WDR starts Astra HD tests
By Robert Briel
March 18, 2009 08.30 UK
Cologne-based public broadcaster WDR has started test transmissions on the Eins Festival HD transponder on Astra at 19.2 degrees East.
The Westdeutscher Rundfunk had earlier said it would launch test transmissions in order to prepare for regular broadcasts. For the past year the Eins Festival HD transponder has been used for special HD showcase presentations first during the IFA exposition in Berlin and last Christmas.
At the moment, the German language HD offer on Astra is limited to the free-to-air channels Luxe.tv HD and Annixe HD and the two premium channels Discovery HD and Premiere HD. In the past few days there has been some speculation that ProSiebenSat.1 would resume HD broadcasts and that RTL is also contemplating launching HD; but so far there has been no official word from either of the broadcasters.
Related Articles- German channels showcase HD in Berlin
- New Astra transponder for ARD to improve quality
- Kabel BW adds more HD
- KabelBW takes ARD HD showcase
- German PSBs want fast analogue switchover
- 1,000 pubs ready for Sky 3D
- 3D demo channel for Astra
- Technicolor launches 3D broadcast platform
- CLT blocks reselling of RTL channels
- German digitisation catching up
