HITS Starts Platform Upgrade

HITS, a wholly owned subsidiary of Comcast (NASDAQ:CMCSA), announced that several network groups have signed on to deliver more than 250 basic and premium cable channels plus audio channels via the new HITS "Q2" Platform. The HITS Q2 upgrade, beginning this month, is intended to convert several HITS SD transponders to DVB-S2 technology, increase the number of HD services offered in MPEG-2, and deliver the entire programming lineup via a single satellite.The Q2 upgrade is intended to improve the efficiency of MPEG-2 services offered by HITS. As part of the upgrade, more than 70% of the HITS multiplexes will be using 256-QAM DVB-S2 technology. New MPEG-2 HD services are planned for the second half of 2013.