The next-generation DTT platform in DVB-T2/HEVC standard will launch its full service in Germany on March 29, 2017 in several urban areas with around 40 public and commercial channels mainly in HD quality.
In return, the distribution of the commercial channels in predecessor standard DVB-T will be terminated in these regions. The full DVB-T2 service will gradually be rolled out to further regions until mid-2019.
As the first stage of the DVB-T2 deployment, a preliminary package with Das Erste HD, ZDF HD, RTL HD, Sat.1 HD, ProSieben HD and VOX HD has been offered in urban areas since May 31, 2016. The signals are transmitted in Full HD quality (1080p50) for the first time in Germany.
The public channels will remain unencrypted via DVB-T2 while the commercial channels will be encrypted and offered for a monthly fee as part of the Freenet TV package.
