Marking a breakthrough in the German OTT market, the free-to-air channels of one of the two large commercial TV groups are now available in HD quality through the open internet.
HDTV and VOD grow in Germany
25.2 million households in Germany receive HDTV. This corresponds with a growth of the share of HD households among German TV households from 53.1% to 65.7% within one year.
Digital TV grows in Germany, but HD faces obstacle
The number of households in Germany receiving digital TV services has risen to 35 million, or 92.3% of the total.
Satellite gains against cable in Austria
The number of DTH satellite households in Austria has grown in the past year from 2.05 million (2014) to 2.12 million households.
German local TV moves to HD on cable
The local TV channels in German federal state Baden-Württemberg will broadcast their channels in HD quality on the cable network of Unitymedia from September 2016.
ARD launches new HD channel on Astra
Saarländischer Rundfunk (SR), the regional affiliate of German public broadcaster ARD serving federal state Saarland, has commenced offering its TV channel SR Fernsehen in HD quality on Astra (19.2° East) – three years earlier than originally planned.
SRG Switzerland makes HD move on Hot Bird
The countdown has started: Swiss public broadcaster SRG SSR will switch off the SD versions of its TV channels for DTH satellite households on Eutelsat Hot Bird (13° East) and transmit the channels exclusively in HD quality from February 29, 2016.
Deutscher Bundestag TV gears up for HD
The German Parliament has recently upgraded the technical infrastructure of its TV channel Bundestag TV to enable productions in HD quality.
Austria to complete transition to DVB-T2 by 2019
Austria wants to commence transition of the digital terrestrial transmission of the TV channels of public broadcaster ORF from DVB-T to successor standard DVB-T2 in autumn 2016 and complete the move in February 2019 at the latest, but current plans target a completion already in Q3 2017.
ARD/ZDF secure EHF Euro 2016 & 2018 rights
German public broadcasters ARD and ZDF have acquired the exclusive domestic free-to-air TV rights for the European Men’s Handball Championships 2016 in Poland and 2018 in Croatia.