The new Austria TV 9 channel wants to take on national commercial broadcasters ATV and the new Puls 4, which is due for launch on February 4, 2008. The new venture is backed by German publishing giant Burda Verlag (51%), Andmann Media Holding (25%), production house Medienpool TV GmbH (9%) and some smaller investors.
The new channel has already started test transmissions on the Astra satellite and will be available free-to-view with the ORF Irdeto Cryptoworks smart card. Cable distribution is also planned, but the new channel will not be part of the second DTT multiplex, which will come on air next week.
Austria TV9 will be a general entertainment channel.