Swiss public television has launched its first high definition programme, which will be largely given over to sports and major events.

Picture quality will be five times better than the current broadcast standard and audio will be Dolby 5.1, the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation said on Monday.

However, viewers will have to be patient though before they get to see the results as none of the country's cable operators distributes the programme yet, although this problem should be solved in a few months time.

Those who wish to see HD television will then need a decoder box as well as a HD ready set before they can actually sit down and watch the programme.

HD Switzerland plan to provide documentaries, fiction and productions from the German, French and Italian-language national services.

Hockey's Spengler Cup in Davos will be broadcast between Christmas and the New Year, while the European football championships in Switzerland and Austria will showcase the new technology.

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