• Five-year, £2m channel launch package for new home-entertainment retail channel
• Playout, uplinking and satellite space
• Innovative remote file-transfer and scheduling facilities

Arqiva has announced a five-year contract worth £2million from Home Entertainment Corporation PLC, to provide integrated playout, uplinking and satellite capacity for its new ‘ChoicesUK TV' home-entertainment retail channel which launched this week on the Sky Digital platform.  The deal takes advantage of Arqiva's all-inclusive channel services package, including integration of a scheduling system and a file-transfer capability at Arqiva's Broadcast Media Centre in Feltham, enabling HEC to remotely manage the channel from its Peterborough headquarters and Teddington Studios.

The new channel, which allows HEC to capitalise on the popularity of its 227 ChoicesUK stores and ChoicesUK Direct operation, will showcase its full range of screen entertainment products to suit every pocket - from bargain DVDs and games, to high-tech home cinema equipment.  ChoicesUK TV will also offer the complete range of current gaming consoles,
X-Box, PS2 and the various Gameboy models, while simultaneously gearing up next-generation platforms X-Box 360, PS3 and Sony's soon-to-be-launched hand held device, the PSP.

Iain Muspratt, Chairman of HEC said: "We're delighted to be working with Arqiva for our channel delivery and technical support.  Its heritage and long experience in broadcasting were important factors for us in awarding this contract, as well as the value-for-money and flexible approach that everyone expects these days.  We have been delighted with the support they have given us and have no doubt this will be a long and fruitful partnership."

Arqiva's commercial director for satellite media solutions, Simon Thrush, added:
"ChoicesUK TV is a great example of how new channels can benefit from our tailor-made, end-to-end service provision.  With only one company to deal with for playout, connectivity, uplinking and space segment, the channel can stay focused on its business priorities while we take 24-7 responsibility for its delivery."