of SES satellites at the center of the orbital arc (SES-1, SES-3, AMC-18), which covers 100% of the cable headends in the United States.
Vivicast secured licensing rights for the pay TV providers offering the UltraHD programming lineup provided by SES. SES showcased its UltraHD platform at the NAB Show in Las Vegas this week.