MONTREAL – Videotron, Bell ExpressVu and Cogeco cable have all signed on to distribute a high definition version of the sports specialty TV channel, Le Réseau des sports (RDS), when it launches Wednesday.
The channel, broadcasting in high definition 24 hours a day, seven days a week, will air all the Montreal Canadiens games during the 1007-08 season, along with all major sports events, including major golf tournaments, the Super Bowl, the Grey Cup, tennis, major league baseball playoffs and Formula 1 races. About 1,000 hours of original HD programming will be produced by the channel over the next year.
“I am convinced that the arrival of RDS HD will contribute to the popularity of high definition television in Quebec. Just as RDS did with specialty networks, RDS HD will undoubtedly drive the adoption of HD by Quebec viewers,” stated RDS president Gerry Frappier.
He added, “With the recent renewal of our partnership with the Canadiens and the NHL until 2013, RDS is continually improving its offerings to consumers and bringing sporting events in high definition to the French viewing public is a great example of that.”
RDS’ audience share grew significantly in 2007, attracting 5.5% of all viewers in Quebec, and launching RDS HD should help expand the subscriber base, said the specialty TV network in a media release.
The channel will be available on channel 633 on Videotron, 863 on Bell ExpressVu and 540 on Cogeco.
All three distributors used the start of the 2007-08 NHL hockey season to market the new channel.
“High Definition … continues to grow in popularity, especially with sports fans across Quebec,” said the president of Bell Residential Services, Kevin Crull. “Quebec hockey fans are some of the most diehard sports fans in Canada, and we are proud to show their beloved Canadiens like they have never seen them before – in true HD.”
Cogeco will be offering RDS HD to the majority of Cogeco Cable Digital customers in the areas it serves in Quebec.
“By adding RDS HD to our digital television line-up, we allow our customers to discover the outstanding quality this technology offers through their favourite sports events,” said Cogeco Cable vice-president of marketing Ron Perrotta.
“With the addition of RDS HD to its programming, Videotron’s illico digital TV service offers its customers the best in sport in the French language,” Manon Brouillette, vice-president of marketing, content and new product development at Videotron, said in a statement released in French.
The addition of RDS HD brings to 11 the number of French-language channels offered in high definition on illico. As of September 24, Videotron had 1.614 million TV customers, with 717,000 subscribing to illico.
RDS HD will be available to digital cable TV subscribers paying the HD access fee of $2.99.
