Jörn Krieger ©RapidTVNews | 12-08-2011


Germany’s third-largest cable operator Kabel BW will add the HD versions of commercial free-to-air channels Sat.1, ProSieben, kabel eins and sixx to its cable network on 15 August 2011.

The carriage is part of a new long-term contract signed with parent company ProSiebenSat.1 which also includes analogue and digital distribution of the broadcaster’s free-to-air and pay-TV channels in standard-definition.

Kabel BW will also integrate content from ProSiebenSat.1’s channels to its video-on-demand service Kabel BW Videothek. The Heidelberg-based company is the first of Germany’s three large cable operators to carry the HD channels of both large commercial TV groups RTL and ProSiebenSat.1.

Sat.1 HD, ProSieben HD, kabel eins HD and sixx HD will become part of subscription package MeinTV HD Plus. The package, which costs €3.90 per month, also contains RTL HD, VOX HD, RTL II HD and Sport1 HD.

As with SES Astra’s HD+ platform, the HD versions of the commercial free-to-air channels on Kabel BW’s network are carried with comprehensive signal and copyright protection restricting recording and time-shifted television. In standard-definition the free-to-air channels on Kabel BW’s network can be received in both analogue and digital without additional fees, and can also be recorded without restrictions.