Thursday, July 22, 2010

Will DStv be adding Sony's general entertainment channel AXN as a new HD channel?


Could the general entertainment TV channel AXN be coming to South Africa soon as a high definition (HD) channel?

Sony Pictures Television (SPT) is launching several HD channels across the Europe Middle East and Africa region, known as EMEA. This move by SPT - that already broadcast Sony Entertainment Television (SET) on DStv 113 - is actually a part of SPT's aggressive roll-out of its other general entertainment TV channel, AXN. The HD channel known as AXN HD is already in Poland and has launched on new platforms in Spain, Portugal and Italy. Besides Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Germany, SPT is now also planning to roll out AXN HD across Africa as well, says the company.

Now of course as far as Africa is concerned, MultiChoice with DStv and its expanding HD bouquet is currently the best suited to agree to a possible carrier agreement with SPT and bring AXN HD to South African and possibly African viewers, since competitor On Digital Media (ODM) does not have a HD bouquet in existence (yet).

What would South African viewers be able to see in crystal clear HD clarity on AXN HD should this channel make its way here as the part of Africa SPT plans to bring the channel to? Well, ANX HD shows series in high definition like Stargate Universe, The Pacific, Criminal Minds, Without a Trace, the CSI shows, House, Lost, Numb3rs, Flashpoint, Damages and Breaking Bad.