Broadcasting Innovation : Germany

New technology has considerably changed the broadcasting landscape in Germany. In 1995 about 24 million German households were linked up to the broadband cable network which the Administration of Posts and Telecommunications has been laying since 1982. About 15.8 million of them subscribe to cable radio and television programs. The aim in the late 1990s is to make cable programs available to 80 percent of Germany’s approximately 30 million households. It is also possible to receive programs directly via satellite; this requires installation of a dish antenna. Technological developments have set in motion a process of innovation of as yet incalculable dimensions, spawning special-interest TV, pay TV, video on demand and teleshopping, to name but a few.

Direct broadcasting via satellite raises questions that transcend frontiers. It is not yet certain whether national, European or global concepts will prevail. In 1995 two supranational public and one private organization operated a majority of the roughly 20 satellites which supply Europe with about 200 television and 200 radio programs. One of the satellite programs is “3sat", a joint undertaking by ZDF, the Austrian Broadcasting Corporation and the Swiss Radio and Television Company. Others include “arte - Europai-scher Kulturkanal", “VOX", “Kabel 1″ and several Channel Three programs broadcasted by ARD.
Both the public and private broadcasting corporations offer “Videotext", a service using the normal television signal. Videotext appears on the screen on call and offers news, weather reports, tips for consumers and more.