ARD and ZDF launch HD channels
Written by Jörn Krieger
Sunday, 14 February 2010 11:21
ard__zdfGerman public broadcasters ARD and ZDF launched the high-definition versions of their two main domestic TV channels as the Winter Olympics started on Feb 12. The services are available free-to-air nationwide via cable, satellite and IPTV.
With the latest additions, the number of HD channels available to German DTH households on Astra (19.2° East) has grown to 17. Besides Das Erste HD and ZDF HD, the free-to-air line-up comprises ARTE HD, Anixe HD and Servus TV HD. The HD versions of commercial channels RTL, Sat.1, ProSieben, VOX and kabel eins form part of SES Astra’s encrypted HD+ platform while another seven channels are offered by pay-TV operator Sky Deutschland.
“The launch of Das Erste HD and ZDF is an important milestone for HDTV in Germany. The time is ideal: Thrilling images of large sports events such as the Olympic Games are perfectly suited to illustrate viewers the advantages of HD,” Wolfgang Elsäßer, managing director of Astra Deutschland, said in Munich. “Germany’s most popular channels are now all available in high-definition on Astra, we have achieved the breakthrough. We expect that there will be substantially more than 20 channels in HD quality for Germany on Astra by the end of the year.”
The growing interest in the new TV technology is reflected in hardware sales: In December 2009, for the first time more HD receivers were sold in Germany than set-top-boxes for conventional television.
© Rapid TV News 2010
