TV4 Gets New Licenses for HDTV

The Swedish Radio and TV authority has given out HD licenses and two Bonnier companies have been recipients. Swedish TV4 AB has gotten a license for TV4 HD and C More Entertainment/Canal+ licenses for a new HD channel for sports, films and series, as well as for the existing Canal+ Series channel.

"Now TV viewers, byond the existing selections we offer, can get TV4's programming in HD quality and broken down by region, plus an extensive offering of sports, films and series in the new Canal+ HD channels, as well as all of the top-notch series from Canal+ Series," says Jan Scherman, CEO for the TV4 Group. "This will also increase interest in HDTV, and continue to drive development even more."

The TV4 Group has already had digital terrestrial television licenses fro TV4, TV4 Plus, TV400, TV4 Sport, TV4 Film and TV4 Fakta. Canal+ has had such licenses for Canal+ First, Canal+ Sport1/SF-kanalen and Canal+ Hits Sport Weekend. TV4 HD has been available previously via Canal Digital and Com Hem.

The new licenses will start July 1, 2010 and continue until March 31, 2014. Programming is expected to start January 1, 2011.