Germany to launch 40-channel DVB-T2 service in March 2017

Germany will launch a new DVB-T2-based digital-terrestrial platform on March 29 next year in a number of cities next year with a line-up of 40 mostly HD channels.

The country’s DVB-TV Project Office said that DVB-T transmission would cease at the same time as the new platform was launched in each region, impacting the four million German homes that currently use DTT.

The DVB-T2 transition will be rolled out progressively across the country and scheduled to be completed by mid-2019.

The German public TV channels from ARD and ZDF will be available unencrypted via DVB-T2. However, commercial channels from ProSiebenSat.1 and RTL will be available for a monthly access charge via the Freenet platform only.

The HD versions of RTL, ProSieben, Sat.1, VOX and ZDF launched in DVB-T2 in a number of cities at the end of May, simulcasting with the existing DVB-T offering.

Viewers who want to see the commercial channels can purchase a Freenet receiver with a green DVB-T2 logo or a conditional access module.

The DVB-T2 project is supported by ARD and ZDF, the country’s media authorites, commercial broadcasters RTL and ProSiebenSat.1, the VPRT and Media SE.