NOS launches trial Ultra HD channels

Portuguese pay TV operator NOS has launched two trial Ultra High Definition channels in partnership with Thomson Video Networks.

NOS has launched its own NOS UHD 4K service as satellite operator Hispasat’s 4K channel, using the the HEVC compression capabilities of Thomson’s ViBE VS7000 encoding and transcoding platform.

The NOS 4K channel is designed to deliver exclusive Ultra HD versions of NOS’s popular programs – such as NOS Primavera Sound, NOS em Palco, NOS Alive and North Canyon.

“We congratulate NOS for ushering in the UHD broadcasting era in Portugal. Until now, 4K broadcasts there were very experimental and offered very restricted access, but NOS is the first to bring the dazzling picture quality of UHD into the mainstream and into the homes of Portuguese viewers,” said Eric Louvet, vice president, worldwide sales and field services, Thomson Video Networks.

Alexandre Martins, residential product director at NOS said: “As the recognised global leader in HEVC compression solutions, Thomson Video Networks is the ideal partner to support our UHD TV launch.”