The majority of distribution platforms in Germany have now announced they will carry HD channels from public broadcasters. The latest to confirm is Deutsche Telekom’s IPTV service T-Entertain.
ARD’s Das Erste HD, ZDF HD and Arte HD will be available on T-Entertain in those areas where HD transport is possible. The announcement follows an earlier agreement between the pubcasters and the country’s largest cable operator Kabel Deutschland KDG to take the three HD channels.
Earlier, a number of other cable operators, including Unitymedia, Kabel BW, Tele Columbus, Primacom, Wilhelm Tel, Willy Tel, HL Komm, RFT and S+K, also said they will start to carry the HD channel. In Switzerland, Liberty Global’s Cablecom has also said it will distribute the HD versions. In some networks, distribution is limited to the ARD and ZDF channels only.
On satellite DTH, all three channels are available free to air on the Astra position of 19.2 degrees East.