SES Adds 4KUniverse to Ultra HD Slate

SES S.A. said it has added 4KUniverse to its expanding Ultra HD lineup being delivered to a select batch cable operators and other TV platforms in North America.

4KUniverse, a 24/7 channel in the format, will offer a mix of documentariei, sporting events, movies and TV shows when it debuts in January on the SES-1 satellite – one of three (SES-1, SES-3, AMC-18) hosting  SES’s Ultra HD distribution platform.

4KUniverse was introduced in March.

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SES its UHD platform will be home to eight linear 4K channels in January, and that it has distribution deals with more than 30 UHD channels globally.

SES has lined up several U.S. cable operators for UHD trials, including Marquette-Adams in Wisconsin; Buckeye Broadband; Service Electric Cable TV; enTouch Systems; Cable America; MTC Cable and Sjoberg’s Cable TV.

SES has said its 4K trial platform will use either managed IP multicast DOCSIS 3.0 streams (not “over-the-top”) or traditional digital QAM transport streams.

“We have been collaborating with the SES team for months, by testing with block programming on their promotional channel – all leading up to this exciting launch of our 24/7 Ultra HD channel with cable and telecom companies across the US. Our first carriage deals will be announced shortly,” Matthew Mancinelli, Founder and CEO of 4KUnivese said in a statement.