10-02-2009

First HD Television planned for Slovakia

By Jana Kadlecova

    Czech Television Nova Sport aims to reach the the Slovak market with its new Nova Sport HD.

    The new channel will be broadcast in both Czech and Slovak. Czech television Nova Sport SD, that also employs Slovak speakers, wants to expand its programme in new high definition format into Slovakia. The launch of the channel has not been set, but Nova Sport is already dealing with Slovakis biggest cable operator UPC.

    "Currently we are deliberating the possibility of including the programme Nova Sport HD," UPC spokesperson Jaroslav Kolar told FNE. "We cannot tell you more until we finish our proceedings with Nova Sport."

    Nova Sport was previous Galaxie Sport, rebranded in October, 2008, and owned by CET 21.

    It will be the first television in Slovakia in HD. Trojka, a sports channel from Slovak public TV was broadcasting in HD during the 2008 summer Olympic Games. Trojka's future is unstable since the Slovak TV is in debt and has not been successful in securing financial support from the Ministry of Culture.