Karlsruhe based German firm VideoWeb is bringing the HD versions of all German public broadcasters to analogue cable and DTT homes.
With the new set-top box, which uses the HD streaming service of Zattoo, viewers who have an analogue cable subscription or who watch via the digital terrestrial transmitter network can now have access to a range of HD channels.
In Germany, viewers will have access to the public HD channels ARD Das Erste, ZDF, Aete, Kika, 3sat, Phoenix BR, NDR, SWR, WDR, ZDFinfo, ZDFneo and ZDFkultur. In Switzerland the line-up consist of all the German public broadcasters, but also the Swiss ones, SF1, SFzwei, RTS un, RTS deux, RSI La1 and RSI La2.
In order to view the channels, people need to buy the VideoWeb set-top for €149 in retail and take out a premium subscription to Zattoo, which starts at €4.99 a month. Connection to broadband internet is also required, but according to VideoWeb 4 Mbps is sufficient to watch the Zattoo HD service.
The set-top also turns any TV set to which it connects into a smart TV set, with HbbTV, red button functionality, access to catch-up and VOD services. In total, over 100 apps can be accessed by the user.
The company will be showcasing the new feature at this year’s IFA in Berlin.
