Panasonic Chooses S&T's MHEG For UK Freesat Service

Strategy & Technology Client Systems, specialists in interactive TV playout systems and MHEG-5 middleware, has announced that Panasonic has confirmed that it has chosen the company's RedKey 2 MHEG-5 interactive TV engine for use with IDTV's to receive Freesat, the UK's new, free satellite TV service.
Panasonic, which has been supplying IDTV products to the UK market since 1999 and has been a long-term S&T customer, is currently developing new product to take full advantage of the MHEG-5 enhancements that RedKey 2 provides.
Steve Randall-Smith, Director of Panasonic European TV Design Centre, said: "The motivation for us to deploy RedKey 2 is simply its enhanced interactive capabilities, specifically the ongoing development of a return channel and HD graphics. This means a richer interactive experience for the customer."
Randall-Smith highlighted Freesat's ability to deliver subscription-free HDTV to almost every home in the UK as being a key reason for the company's involvement. He said: "Based on our superior picture quality we believe that customers will really see the difference that a true HD television brings.
He also highlighted a strong working relationship, ease of communication and competitive performance and reliability as reasons for the further development of its involvement with S&T, saying: "As MHEG-5 is expanding globally, so the relationship with S&T is evolving to allow us to commercialise those technologies in new markets."
Paul Daly, General Manager of S&T Client Systems, said: "We have worked closely with Panasonic for many years now and are very happy that this has been reinforced with the cooperation on Panasonic's Freesat project. Freesat is an important development for UK television and one that we see expanding over the coming years."
Strategy & Technology Ltd is a specialist company building and implementing technology based on international standards in digital TV.
Further information is available at: www.s-and-t.com.
Freesat is the new TV service providing subscription-free digital television to everyone in the UK, offering over 80 TV, radio and interactive channels, including HD services from the BBC and ITV. It is a not-for-profit organisation and is a joint venture between the BBC and ITV. Further information is available at: www.freesat.co.uk.
(KMcA/JM)