NHK World-Japan extends German reach with Vodafone Deutschland deal

NHK World-Japan, the 24-hour international English-language channel from Japan’s public broadcaster NHK, has launched on Vodafone Deutschland’s cable network in Germany.

The channel will be available as an unencrypted, free-to-air service in standard definition, available to Vodafone’s 7.6 million cable TV customers across 13 federal states.

NHK World-Japan will also from part of Vodafone’s TV line-up on the GigaTV app, making the channel available on smartphones and tablets.

The channel’s content line-up includes international news and Asian lifestyle programming.

NHK World-Japan has been available on Liberty Global-owned cable provider Unitymedia’s network in Germany since 2017, and the latest deal means that the channel is available on German cable across all 16 federal states.

In addition to German’s two largest cable operators NHK World-Japan is available on NetCologne and wilhelm.tel and on Deutsche Telekom’s TV package for the housing industry.

German viewers can also receive the channel via satellite on Astra platform at 19.2° East and Eutelsat Hotbird at 13° East, on the NHK World TV app for Android and iOS devices, Apple TV and Amazon Fire TV as well as through a live-stream on its website at nhk.jp/world.

“The launch on Vodafone Deutschland’s cable network marks a milestone for NHK World-Japan as we achieve nationwide cable distribution in Germany,” said Masaru Shiromoto, President and CEO of Japan International Broadcasting, responsible for the worldwide distribution of the channel.

“The move is part of our ongoing initiative to expand our presence in Germany, giving German households an inside view into Japanese news, culture and lifestyle.”