German cable operator Unitymedia has initiated analogue switch-off on its cable network at ANGA COM 2017 in Cologne, thereby creating more space for new digital TV and HD channels, for fast internet access – and for the launch of Ultra HD, as CEO Lutz Schüler unveiled to Broadband TV News.
The first linear Ultra HD channel will launch on Unitymedia’s cable network in autumn 2017, said Schüler. He didn’t disclose further details, though.
95 to 96% of Unitymedia’s cable households will have made the move to digital television when analogue switch-off will commence on June 1, 2017 in the southern part of federal state Baden-Württemberg, said Christian Hindennach, Senior Vice President Consumer at Unitymedia. The task would now be “to take the remaining around 300,000 analogue TV households with us.”
Unitymedia will gradually phase out analogue television in its coverage area in Baden-Württemberg, Hessen and North-Rhine Westphalia in five regional steps. The move will be completed at end of June 2017. The red button inaugurating analogue switch-off was pressed by Schüler and Hindennach together with the directors of the media authorities of the three involved federal states at Unitymedia’s booth at ANGA COM 2017 (see image).
“The digital age of television has finally arrived for Unitymedia customers. As the first cable operator in Germany, we will say goodbye to the outdated analogue technology, thereby consequently continuing our long-term digitisation strategy in the interest of our customers,” said Schüler. “Our customers will continue to benefit from new digital entertainment offers in future.”
