The Dutch PPV service chellomedia will use its Sport1 channel to air the World Cup in Germany this summer as a way to kick off the first Dutch HD channel fully dedicated to sports. The Sport1 HD channel will launch in early June -- the same week that the world soccer tournament ("football" to the world outside the U.S.) gets underway.
Chellomedia also will commence its Film1 HD channel at around the same time in June. In a statement, chellomedia said it has reached an agreement with digital cable providers UPC, Essent, Multikabel and CaiW. The three Dutch cable operators are currently preparing their respective infrastructures for the launch of HD services, said chellomedia, which is headquartered in Amsterdam.
