Austrian public broadcaster ORF will today, Wednesday October 26, launch two new thematic channels, ORF 3 and ORF Sport Plus.
The two new public channels will be available across all platforms in the country, digital terrestrial, satellite DTH and cable. Satellite distribution is via the ORF platform on Astra at 19.2 degrees East. Broadcasts are encrypted with Irdeto ICE (Irdeto Cryptoworks Envelope) and a working ORF smart card, which is available for €45 to licence paying Austrians.
The two new channels take the the place of TW1, the traffic, weather and sports channel of ORF. ORF III will focus on culture and information, while ORF Sport Plus will broadcast sports around the clock.
Dr. Alexander Wrabetz, general manager of ORF, said in a statement: “The launch of two new 24-hour-interest channels is a milestone in the development of the company and one of the major programme projects. We develop the ORF television family of channels within the areas of culture, information and sport and further expand our public programming offer. ORF III and ORF Sports Plus stand for public values, which only the ORF can provide for Austria.”
