Vodafone Deutschland has commenced offering the free-to-air channels of Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland in HD quality on smartphones and tablets through the app of its TV platform GigaTV.
The telco and the TV broadcaster extended their carriage contract accordingly. The agreement covers the live-streams of RTL, VOX, RTL II, Super RTL, n-tv, RTL Nitro, RTLplus and Toggo plus.
The HD distribution is taking place both on mobile networks and within the customer’s Wi-Fi home network, a Vodafone spokeswoman confirmed to Broadband TV News. The channels have previously only been streamed in SD resolution.
The catch-up TV services offered by the RTL channels will also be made available in HD quality on smartphones and tablets at a later stage.
The GigaTV app contains up to 78 channels and around 44 catch-up services.
Vodafone and Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland also agreed to add the two pay-TV channels GEO Television HD and RTL Living HD to Vodafone’s cable network.
GEO Television HD is part of subscription package HD Premium containing up to 21 HD channels for €9.99 per month. RTL Living HD can be received together with further 17 channels in the HD Premium Plus bouquet for €6.99 per month.
For subscribers, both channels are also available through the GigaTV app.