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Brazil Leads in High Definition TV Channel Launches

SAO PAULO, Aug. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Sky, the largest HD Pay TV operator in Latin America, and NET Brasil, the company responsible for distribution of Globosat channels, announced today that they have reached an agreement for the distribution of the high definition channels of Globosat, Latin America's largest subscription TV programmer.

Sky will offer its clients three new programming packages ("combos"), bringing the total number of high definition channels and video services to 18, making it the largest offering of its kind in Latin America.

The negotiated high definition portfolio will initially include five channels -- Globosat HD, Multishow HD, two HD movie channels of Rede Telecine (called "Telecine HD") and PFC HD, which shows the best of Brazilian soccer, now in high definition. Globosat's HD channels and Multishow HD will be included in SKY's Digital HD package at no additional cost, with the latter made available by Globosat in October. The two Telecine HD channels will be offered in an a la carte format at a date to be announced.

"I am certain that the TV industry will now enter a new phase that goes beyond the new Globosat and Telecine channels as it takes our partnership to a level we've been hoping to reach for some time, and which will provide Sky subscribers the best high definition (HD) content," said Fernando Ramos, executive director of NET Brasil.

"These launches confirm Sky's standing as the operator with the largest offering of HD channels in Latin America, and strengthen the company's position as a TV specialist," says Luiz Eduardo Baptista da Rocha, Sky President.

Source: NET Brasil; Sky; Globosat