ZDF considers further HD channels
Written by Jörn Krieger
Tuesday, 26 January 2010 20:17
zdf_hdGerman public broadcaster ZDF is considering offering further members of its channel family in high-definition, production director Andreas Bereczky confirmed in an interview with newsletter TV Zukunft published by industry association Deutsche TV-Plattform.
He added, however, that for financial reasons this would not be possible before the termination of analogue satellite transmissions which are planned for April 30 2012. “The cost savings enabled through analogue switch-off can be used for transmitting further channels in HDTV,” said Bereczky, although he didn’t elaborate on the channels which could then be offered in high-definition.
Industry insiders consider ZDF’s recently launched digital channel ZDFneo, which targets a young audience, and cultural channel 3sat, which ZDF operates together with fellow public broadcasters ARD, ORF and SRG, as the most likely candidates.
ZDF’s first HD service is its main channel which will be offered in the new TV technology from Feb 12 on the occasion of the Winter Olympics. Bereczky expects ZDF’s full schedule to be screened in genuine HD by 2014. Until then, programmes not produced in high-definition will be up-converted.
