Four channels of the German MTV Networks are to go HD. Viva, Comedy Central, MTV and Nickelodeon are set for HD versions, according to general manager Karola Bayr in the trade publication ProMedia.
At the moment, MTV Networks Deutschland has just a single HD channel, MTVN-HD which is distributed via cable and Deutsche Telekom’s Entertain IPTV platform. One possibility could be to offer the four HD channels via Astra’s HD+ satellite DTH platform.
In a related development, Sony has announced it will launch an HD version of its German language AXN channel, which is currently only available to IPTV Entertain subscribers.
Meanwile, MTV Networks Deutschland has not issued any audience figures for the month of January following the move of its main MTV channel behind pay walls. Until December 31, MTV was a free-to-air channel in the German speaking markets. Now, the broadcaster only offers its Viva channel as an FTA window to its other channels.