Digital Polsat is planning to start High Definition channels and to begin broadcasting in HD standard next year in cooperation with Polsat TV.

Digital Polsat was likely pushed to go ahead with HD technology by its competitors (the n platform of the ITI group is already broadcasting in HD standard) as well as the growing demand for HD ready TV sets on the Polish market. Forecasts for this year indicated that as many as 180,000 such TV sets would be sold, but the latest data shows that this number will exceed 300,000.

That is why the operator will offer five HD channels next year. Polsat Sport HD is to be the first of them. Digital Polsat has purchased a third transponder on a communication satellite in order to widen its range of programs.

This venture will be supported by Polsat TV which has ordered two Sony transmission vehicles able to transmit in HD standard. The first will be available in the first half of next year, the second in the fall. Polsat estimates that HD-quality transmission will cost up to 30 percent more than normal. Nevertheless the station is planning to invest tens of millions of dollars. By the end of the year the station plans to have its own HD studio and will be able to produce HD programs by itself.

Meanwhile, Digital Polsat Nov. 20 offered its clients DVRs (digital video recorders), 160 GB hard disk decoders which enable them to record programs and watch them whenever they like. The decoder may be purchased or leased for a year on deposit.