German public broadcasters ARD and ZDF want to connect their catch-up services into a joint streaming world to make it easier for users to find the content they are looking for.
Servus TV launches catch-up service via HbbTV 2.0
Austrian commercial broadcaster Servus TV has rolled out an extended catch-up service based on HbbTV 2.0, the latest version of the open standard for interactive TV features.
TeraVolt adds DRM protection to HbbTV catch-up TV
German digital TV service provider TeraVolt has developed a solution for DRM-protected content to be added to freely available HbbTV-based catch-up services on smart TV sets.
ARD and ZDF join forces in catch-up TV
German public broadcasters ARD and ZDF will interconnect their catch-up TV services with the first step being a cross-linking search function available from November 18, 2019.
Unitymedia adds catch-up and restart TV from ARD/ZDF
German cable operator Unitymedia has made the catch-up TV services from public broadcasters ARD and ZDF available as apps on its Horizon set-top box.
Tele 5 introduces catch-up TV app
German commercial broadcaster Tele 5 simplifies access to its catch-up TV service on mobile devices.
ProSiebenSat.1 expands HbbTV services
German media group ProSiebenSat.1 has realigned the HbbTV portals of its free-to-air TV channels Sat.1, ProSieben, kabel eins, sixx, ProSieben Maxx, Sat.1 Gold and kabel eins Doku.
Smart TV drives on-demand TV in Germany
42% of the households in Germany own a smart TV set with 88% of the sets being connected to the internet.
Growing interest in paid-for VOD in Germany
Three out of ten German internet users from 14 years of age (29%) watch movies and series on fee-based video-on-demand (VOD) portals such as Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, maxdome, Sky Ticket, Apple iTunes or Google Play.
TV set remains main TV/video screen in Germany
The TV set is still first choice for TV and video consumption in German households despite the growing popularity of smartphones and tablets, but viewing habits change.