Sky has signed more deals to help support the launch of its upcoming HDTV service.

The broadcaster, who hopes to go live with the high definition format in the next year, recently announced that Thomson had been chosen as the initial manufacturer of its HDTV digiboxes.

Now Sky has revealed that Sony will be responsible for constructing a new HDTV studio at its London HQ, while Tandberg Television will provide the encoding system. Harris Corporation's 'D-Series Version 4 Air Automation System' will be employed to assist in the delivery of Sky's HDTV programming.

Roger Bolton, director of satellite at Tandberg, told Advanced-Television.com: "Already a mass consumer proposition in the US, HDTV is now taking off in Europe and Asia. In fact, when we talk to broadcasters and operators in these regions, the question is no longer if, but when."