N24 will be the first German news channel broadcasting in HD. Starting July 1, it will be available exclusively on the HD+ platform via satellite following an agreement between N24, SES Astra and HD+. N24 is the eleventh broadcaster joining HD+. At the beginning of June, Nickelodeon HD and Comedy Central HD joined HD+.
HD+ is a technical platform from SES Astra for encrypted broadcasting and reception of private broadcasters in HD quality via satellite. Including the newly added N24 HD, HD+ offers 11 free TV channels: RTL HD, Sat.1 HD, ProSieben HD, VOX HD, kabel eins HD, RTL II HD, SPORT1 HD, Nickelodeon HD, Comedy Central HD and sixx HD.
In addition, the following unencrypted channels are available via DTHe satellite reception in Germany: Das Erste HD, ZDF HD, arte HD, ServusTV HD and Anixe HD. In total, HD+ households can currently receive a total of 16 free TV channels in HD, of which 11 are encrypted. HD+ is therefore the leading HDTV platform in Germany.
No fixed contract or subscription obligations apply for HD+. Following a one year trial period free of charge, customers pay a fixed technical service fee of €50 per year. This translates into a payment of €4.16 per month.
Wilfried Urner, CEO of HD Plus, said in a statement: “HD+ offers an attractive solution for broadcasters to deliver their programmes in high definition and adds significant value for the TV viewers who want to make use of their large flat screens and watch high quality TV content. The launch of Germany’s first news channel in HD quality is another proof for the success of HD+ and will further increase the variety of available HD channels in Germany. With the addition of N24, 16 of the most popular channels in Germany are now broadcasting their programmes in HD quality via satellite. This is only possible due to the success of HD+.”
