German international broadcaster Deutsche Welle (DW) will terminate the SD distribution of its English-language TV channel DW English on Eutelsat Hotbird (13° East) on September 30, 2019.
The channel will continue to be available in HD quality on the satellite system, a DW spokesman told German magazine InfoDigital. DW English HD can be received unencrypted on the frequency 11.727 V (SR 29,900, FEC 3/4); the SD signal can be found on 11.054 GHz H (SR 27,500, FEC 5/6).
The transponder change and the transition to HD broadcasting also involves a change in the technical service provider: Instead of Media Broadcast Satellite, Globecast is now responsible for the technical services. The decision is the result of a required tender of this service, said the DW spokesman.
Deutsche Welle also intends to switch the other language versions of its TV service from SD to HD, including the German version. “This is part of the medium and long-term strategy for the distribution of DW’s services,” confirmed the DW spokesman, but added that there was currently no firm date for this move.
