| German TV in the U.S. - How (Old) | |
| Wie bekomme ich deutsches Fernsehen? | |
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Update: As of Nov. 2004, GERMAN TV has begun switching from its current Globecast satellite to Echostar's Dish Network. This page contains the old information for Globecast. For current information see: German TV - How.
Now that you know why you should have GERMAN TV in your home, let's talk about how you can make that happen and how much it will cost.
Although German TV has been making an effort to get local and regional cable TV providers in the US and Canada to carry their programming, that is still a limited option. Although the list of US cable TV providers that carry German TV is growing (see below), for most people the satellite option is the only option. If you can't get German TV on your cable system, you have to have a special digital satellite system (and smartcard) designed just for German TV. Neither DirecTV nor Dish carry German TV. (If the satellite or cable option is absolutely not possible for you, then see German TV Alternatives.)
US Cable Systems Offering GERMAN TV: Time Warner Cable in Charlotte, NC, Cincinnati/western Ohio and Cape Coral, Florida; Adelphia Cable in Colorado Springs; Cablevision in some areas of New York and New Jersey, plus Marco Island Cable in Florida. There are also plans for Canadian cable service in 2004. For the current status, see the German TV Web site.
If you are familiar with the DirecTV or Dish Network digital satellite dishes, or have even installed such a system yourself, the dish for German TV is larger and a little bit trickier to install. (German TV can refer you to a local installer if you're not prepared to "do it yourself.") I'll talk more about installation details in German TV Tips, but you must have a clear view of the southern sky (unobscured by trees, hills, structures, etc.) in order to make use of any satellite system. German TV uses the Telstar 5 satellite at 97 degrees West (11,929 GHz, Nagravision encryption system). (Details here.)
Once you order your German TV system, it will arrive 5-10 days later (in my case, 11 days later) in a box via UPS. But first you should be well informed about all the advantages/disadvantages of German TV using their excellent Web site at www.germantv.info. The actual equipment is provided through German TV's partner GlobeCast (toll-free number for orders: 1-888-988-5288), but you can also ask questions at German TV's toll-free 1-877-437-6268 phone line.
How much does it cost? If you want to buy the system outright, you can purchase the equipment and pay the $15.00 per month. But German TV has special offers that can reduce your upfront costs. With German TV's "Deutschland" offer, you buy the hardware for $199, with a monthly rate of $15. The "Dresden" offer: equipment $9.99, monthly $27.95 (after one year only $15). The "Frankfurt" offer: one payment of $324 for all equipment and a full-year subscription. (All prices plus shipping and tax if applicable.) To take advantage of these offers, you must agree to a one-year contract and use a credit card. See the details at the German TV site.
On the next page I'll give you some tips to help you with the installation of your German TV digital satellite dish and receiver, based on my own experience.
NOTE: See Current Dish Network information!
NEXT > 4: German TV - Tips (Old)
> 1: German TV - Intro
> 2: German TV - Why
> 3: German TV - How
> 4: German TV - Tips
> 5: German TV - Alternatives
MORE:
> German Satellite TV Links
> Reader Comments
> About DW - auf Deutsch
> WEB: EuroNews - This sat TV service uses the same satellite as German TV for North America.
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