Satellite operator SES (Euronext Paris:SESG) says several U.S. cable operators are testing UltraHD/4K video content across its managed UltraHD platform and receiving the company's HEVC 4K IP set-top boxes in preparation for UltraHD subscriber trials into U.S. households later this year.
SES has signed UltraHD trial agreements with Cable America in Missouri, Golden West Telecommunications in South Dakota, MTC Cable in New York, Sjoberg's Cable TV in Minnesota and ATMC in North Carolina. As part of the program aimed at accelerating 4K delivery to homes across America, SES is shipping 4K/HEVC set-tops to cable operators participating in the trials.
SES is using the multicasting capability of DOCSIS 3.0 and traditional digital TV to deliver linear and live 4K programming. SES's managed solution, delivered over dedicated bandwidth, is intended to eliminate the buffering and network congestion of Internet-delivered 4K video.
SES is currently carrying four UltraHD channels on satellites serving every cable system and nearly 100 million homes across North America.