MTV has become a free-to-air, unencrypted TV channel in Germany and Austria again with immediate effect.
The move which was originally announced for January 2018 follows the decision by parent company Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN) to make MTV available as a free-of-charge live-stream on its website in March 2017.
By dropping encryption on all digital platforms, MTV is now also freely available on cable, satellite, IPTV, OTT and on the MTV Play app (iOS/Android).
The move only affects the SD version of the channel. The HD version stays encrypted and is only available for a subscription fee, for example on German DTH platform HD+ on Astra (19.2° East).
“I’m proud to announce the launch of MTV in the FTA space in Germany,” said Raffaele Annecchino, President and Managing Director of VIMN Southern & Western Europe, Middle East and Africa. “MTV is a global leader when it comes to producing music and entertainment content that appeals to youth culture and we want to continue this leadership in Germany, too.”
“We saw an opportunity in the German FTA market, both in terms of audience demand for great music content and to position the brand for advertisers,” explained Annecchino. “The linear FTA channel and on-demand access provided by digital platforms will give audiences unparalleled access to our content. This is a great next step for VIMN in Germany and builds on our recent success with Comedy Central and Nickelodeon.”
