Showtime launches first premium HD channel

Launched on 7 July, on the eVision network, Showtime HD offers subscribers a first-class line up with greater detail, more vibrant color and superb quality sound.

Marc-Antoine d'Halluin, President and CEO, Showtime Arabia, said:

"Our commitment to HD reinforces our reputation for innovation within the region and delivering our customers a compelling new experience. The move to embrace HD responds to increasing demand from viewers' for high-quality programming with the intensity and quality of HD."

High Definition also arrives with some impressive special effects, thanks to movie titles such as Iron Man, Casino Royale, Wall-E, Into the Wild, Mamma Mia and Cloverfield. Showtime's hottest series will also receive a facelift, with the likes of Lost, Heroes, Prison Break and 24 getting the HD makeover.

In addition, the Showtime HD channel will broadcast three live matches each week from the English Premier League in HD, offering an unrivalled viewing experience.

D'Halluin added: "Embracing HD, the biggest revolution in TV picture quality in decades marks another landmark for Showtime, following the launches of Showbox and Show On Demand. Whether you are a fan of blockbuster movies, English Premier League football or the latest US series, you can enjoy more of the things you love in stunning high definition on Showtime."

The channel is available to eVision subscribers on cable as part of the new Showtime Premier +HD package. Showtime HD services will be available to a broader subscriber base later this year.