German TV in North America 2
Comparisons
Also see this more current article by your Guide:
Adventures with GERMAN TV in the US
NOTE: Because of the failure of ChannelD in October 2002, some of the information on this page is no longer relevant. We plan to revise this page once ProSieben Sat 1 begins broadcasting via the DISH Network in early 2005. Until then you may wish to read the information below for its GERMAN TV information and for "historical" purposes. Just keep in mind that ChannelD is no longer available. See our updated information about GERMAN TV in the US.
Original Article - Comparisons
I have asked for reader comment from people who have actually had a chance to view the digital TV programming being beamed to earth by ChannelD and GERMAN TV (Deutsche Welle/ARD/ZDF).
So far, I've heard from only one such individual (who prefers to remain anonymous), but he has provided a lot of useful information that you can read below. NOTE: The opinions and information given below are those of the person(s) providing them. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of your Guide, and all technical information is provided without any guarantee of accuracy.
Reader Comments
From a U.S. German-American Viewer
Technical Information
First of all, both German sat TV systems are different from the DBS systems from DISH Network or DirecTV. Mainly, the power levels for the German programs aren't as high and therefore the signals are harder to find. I'm an electronic technician and have fooled around with satellite TV as a hobby for about 5 years now. German TV doesn't make the claim that anyone can install their system. While DBS can be installed by the average handyman, I would advise people to have an expert install either German system. ChannelD does supply a compass with 60 feet of coax cable and instructions, but I really feel a satellite finder ($20) is "unentbehrlich" (indispensible). The GermanTV system comes without any compass or coax cable. Most of the time 60 feet is not enough anyway. German TV's transponder is weaker than ChannelD's, and therefore is somewhat harder to find. One can really go nuts looking for the signals. - Most women will say both dishes are ugly!
Equipment:
The only similarity between the two systems, as far as equipment goes, is the satellite dish and the LNBF (low noise block converter feedhorn), although the German TV dish is elliptical and the ChannelD one is round. Neither the antennas nor the equipment are comparable with Dish Network or DirecTV. ChannelD uses Irdeto encryption, while German TV uses NagraVision, so one can't be used for the other. The satellites used are different, but close to each other in the sky. German TV is on Telstar-5 at 97°W, and ChannelD is on AMC-4 at 101°W. ChannelD's program is already downloaded and German TV's Globecast receiver is not. The instructions for setting up the German TV system are rather difficult to understand, even for me, and I have owned four digital receivers previously. Satellite systems like this (and DBS) are in the KU band and are susceptable to picture distortion due to rain and lightning storms. The German TV receiver has a timer to program it to turn on and off, but ChannelD's does not. The German TV Globecast receiver has a super good picture, very impressive. Both systems use the same MPEG-2 digital encoding and have good picture quality. But ChannelD has some really old "Tatort" episodes and "Kein schöner Land" programs that have older color. "Maisberger" is live, but still doesn't have the color quality of German TV's video. I think ARD and ZDF have some really great equipment, so the source is of excellent quality.
Programming:
This may be somewhat "Geschmackssache" (a matter of taste), but...
News: In the news department, GERMAN TV comes out the big winner. They have ARD's "Tagesschau" (nightly news), ZDFs "heute Journal," and DW-TV's "Journal" every day. ChannelD only has three minutes of news, mostly every hour, but only text on a screen with audio commentary.
As you know, German TV is underwritten by ARD (40% share), ZDF (40% share), and DW-TV (20% share), which helps explain the news advantage over ChannelD.
GERMAN TV has documentaries: "ZDF Reporter" and "Frontal 21."
Channel D has "Geo," which has NASA occasionally.
Talk Shows: GERMAN TV has "Boulevard Bio" and "Johannas B. Kerner." ChannelD has "Berlin talk," "Maisberger" and now Harald Schmidt's talk show.
German TV has children's programs on Saturday, and lots of soaps: "Marienhof," "Lindenstraße," and "St. Angela." (Es geht nur um Sex!)
I personally like the movies best, and German TV's are more up-to-date. Wie gesagt, ist Geschmackssache.
GERMAN TV is only in Hochdeutsch (standard German), so I and many others who don't have German as their mother tongue can understand it very well.
ChannelD has about 25% Bayrisch, and it is hard to understand. ("Poizeiinspektion," "Bulle von Toelz" und "Loewengrube", z.B.) But then again, why shouldn't we learn to hear that too, if we're advanced in the language?
But you can, of course, look at the Web sites and and check out the programming yourself and compare. [ed. note - The German TV site offers a free PDF download (Acrobat Reader version) of its weekly schedule. See our links page.]
You've listed the prices, so I won't go into that. Equipment can be purchased separately. Just a receiver, just a smart card, etc.
- A German-American Viewer
NOTE: ChannelD is no longer available. See our updated information about GERMAN TV in the US.
Related Pages
GERMAN TV in the US
All about the why and how of the "GERMAN TV" digital satellite service from Deutsche Welle.
ChannelD - German TV in the US
A three-part article about this now-defunct digital satellite broadcaster.
German TV Links
A large collection of Web links related to German television. Part of the two articles above.
Are You Listening?
Why you should be listening to authentic German from several sources.
Using Authentic Language Sources
Make the Web work for you–beginners included!
Using the Web to Learn German
The Web and the four language skills.
Listening
All about listening to German - online and off.
News/Nachrichten
Online news in German as text, audio, or video.
Online TV/Video
Television and video for German. Links to satellite and online video in German.
Text Translation
Several German-English (and other) online translators. Also see our Translation Links.
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