SES has launched its satellite-based UltraHD video platform in Latin America to support commercial 4K rollouts among cable, IPTV and DTH providers in the region.
Several Latin American pay TV providers are testing SES's new UltraHD solution, a package of pre-configured content, reception equipment, and satellite distribution. The new SES Latin America UltraHD solution will open with four channels, including NASA TV UHD, produced by Harmonic (), as well as the SES UltraHD demo channel, an incubator for emerging 4K content producers. SES plans to add new channels and content produced in Brazil, Mexico and other Latin American countries in the future.
Like SES's North America UltraHD solution, the Latin America platform will be distributed over multiple SES satellites. SES-6 will provide dedicated delivery across 100% of the Brazilian market. SES's NSS-806 satellite, home to SES's Latin American pay TV neighborhood, will serve the rest of the region until it is replaced by the recently launched SES-14 satellite later this year. Once SES-14 initiates service, SES plans to significantly expand the Latin America channel lineup on its expanding video neighborhood at 47.5 West. SES' Latin American operation has more than 300 HD and UltraHD channels currently hosted on its satellites.
"SES is ushering in an exciting new era of advanced television services across the region with the launch of our new Latin America UltraHD platform - the latest game-changing solution built on SES's robust network of space and ground infrastructure. The SES network is enabling the efficient delivery of HD, UltraHD, and OTT content to audiences throughout the region," said Jurandir Pitsch, vice president, sales and market development, for SES Video in Latin America and the Caribbean. "Latin America's leading pay TV providers are poised to offer UltraHD content to their subscribers via the SES platform ahead of the 2018 World Cup, which is driving strong interest in 4K services across the region."
SES also backs an antenna program for the installation of satellite antennas at pay TV distribution hubs throughout Latin America.