Sharp Winter

ASTRA banks on digitisation & HDTV

The satellite operator ASTRA is starting a new high-definition programme offering on the German market with its HD+ service. Sharp, realistic images on brilliant flat screens give viewers a new television experience and are an important argument for switching to digital reception.

Currently, more than 80 high-resolution satellite programmes (HDTV) can be received via ASTRA across Europe; that is a dozen more than at the beginning of 2009. All of the big players on the German TV landscape now broadcast HD programs or have announced their launch in the coming months:
• The pay-TV operator Sky Germany in-creased its offering from two to seven HDTV channels at the beginning of July 2009.
• The public broadcasters ARD and ZDF have announced the commencement of regular HDTV operations from February 2010. The Franco-German cultural channel ARTE has been broadcasting in high-definition since the summer of 2008. In addition, Anixe HD and Servus TV broadcast high-definition TV programmes.
• The two large private Free-TV broadcasters RTL and ProSiebenSat.1 will be broadcasting their HD channels from November 2009 (RTL and VOX) and January 2010 (Sat.1, ProSieben and kabel eins) via the HD+ service.

»The time is right for HDTV. 17 million HD-ready screens in German living rooms can now show their capabilities: super-sharp TV! ASTRA is reinforcing this attractiveness with a broad HD offering, because with Sky, the public and the private broadcasters in HD, winter will be sharper than ever before!«

Wolfgang Elsäßer, Managing Diretor ASTRA Deutschland

Added value for viewers

An increasingly large range of high-definition program content will add to the 350 digital TV channels available via ASTRA. While only five HD channels were available at the beginning of 2009, at the start of 2010 this number will already have grown to seventeen. This represents added value for television households who already own an HD-ready screen, and an important milestone for digitalisation.
»The new HD+ service creates attractive added value for viewers,« says Wilfried Urner, CEO of the new ASTRA subsidiary HD PLUS in Unterföhring near Munich. »High-definition stands for very sharp pictures in bright colours and unique brilliance and is the driving force behind the switching of TV households to digital reception. With HD+, we will be expanding the opportunities for broadcasters in the HD growth market and increasing the programme choices for viewers. This creates a new basis for the reception of high-quality HD programmes.«

A new service for HDTV

The broadcast of the new high-definition range of channels will be encrypted. Upon purchasing an HD+ satellite receiver, which includes an HD+ card, viewers will be able to use HD+ for one year. A contractual commitment or a subscription is not necessary for the new HD+ service; the connection of the receiver is sufficient. If the viewer wishes to continue using HD+ after the first year, he can purchase a new HD+ card in his store or top up his existing card for the price of 50 euros. There are several options open to him for this on the internet at www.hd-plus.de, or via the HD+ service hotline.

Simple technical solutions

To enable reception of the HDTV range, it has been announced that six HD+ receiver models manufactured by Humax, Technisat, Technotrend Görler and Videoweb will hit stores in time for Christmas trading. They are recognisable by the HD+ logo on the receiver packaging and on the appliance. In addition, reception is possible via modules in receivers that support the so-called CI Plus interface. Televisions with integrated receivers by manufacturers such as Loewe, Metz, Samsung or Sony, which have a CI Plus interface, will thus be also HD+ capable. »TV viewers in Germany have already bought 17 million HD-ready TVs. Hence, they have shown in impressive fashion that they are ready for HD. HD+ is a simple and very customer-friendly product that directly opens up the fascination of HD to viewers,« says Wilfried Urner.

Satellite provider ASTRA is the leading infrastructure provider for digital television and radio reception in Germany. The German office of SES ASTRA, ASTRA Deutschland GmbH, is responsible for the marketing and sales of ASTRA products and services in the German-speaking world. Its headquarters are in Unterföhring, near Munich, and is led by Wolfgang Elsäßer as managing director. The satellite has established itself as the primary forced in digital television. At mid-2009, the number of digital television households was at 20.1 million, while around 60% (11.65 million) of these received their digital television via satellite. With over 80 HD channels ASTRA is the most important HD platform for the leading broadcasters in Europe. HD PLUS GmbH has its registered office in Unterföhring near Munich and markets the HD+ product, a new and additional programme offering in high-definition quality (HD) via satellite.

ASTRA Deutschland GmbH
Betastraße 1-10, Haus B
85774 Unterföhring
Phone 0 89/18 96-2100
Fax 0 89/18 96-2200
amg@ses-astra.com
Managing Director: Wolfgang Elsäßer

HD PLUS GmbH
Betastr. 1-10
85774 Unterföhring
Phone 0 89/18 96-1896
Fax 0 89/18 96-1109
info@hd-plus.de
Managing Director: Wilfried Urner

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