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Germany to Phase Out Standard Definition TV Broadcasts
Starting from November 18, 2025, several major German public and private broadcasters will discontinue their standard definition (SD) transmission, marking a significant shift towards high-definition (HD) broadcasting.
The public broadcaster ZDF, along with its family of channels like ZDFinfo, ZDFneo, 3sat, and KiKA, will cease satellite distribution in SD quality. This move follows the lead of Arte and Phoenix, which ended their SD broadcasts in November 2022 and early 2025, respectively.
The decision to discontinue SD broadcasts is aimed at reducing costs for program distribution. Major cable network providers such as Vodafone and Pyur have already made this switch, with more expected to follow suit later this year.
According to the "Astra TV Monitor 2023" industry report, around 2.7 million TV households in Germany had only an SD device at home as of two years ago. However, the report does not specify the current number of households with only SD devices, nor does it mention the reasons for the discontinuation of SD broadcasts by the channels.
It's worth noting that the use of SD reception is barely utilized in most German households, with almost all households now receiving their TV programs in HD quality.
The discontinuation of SD broadcasts by ZDF will affect viewers with outdated TV devices without HD reception. Those who have not upgraded their TV devices in Germany will need a new TV or an additional device to continue watching these channels.
However, all major German private channels will still be available in SD for the foreseeable future, according to a survey by the German Press Agency. The survey does not specify the timeline for when these channels will discontinue SD broadcast.
The private German TV stations that still broadcast in SD quality are expected to end their SD transmission similarly to how public broadcasters like ZDF will do so by November 18, 2025. However, official specific dates for all private channels are not detailed but are likely aligned with the general industry trend towards HD-only transmission by that time.
The discontinuation of SD broadcast by ZDF meets the expectation of an economic and thrifty use of broadcasting fees. This move is part of a broader industry trend towards HD-only transmission, as SD broadcasting becomes outdated and HD becomes the standard.
In conclusion, the switch-off of public broadcasters in SD quality marks a significant step towards a fully HD television landscape in Germany. Viewers with outdated TV devices are encouraged to upgrade to continue watching their favourite channels.
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