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"German TV" - It'll be Over by Year's End

It had been started in 2002, as a foreign Pay-TV service, managed by the "Deutsche Welle", the official voice of Germany on foreign air.

However, members of the German Lower House committee for cultural affairs and media don't see "any possibility, that finances can be included in the coming budget for German TV", said chairwoman Monica Griefahn.

The service had been offered via satellite in the United States and elsewhere, and, in order to receive it, customers were supposed to buy all equipment and have it installed at their own cost. They had to sign a waiver, stating that German TV was in no way financially responsible, in case the service would be terminated early. Now, it looks as if exactly this is going to happen.

However, the German Lower House committee requested that ARD and ZDF should offer broadcast material for a new program. This should be available to the public at no extra charge, with an emphasis on information. Deutsche Welle, the official foreign service of the Federal Republic of Germany, has been broadcasting a free television program in German, English and Spanish already, after RIAS-TV, the USIA information service in German, was terminated after the German reunification. At this time, it is not clear, if the German Pubcasters could be able and willing to support a new, free program to be carried worldwide by Deutsche Welle. According to official information, "German TV" had been able to attract only 20,000 subscribers. No one could say how many of the subscription television sets were actually turned on to the service at any given time during the last few years.

The rapid development of broadband connections and television services via the Internet might soon make some alternative opportunities possible. For example, there could be direct reception of public as well as commercial programs from Germany around the world. Those channels, however, would have to compete with a huge number of television services from other countries as well.


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