All programmes on Rwanda Television are now in high definition (HD) on Canal Plus decoders since Tuesday, November 8.

The new development is a result of a partnership agreement reached between Rwanda Broadcasting Agency (RBA) and Canal Plus Rwanda that allows the public to follow the television’s programmes, including the much-anticipated FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar, with High Definition images.

Announcing the partnership at RBA’s headquarters on November 8, Kennedy Munyangeyo, the Director of Rwanda Television, said going HD is part of the broadcaster’s new efforts to deliver quality images to its audience transitioning from its current Standard Definition (SD) images.

"We are so excited that our programmes are now full HD thanks to our new partnership with Canal Plus Rwanda. I hope it brings more excitement to the audience following our programmes, especially the World Cup,” Munyangeyo told journalists.

Munyangeyo said that his team could do the production of the content and distribute it to other media agencies that are already HD and "we were so nervous that our audience could not enjoy the same content on RTV our screens were full DH. That’s why we are going to keep our programmes HD even after the World Cup. There is no way back”

The HD images on RTV now apply only on Canal Plus’ 380 channel but the TV’s second channel (CH 630) will remain SD.

The World Cup fever is now looming and Rwanda Television has secured the rights to show at least 28 World Cup games of the total 64 games that will be played throughout the tournament.

The TV selected games that involve African teams among others during the group stages while each of the knockout stage fixtures from the quarter finals will also be shown on the public TV.

Sophie Tchatchoua, the Managing Director of Canal Plus Rwanda, said the partnership with RBA that saw Rwanda Television go full HD will improve the TV’s accessibility.

"Going HD means quality content for the audience, and improved access for the because Rwanda Television is available to the cheapest bouquet on Canal Plus. We are glad that the partnership is announced so people can enjoy the World Cup on RTV with full HD images,” she said.

While all the selected games will be broadcast with HD, Munyangeyo said the public broadcaster’s commentators are ready to deliver an entertaining show of the tournament through insightful commentaries before, during and after the matches.

To keep excitement of the World Cup at peak, a number of commentators, pundits and football analysts will be invited and join the commentators in the RTV studio to give their commentaries on the matches to make the World Cup more entertaining for the audience watching the tournament on Rwanda TV.

Besides, the public broadcaster will also conduct country outreach during the tournament where big TV screens will be taken to different places to help people watch the World Cup.

The outreach will be done in 14 districts nationwide and is targeted to reach over 10,000 people who will be able to watch the World Cup via the RTV big screens.

The Canal Plus HD services will apply not only on TVs screens but also on Canal+ mobile applications.