Brussels (Belgium), 20th May 2005
Euro1080, the first European HDTV Media Company, will broadcast the finals of the Queen Elisabeth Music Competition on its first channel HD1 from Monday 23rd until Saturday 28th May 2005. Thanks to Alfacam and Euro1080, two European pioneers in High Definition Television (HDTV) technology, a significant larger number of people will be able to enjoy one of the world’s most prestigious music competitions live in digital sound and superior image quality.
The Queen Elisabeth International Music Competition remains a highly coveted event amongst talented young musicians. The Queen Elisabeth Competition is open to musicians who have already completed their training and who are ready to launch their international careers. These young musicians are given the opportunity to perform with some of the most renowned musicians of our time. The participants to the Competition see how they measure up to their peers, to work with quality orchestras under leading directors in prestigious concert halls and to give the best of themselves.
Live Broadcast on HD1
For the first time in 6 decades, the Queen Elisabeth Music Competition will go live in High Definition. From Monday 23rd until Saturday 28th May 2005, Euro1080 will bring the finals of the Queen Elisabeth International Music Competition via satellite and cable into the living room of the viewers of HD1, the very first and until now only HDTV channel in Europe. The live broadcast will start every evening at 20.00 CET.
* * *
Euro1080, the European HDTV Media Company, started its activities on 1st January 2004. Apart from HD1, the first and till now the only HDTV channel in Europe, Euro1080 will launch its second channel HD2 in mid- 2005. One can view HD1’s superior HD image quality images by satellite and various cable companies. Euro1080 can rely on the HD experiences gathered by its sister company Alfacam.
HDTV (High Definition Television) guarantees superior image quality. Instead of the 625 lines (of which only 575 are visible) of the current European TV screen, the HDTV image consists of 1080 lines. HDTV can display at least 4 to 5 times more detail than analogue TV. The aspect ratio of HDTV is 16:9, instead of 4:3, which is common for standard television. This 16:9 ratio gives the image a panoramic effect. Euro1080 broadcasts in 1080i. The “i” stands for ‘interlaced’: each picture frame is created in two fields (phases) of alternating lines, one field for the odd numbered lines, one field for the even numbered lines. The scan rate is 50Hz, meaning that the fields are refreshed 50 times per second.
www.euro1080.tv
www.qeimc.be
