Rogers announces gigabit internet and world's largest commitment to live sports broadcasting in 4K with HDR
Launches 4K TV and 4K set top box; will broadcast over 100 live sporting
events in 4K including every 2016 Toronto Blue Jays™ home game and over
20 marquee NHL games
Introduces Rogers IgniteTM Gigabit Internet for the best 4K streaming experience to entire cable footprint in 2016
Partners with Netflix to deliver premium 4K streaming experience and
secures over 100 hours of 4K content on shomi™
TORONTO, Oct. 5, 2015 /CNW/ – Rogers today announced it is bringing
customers the next big thing in home entertainment with the launch of
4K ready gigabit internet speeds, a new 4K set top box, Rogers 4K TV
and the world’s largest commitment to live broadcasting in 4K with
HDR.
Customers will enjoy live 4K TV broadcasts – four times the pixels of HD
for higher resolution and improved motion video. Rogers will also
introduce high dynamic range (HDR) – a leading edge technology that
produces real-life images with richer colour saturation, contrast and
resolution – in April 2016 for the Blue Jays home opener.
“4K TV sets have been in the market for some time and 40 per cent of all
TV sales are likely to be 4K this holiday season. However, until now
live TV broadcasts in 4K have been few and far between and customers
have not been able to get 4K set top boxes,” said Guy Laurence,
President and CEO, Rogers Communications. “We are solving both problems
in one go with the world’s largest commitment to 4K broadcasting and a
new 4K set top box for customers that will allow customers to see
sports and entertainment in the highest resolution and with the fastest
internet speeds. 4K gets you closer to the action than the linesman and
first base coach, and HDR brings those images to life with intense
colour and contrast.”
Commits to broadcasting over 100 live events in 4K
Rogers customers can access over 500 hours of live sports, movies and
shows in 4K beginning in 2016, including:
- Every Toronto Blue Jays 2016 season home game (81) broadcast in 4K with
HDR live on Sportsnet™ - Over 20 marquee NHL games broadcast this season in 4K on Sportsnet,
starting with the January 23rd Montreal Canadiens @ Toronto Maple Leafs game - Over 100 hours of 4K movies, series and TV shows on shomi
- An ever-growing catalog of Netflix original series in 4K such as Narcos,
Marvel’s Daredevil, Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp, Sense8,
Grace and Frankie, Chef’s Table, Bloodline, House of Cards and more
“As Canada’s highest rated sports television network, Sportsnet
continues to lead in innovative sports production with the introduction
of 4K and HDR. We look forward to giving our viewers the latest and
best quality broadcasts in the world,” said Scott Moore, President,
Sportsnet & NHL Properties, Rogers.
“The Blue Jays are having a terrific season, and the fan enthusiasm in
Canada is palpable heading into the Postseason,” said Baseball
Commissioner Robert D. Manfred, Jr. “That excitement will only continue
into next season, when Rogers brings Blue Jays fans all its home
broadcasts in 4K. The technology will completely change how they
experience the game at home. Partners like Rogers spark innovation in
the game and bring fans even closer to the action.”
“As we go into year two of our 12-year partnership, it is exciting that
Rogers is bringing even more innovation to the game and our fans,”
National Hockey League Commissioner Gary Bettman said. “4K will deliver
a broadcast experience like no other in sports and I’m thrilled
Canadian hockey fans will get even closer to the game and action with
this technology.”
“Canadians love shomi and they will be able to enjoy an even sharper,
higher resolution image when they are watching great movies and shows
in 4K,” said David Asch, Senior Vice President and General
Manager, shomi. “4K content is on our roadmap and we look forward to
delivering it to Canadians for the ultimate viewing experience.”
Delivers gigabit internet speeds to entire footprint by end of 2016
Perfect for streaming 4K, Rogers Ignite Gigabit internet will start to
roll out this year in downtown Toronto and the GTA, including:
Harbourfront, Cabbagetown, Riverdale, King Street West, Queen Street
West, the Financial District, Discovery District, Yonge and Bloor, and
more, as well as Vaughan, Markham, Richmond Hill, Pickering, Ajax, and
Whitby. By the end of 2016, Rogers Ignite Gigabit internet will be
available to over four million homes – Rogers entire cable footprint
across Ontario and Atlantic Canada. This investment to bring customers
gigabit internet speeds supports Rogers commitment to delivering the
fastest speeds to the most Canadians. Today over 3.4 million homes in
Ontario can get Rogers internet speeds up to five times faster than the
competition can deliver to most homes.
“The number of devices connected to the internet in the home is
increasing and they are consuming more internet every month. With our
Gigabit roll out, customers can watch TV in 4K and still have all their
devices in their home streaming movies and shows with clearer picture
quality and less buffering,” said Laurence, noting it’s an experience
telephone copper wire technology cannot deliver. “We don’t have to pick
and choose which customers can access the fastest speeds, our
technology will deliver it to virtually all our customers. Canadians
shouldn’t have to wait for the best home entertainment experience and
fastest internet speeds.”
Even better streaming in 4K
A new partnership with Netflix will directly connect the Rogers network
to Netflix servers, enabling a better Netflix experience with faster
start-up times and superior image quality. Netflix will also be
available on select cable set top boxes and Android devices from
Rogers.
“Our partnership with Rogers will make it even easier for Netflix
members to watch their favourite shows and films on their TVs,” said
Bill Holmes, global head of business development at Netflix. “Members
with a Rogers 4K set top box will be able to enjoy Netflix original
series in 4K, a more immersive experience with stunning picture
quality.”
To be among the first to get Rogers 4K TV, 4K set top box and Rogers
Ignite Gigabit internet with unlimited usage for $149.99, please visit
Rogers.com/4K to reserve.
About Rogers
Rogers Communications is a leading diversified public Canadian
communications and media company. We are Canada’s largest provider of
wireless communications services and one of Canada’s leading providers
of cable television, high-speed Internet and telephony services to
consumers and businesses. Through Rogers Media, we are engaged in radio
and television broadcasting, televised shopping, magazines and trade
publications, sports entertainment, and digital media. Our stock is
publicly traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: RCI.A and RCI.B)
and on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: RCI). For further information about the Rogers group of companies, please
visit rogers.com.
SOURCE Rogers Communications Inc.
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Image with caption: “Standing on the infield at Rogers Centre in Toronto, Rogers CEO Guy Laurence announces the company is launching gigabit internet speeds and making the world’s largest commitment to live sports broadcasting in 4K including every 2016 Blue Jays home game and over 20 marquee NHL games this season. (CNW Group/Rogers Communications Inc.)”.
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