From: wolfaefg@w250zrz.zrz.tu-berlin.de (Wolfgang Schwanke)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.german
Subject: Re: TV networks in Germany
Date: 2 Jun 1994 20:04:11 GMT
ARD - Network of the 11 regional public stations that make up the ARD
consortium. ARD as such (the channel and the consortium) has
existed since 1954, the forerunner NWDR-TV started in 1952.
Reception: air, cable, satellite
ZDF - Second national public channel, started in 1963
Reception: air, cable, satellite
The "3rd" channels - Each of the 11 ARD stations produce a regional TV
channels for their area (in some cases neighbouring
stations cooperating, thus giving only 8 "3rds").
The 3rd channels started operating in the late 60s,
in eastern Germany in 1991.
Reception: air, some cable & satellite
The above make the scenario for West Germany through the 60s and 70s.
It is only with the advent of satellite and cable technology in the early
80s that commercial TV has become legal. The public stations are in the
game too though.
SAT1 - First German commercial station, previously named PKS.
Started some time in the first half of the 1980s.
Reception: cable, satellite, in many areas air
RTL - Commercial station originally broadcasting from Luxembourg
for German speaking audience, but now officially based in
Germany. Biggest competitor of SAT1, founded approx. at the
same time. Radio Luxembourg produces similar channels aiming
at Dutch and French speaking audiences.
Reception: cable, satellite, in many areas air
3SAT - Produced in cooperation by public stations of Switzerland, Austria
and Germany (ZDF). Mainly cultural content, exists since approx.
mid-80s.
Reception: cable, satellite
Kabelkanal - Commercial light entertainment channel (feature films, series),
since approx. late 80s.
Reception: cable only
Pro7 - Similar to Kabelkanal
Reception: cable, satellite, in some places air
n-tv - Commercial news-only channel a la CNN, fairly new
Reception: cable, satellite, in some places air
VOX - Commercial news and light entertainment, fairly new, bankrupt
Reception: cable, satellite, in some places air
DSF - Sports only channel, fairly new
Reception: cable, satellite
RTL2 - Second RTL channel with similar content, fairly new
Reception: cable, satellite
Viva - German copy of MTV, new
Reception: cable, satellite
Arte - Franco-German coproduced bilingual cultural channel, since late 80s
Reception: cable, satellite
Then there are a couple of small local commercial stations.
All other TV channels received in Germany are either of pan-European
nature (MTV Europe, Eurosport ...) or foreign ones. (see below) *)
Cheers :)
Wolfgang
----------------------------------------------------------------
So much for the situation in 1994. In the meantime we've had some
more commercial stations added:
VIVA II - A more mellow/boring music channel as opposed to VIVA,
which is much more teen/charts/dance oriented.
VH-1 Deutschland - Similar to VIVA II
Super RTL - Another RTL channel, containting mostly reruns of reruns
of former RTL programmes.
tm3 - Women TV
Deutsche Welle TV - A governement sponsored channel by the shortwave
station Deutsche Welle, aimed strictly at viewers
abroad.
Digital TV: Since mid-1996, digital TV in the DVB standard has started,
with different packets launching during the year and can
be received through satellite or cable
Most of them will be pay-TV. Digital TV requires a separate
box for reception.
*) pan-European channels: The usual satellite channels aimed at all of
Europe: MTV Europe, EuroSport, NBC Super Channel,
BBC World, TV5, CNN International, etc.
Channels of neighbouring countries: Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, Netherlands,
Denmark can be received in near-border
areas. Luxemburg is a major player
with RTL anyway.
France, Czechoslovakia and Poland can
also be received, but because of
differing broadcast standards only
with some technical difficulties.
wolfi@berlin.snafu.de