German HD launches
October 13, 2009
HD PLUS will launch its service for high-definition television, HD+, on November 1, 2009. The market launch will be realised with the HD programmes of broadcasters RTL and VOX; HD versions of Sat.1, ProSieben and kabel eins will be added in January. The first receivers, which are suitable for HD+, will be available commercially with the launch. In addition to the HD programmes of the private broadcasters, all unencrypted HD programmes of, for example, Das Erste, ZDF and ARTE as well as all other digital offers broadcast via ASTRA, will be available.
Viewers can use HD+ for one year free of charge by purchasing a HD+ satellite receiver. For the HD+ offer, neither a contract obligation nor a subscription is necessary; connecting the receiver suffices. If the viewer would like to continue using HD+ after the first year, they can recharge his HD+ card at the price of E50.
By the end of the year, six models of HD+ receivers will be launched by receiver manufacturers Humax, Technisat, Technotrend Görler and Videoweb. In addition, HD Plus GmbH will support modules for receivers using the CI Plus standard. TV sets with integrated receivers and a CI Plus interface from manufacturers such as Loewe, Metz, Samsung or Sony also support HD+.