The addition of Eurosport’s HD channel to Sky HD would mean major sporting events such as the Tour de France and Olympics broadcast in high def
Eurosport could be returning to UK screens after a three year gap if negotiations currently being held with Sky are succesful.
The sports network is expected to add its HD channel to the Sky HD platform within the next few days.
It is understood to be currently testing at 28 degrees East alongside Eurosport News.
A Eurosport spokesman said: “We’ve been negotiating with Sky and are very keen to launch our service in the UK.”
Speaking to Broadband TV News he said that the cross promotion on Eurosport’s standard definition channels had encouraged a number of viewer enquiries.
The channel is expected to be made available to subscribers to Sky’s HD Mix.
Eurosport launched its high definition service on May 25, 2008 and is currently broadcasting live HD coverage of the Tour de France.
The channel has picked up significant carriage in France, Poland, Israel, the Benelux and Scandinavia.
After the channel’s original launch it was replaced by Eurosport 2, which was launched in 2005.
This channel included some Eurosport News programming, but continued as a standalone operation in other markets.
Speaking before the launch of Eurosport’s HD service in May, Laurent-Eric Le Lay, the network’s group chairman, said he wanted to provide as much high def coverage as possible.
As well as this year’s French Open-Roland Garros tennis Grand Slam the channel’s HD offerings include the Tour de France and the Beijing Olympics.
“Sport, especially live is spectacular in high definition; it transforms the viewing experience for sports fans,” he said.
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