QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT TV TO BUY

Any kind of screen or TV could be connected to Sky's HD box but, to truly experience Sky's HD picture quality, you will need to buy an HD compatible TV. We recommend that you look for a 26" or larger plasma, LCD or DIP TV carrying the "HD Ready" logo.

WHAT DOES "HD READY" MEAN?
"HD Ready" is a labelling scheme that is being introduced by the European TV manufacturer's organisation EICTA in order to make clear to consumers what they are buying. The "HD Ready" logo will appear on an increasing number of TVs in shops over the coming months. Any TV that carries the "HD Ready" label will work with Sky's HD service and will be capable of displaying an HD picture.
. TVs that meet requirements of the HD Ready logo must:
. Have a minimum native picture resolution of 720 lines in wide aspect ratio.
. Support either 720p/50 or 1080i/25 picture formats.
. Be capable of accepting HD input by DVI (with HDCP) or HDMI (with HDCP) and component inputs.
. Some TVs have the correct screen resolution to receive Sky's HD service but do not have HDMI or DVI connectors. These TVs do not carry the "HD ready" logo but may still be able to connect to Sky's initial HD box using analogue component connectors. To find out more read the question below.

WHAT KIND OF SKY BOX WILL CUSTOMERS NEED TO RECEIVE SKY'S HD SERVICE?
. Sky has now launched its new HD service. Customers will not be able to use their existing Sky box, Sky+ box or Sky+ 160 box to receive HD programmes. This is because HD uses new broadcast and decoding technology.
. The Sky HD box will provide personal video recorder functionality through a subscription to the Sky+ service. Customers will be able to pause and rewind live TV and record every episode of selected series.

HOW WILL SKY'S HD BOX CONNECT TO THE TV?
.Our initial supply of HD boxes will have both a digital HDMI (with HDCP) and an HD analogue component connector.
. HDMI is recommended as the best means of connecting to an HD display.
. HDMI delivers the best possible picture quality by maintaining an all-digital connection. HDMI can also be connected to DVI equipped displays using a suitable HDMI to DVI adaptor cable.
. When Sky's HD content is viewed on a TV using the HD box's HDMI connector it will be protected by HDCP (High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection). This means that HD content viewed using HDMI or DVI will only be able to be viewed on TVs that have HDCP software built into them. All "HD Ready" sets have the necessary connectors and software.
Via Analogue 'component' connection.
. Customers can use the initial HD boxes' analogue component connectors to watch all the HD channels on Sky's HD service. But to be safe we are recommending that if customers are thinking about upgrading their TVs they are best to buy one with a "HD Ready" label. In any event Sky's subsequent HD boxes may not support analogue component connectors.
. Analogue component connectors on a TV display are typically 3 RCA Phono sockets marked Y, Pr, Pb; do not confuse these with the 3 RCA Phono socket marked R, G, B. The RGB connection can only support SD resolutions.
.These Component Video connectors have been added to Skys initial HD boxes because we are aware that there are some customers who have already bought TVs that don't have HDMI or DVI connectors.

IS THE HD DISH SET UP THE SAME AS SKY+?
The dish alignment and cable requirements for a Sky HD box are exactly the same as Sky+. For an existing Sky+ customer the Sky+ box and Sky HD box simply need to be swapped over. A Sky box customer will need a Quad LNB and second feed to the set top box.

PICTURE QUALITY IS AN INCREASINGLY IMPORTANT CONSIDERATION FOR CONSUMERS
That's why the picture quality improvement of digital TV over analogue was one of the top customer benefits to come out of research after Sky launched digital TV in the UK in 1998.
This interest in picture quality means that the arrival of High Definition programming is sure to be an attractive prospect for customers and a valuable sales opportunity for you.

WHAT BENEFITS WILL HD DELIVER?
. HD offers a step change in picture quality, delivering a home viewing experience better than anything that has been possible so far on UK broadcast television. Your customers will see greater depth and tone of colours and textures. The improved clarity of HD programmes will bring an even greater sense of excitement and drama to a wide range of programming.
. HD provides more than four times more data to a compatible TV screen than a Standard Definition (PAL) broadcast. This is because of the increased picture resolution that HD broadcasts deliver and HD display devices will be able to display.
. HD pictures are delivered in widescreen (16:9) format.
. Many of our HD movies will have Dolby 5.1 surround sound, so with a compatible surround sound system your customers will be able to watch these with full home cinema surround sound.

HOW DOES HD WORK?
The TV you watch at home is broadcast using a format called PAL. A PAL picture displays 576 visible rows of pixels on the screen and these are interlaced. This means that the whole picture is not shown in one frame, but instead all the odd rows are shown first, then all the even rows. Therefore the complete picture is only created after every second frame.
Sky's high definition service uses 2 new formats. The first 1080! increases the number of rows in the picture to 1,080 - over 500 more than a standard PAL picture and is interlaced. The other, 720p, has 720 rows but this time they are progressively scanned. This means that every row of pixels is shown in every frame. Sky's HD box will support either of these formats. That way programme makers can choose the best format for their programmes.


WHAT CHANNELS WILL BE IN HIGH DEFINITION?
Sky's HD service will offer a range of HD channels covering sports, movies, entertainment and factual. From launch live Premiership football matches will be available on Sky's HD service. More details will be announced closer to launch.


WHAT WILL CUSTOMERS NEED TO WATCH SKY'S HD SERVICE?
Cstomers will need an HD compatible TV, Sky's new HD box and relevant Sky subscriptions.

WHAT FORMATS WILL SKY'S HD SERVICE USE?
Sky will be able to broadcast HD in 2 HD formats 720p/50 and 1080i/25. The broadcaster can choose the best format for their programmes and Sky's HD box will ensure that the customer's TV receives the correct format. All you need to do is to make sure that their TV supports either 720p/50 or 1080i/25. The easiest way to do this is to advise them to buy a TV that has the "HD Ready" logo. That way your customer can be sure that it will work with Sky's HD service.

WILL CUSTOMERS BE ABLE TO RECORD HD TV?
Sky's HD box will have Sky+ PVR capability and customers will be able to record HD and SD (Standard Definition) provided the customer has the appropriate subscriptions.