Media Broadcast completes German ASO

Media Broadcast said it has now complete the analogue switchover in Germany. The process was completed within five years between 2003 and 2008. As of the end of 2008, more than 90 percent of the population (74 million people) are able to receive digital terrestrial television. “The digital switchover process finished two years earlier than determined by the German federal government,” according to Thorsten Mann-Raudies, chairman of the Task Force DVB-T Deutschland” of public broadcasters ARD and ZDF.

In the past few years, Media Broadcast installed a total of 283 new transmitting stations and set up new broadcasting antenna at 79 locations. The company completed 71 jobs using helicopters for the installation and de-installation of antennas. At the same time, x more than 6,000 analogue TV transmitters and TV transposers throughout Germany were de-installed.

“We’re happy that we were able to upgrade our analog infrastructure to DVB-T on schedule and that everyone is pleased,” explained Helmut Egenbauer (see picture), CEO of Media Broadcast, in a statement. “This brings the original TV broadcasting technology right up to date. All market participants will benefit from the added-value as the attractiveness of terrestrial broadcasting increases because both mobile and portable devices are being used. The three-tier receiving concept developed earlier with inside, outside and roof antenna reception has proven future-ready and boasts excellent quality when compared with other European countries.

Egenbauer added, “The success of DVB-T can particularly be contributed to effectively coordinating the Germany-wide conversion concept and the fact that all parties involved worked hard to organize the regional measures. The accompanying, professional communication between the respective project offices, the DVB-T Germany task force at ARD and ZDF as well as Media Broadcast delivered the necessary transparency for end-customers and retail stores. The successful completion of the DVB-T project is another example of the close, trusting cooperation we have with our customers, the broadcasting corporations under public law, private broadcasters and other partners on the market all of whom we’d like to thank.”

However, the switchover is not complete over: to ensure full coverage, some small areas will continue to receive a few analogue gap-filler transmitters into 2009.