LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dolby Laboratories, Inc. (NYSE: DLB) today announced that Spanish regional public broadcaster Televisió de Catalunya (TV3) will show the UEFA Champions League final with Dolby® Digital Plus audio.
TV3 is Catalonia’s main communication medium and the TV network that is one of the most watched by the country’s citizens. It has been a leader in the introduction of digital TV services and the move to broadcasting with Dolby Digital Plus means it is one of the first terrestrial HDTV services in Spain to use the sophisticated audio system.
“The HD experience is all about the very best quality, and that not only means high-definition pictures but improved, high-definition audio as well,” said Amadeu Gasso, TV3’s Head of Projects. “TV3 viewers demand quality sound, especially if they have invested in a home theater system, and the UEFA Champions League final is the perfect event to match superb HD images with cinematic Dolby 5.1 audio.”
The UEFA Champions League is widely considered to be the most prestigious football club competition in the world, and the final will this year take place at London’s Wembley Stadium on Saturday 28 May between England’s Manchester United FC and Spain’s FC Barcelona. It will be broadcast live to an estimated worldwide television audience of over 100 million and with FC Barcelona having recently secured a record-breaking third successive Spanish La Liga title, the match will be of particular interest for the TV3 audience.
“We know how important this event is and have been working very closely with TV3 for some time as they have been developing their HD services and building toward the switch to Dolby Digital Plus audio,” said David Blasco, Regional Director, Southern Europe, Dolby Laboratories. “Dolby Digital Plus audio is already mandated in the Spanish digital terrestrial specification, so we are really excited to see TV3 make this move, as it demonstrates their determination to constantly innovate and deliver the best HD audio for this iconic sporting event. Dolby Digital Plus will ensure the most efficient delivery of the cinematic experience for TV3 viewers in their own homes.”
Earlier this year, TV3 announced it would be showing this year’s Formula 1 Motor Racing Championship in high definition, using Dolby Digital Plus to provide a discrete 5.1 surround sound experience for motor racing fans.
Dolby Digital Plus is designed to adapt to the changing demands of future entertainment delivery, while retaining backward compatibility with the existing multichannel home theater systems in use today to deliver high-quality, next-generation surround sound. The performance and flexibility of Dolby Digital Plus is ideal for broadcasters, allowing them to deliver excellent quality while retaining the ability to decode Dolby Digital broadcast bitstreams for compatibility with existing broadcast services. Dolby Digital Plus is also designed to provide consistent and predictable results throughout the broadcast chain to the consumer’s television, ensuring an excellent experience for viewers and a high-efficiency solution for broadcasters. To date, Dolby Digital Plus has been included in more than 375 million products worldwide, including TVs, set-top boxes, Blu-ray Disc™ players, audio/video receivers, and mobile phones.
About Dolby Laboratories
Dolby Laboratories (NYSE: DLB) is the global leader in technologies that are essential elements in the best entertainment experiences. Founded in 1965 and best known for high-quality audio and surround sound, Dolby creates innovations that enrich entertainment at the movies, at home, or on the go. For more information about Dolby Laboratories or Dolby technologies, visit www.dolby.com.
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