Channels within the ProSiebenSat.1 group have switched satellite transponders in a move that should see an improvement in transmission quality.
The German broadcaster has opened up Astra transponder 107 (12.545GHz H), which will be used for digital transmissions of Sat.1, ProSieben, kabel eins, N24 and 9Live. The existing digital feeds on transponder 104 will continue until June 30.
Changing transponders is a major communication exercise in the German market where unlike the ‘managed’ service of BSkyB, the many thousands of zapper boxes in use will have to be retuned manually, though some units are capable of detecting channel changes.
In Switzerland, the local version of Sat.1 is also moving, switching transponders from 87 to 82 (12.051GHz).