German public broadcaster ARD is adding six new HD channels on December 5 on Astra’s main German orbital position at 19.2 degrees East.
The new HD channels are the three thematic channels EinsPlus, Tagesschau24 (news) and Einsfestival and three regional channels, HR, MDR and RBB.
ARD started satellite HD broadcasts of its main channel Das Erste in February 2010, adding BR, NDR, SWR, WDR, Phoenix, 3sat and KiKA in April, 2012. Arte HD has been transmitting since 2009.
In a related development, the German religious channel Bibel TV is also launching a HD version on Sunday, December 1. The broadcaster is using capacity and uplink facilities provided by Austria’s ORS.
Meanwhile, Sky Atlantic pon Sky Deutschland is reversing the trend by launching a SD version of tis channel.
