European channel HD1 (formerly Euro 1080) is becoming increasingly available on the major networks of several European cable operators, according to an annual study by Screen Digest, and could hold the key to pushing HD closer to potential mainstream acceptance. It still has some way to go, however.
DTV's emergence and build-out in Europe, for the most part, has virtually ignored HD. Instead, the rollout has concentrated primarily on SD and growing the number of available channels--'digital" meaning quantity over video quality, similar to U.S. cable DTV. Therefore, many new DTV receivers sold in the U.K. and in parts of continental Europe totally lack HD capabilities.
The European cable industry has found itself at a crossroads many times over the last five years, according to the Screen Digest report. But with financial restructurings now complete, as well as other problems mostly resolved, the cable industry in Europe is "back in business with a vengeance." Ambitions may be reduced, the report states, but new technologies spell good news for cable. IP telephony and digital VOD are already a reality in Europe, and "the promise of HDTV means more compelling new services are coming," the study said.
