Europa 7 HD explained

Europa 7 HD is an Italian group of television channels aired since October 11, 2010.^[1] It is one of the first broadcasters worldwide to use DVB-T2 technology, after United Kingdom's channels BBC HD, ITV HD and Channel 4 HD.

Legal battle

See main article: Europa 7. In Spring 2010 following a ten year legal battle, Europa 7 was assigned a national terrestrial TV frequency (or multiplex), able to cover 95% of Italy's population and 80% of the territory.

Start of broadcasts, coverage and technology

Europa 7 HD began testing broadcasts in July 2010^[2] and made its regular broadcasting debut on 11 October 2010, with the purpose of covering 80% of the population by the end of 2010.^[1] Europa 7 HD had transmitted all of its eleven channels in DVB-T2, announced as "the first broadcaster in the world to broadcast with this new technology."^[1]

E7HD has twelve channels with alternating schedules (eight HD and four SD).

Editorial line

Francesco Di Stefano, the owner of Europa 7, said that the project aims to make of Fly channel a politically independent channel based on freedom of information, hosting the journalists and comedians controversially censored by the other broadcasters.^[3]

Channels

For strategic reasons,^{[4] [5]} it changed its original 1998 plan of using its multiplex to broadcast a single analogic channel, into broadcasting twelve digital channels. Of these twelve, one called Fly channel pursues the original project^[6] of a free aired channel; the other for-pay eleven channels serve the purpose of assuring proper funding for the Fly channel.

Having a full multiplex for itself, Europa 7 HD hosts twelve alternating channels, all of them broadcast in DVB-T2. They are:^[1]

• Fly channel, a free of charge generalist Standard Definition channel, with news, satire and culture
• Five HD thematic channels based on paid subscription: Sentimental, Horror, Classic, Action and Family. These will offer movies, documentaries, concerts and international events
• Three pay-per-view HD channels offering movies most recently released on theatres.
• Three adult content channels, based on paid subscription and in Standard Definition. They air with Parental control and from 23:30 till 6:00 in the morning.

Notes and References

1. http://www.digital-sat.it/new.php?id=23651 EUROPA 7 HD, LUNEDI' 11 OTTOBRE AL VIA LE TRASMISSIONI DEI 12 CANALI.
2. Web site: Complimenti! Hai registrato il tuo dominio in OVH!.
3. Byoblu, TU QUANTO SEI IN CRISI? , September 15, 2010 quote: "Giovedì scorso sono andato a Roma per chiudere il cerchio delle interviste che realizzai a Francesco Di Stefano nel 2008 [...] Entro ottobre pubblicherò sul mio canale YouTube il lungo servizio che ho girato. [...] Di Stefano è persona corretta e mi ha confermato che su Fly, il suo canale di informazione libera (che verrà trasmesso in chiaro), troveranno spazio tutti quei giornalisti che hanno dimostrato di non avere mai piegato la schiena. Ma se ne parla tra diversi mesi, forse un anno se tutto va bene."
4. http://www.corrierecomunicazioni.it/index.php?section=news&idNotizia=78262 Europa 7 riparte in HD: arriva la pay-tv low cost
5. http://www.adnkronos.com/IGN/News/CyberNews/Tv-nasce-Europa-7-Hd-dal-calvario-giudiziario-alla-sfida-hi-tech-del-T2_456327539.html Tv: nasce Europa 7 Hd, dal calvario giudiziario alla sfida hi tech del T2
6. Francesco di Stefano (2008) interview on Europa 7 editorial line part 1 part 2 part 3 .