| German TV in the U.S. - Alternatives | |
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DISH Satellite Service
In the first section of this article we discussed the many reasons for watching German television on your normal U.S. TV set, and how to do so. But some people just don't have the option of installing a satellite dish. Below we offer a few alternatives for those unable to take advantage of GERMAN TV's satellite service (Dish Network).
Cable TV is a limited option for receiving German TV at this time—unless you happen to live in one of the few areas of the US or Canada that offer the service via cable. As of summer 2004, German TV was available only from a few US cable systems in scattered locations (Charlotte, Colorado Springs, Milwaukee, New York City/Newark, parts of Ohio, southwest Florida, and Ontario, Canada). That may have changed by the time you read this. German TV does encourage people to write to their local cable TV provider and ask them to carry German TV. If you would like to know more, see the German TV site for more information: German TV via Kabel. But for now, German TV is only available via the Dish Network satellite service for most US residents.
If you are one of those people who can't afford it, don't have a clear southern view of the sky, or just don't want a satellite dish for receiving German television, there are some other options. But be aware, none of them is as good as the real thing!
Streaming Audio/Video
There are several streaming-video options. Online TV is best if you have a broadband (cable, DSL) connection, but it also works with normal 56K dial-up access. One good jumping-off point is the Broadband TV - German Web page. (They also offer slower links.) You'll also find many more links to online TV in German on our own Online Video and German Satellite TV Links pages.
Other Video Options
RTL and other private German TV broadcasters offer some streaming video. You can also watch some of the ARD or ZDF (the two public TV networks in Germany) programs on the Web. See our German Satellite TV Links page for more.
NEXT > Adventures with German TV - Intro
> 1: German TV - Intro
> 2: German TV - Why
> 3: German TV - How
> 4: German TV - Tips
> 5: German TV - Alternatives
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> Reader Comments
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