Programming Comparisons
DW-TV
The former GERMAN TV channel on Dish Network is now the DW-TV channel. Although Deutsche Welle broadcasts worldwide in many languages (radio and TV), the version in the USA is in German and English only. Unlike GERMAN TV, which had all its programming in German, DW-TV alternates between English and German. For one hour the news and other broadcasts are in German. In the next hour the programming is in English, and so on. DW-TV focuses primarily on news, weather, and cultural information. The news broadcast "Journal" provides the news sports, and weather from Berlin, alternately in German and English. The news (worldwide and from Germany/Europe) is primarily aimed at viewers outside of Germany, unlike the nightly news from ARD or ZDF. Non-news shows pop up occasionally, including "euromaxx" (fashion, art, cinema, music, other trends), "Pop Export" (music "made in Germany"), and a few others. Earlier DW-TV hinted at possibly providing some ARD or ZDF (German public TV networks) entertainment programs in the future, and in May 2007 they did indeed add several German talk shows from ARD and ZDF.
WEB > DW-TV - USA
ProSiebenSat.1 Welt (Pro7)
Pro7 began broadcasting its U.S. programming in February 2005. The German commercial television network ProSiebenSat.1 Media AG was part of the Kirch Media empire until Leo Kirch went bankrupt in 2002. The network was put up for sale, but as of early 2006, the final fate of Pro7 and all its divisions was still up in the air. For American viewers the ProSiebenSat.1 Welt channel is part of Dish Network's German package. Its programming is a mix of shows from Germany's Pro7, kabel eins, N24, and Sat.1 channels. Although it can be purchased separately, the Pro7 channel makes a good complement to news-oriented DW-TV by offering viewers more entertainment and sports. All-German Pro7 has a schedule that includes talk shows, detective series, comedy shows, movies, soap operas, and quiz shows. Pro7 also features some documentary/exposé reporting and N24 news, but its emphasis is on entertainment programing that can range from inane low-brow to quality high-brow levels. Although it would be interesting for American viewers, the German versions of "The Simpsons," "Will & Grace" or "Desperate Housewives" seen in Germany are not available on the U.S. Pro7 channel. ProSieben has plans to also be available in Canada.
WEB > ProSiebenSat.1 Welt
NEW! As of May 2007 the German Kino Plus movie channel is now a part of the DISH German Package! More...
EuroNews
In December 2006 Dish Network added the EuroNews network to its German channel line-up. EuroNews in German is now available as part of the German package (and some other language packages). However, there is a catch to getting this new channel. Although I have a SuperDish and currently receive the German-language package, a Dish representative told me that I would need a new satellite dish in order to receive the EuroNews channel, even though it is part of the package I already have! Because the EuroNews channels come from a different satellite, I would have to pay $99.00 to install a new dish in order to receive EuroNews in German. This is not at all clear from their Web site, and I think it's ridiculous for Dish to supposedly add a channel to my package that I can't get without shelling out almost a hundred dollars. If you're lucky enough to live in the right spot with a dish pointed to the right satellite, you may be able to get EuroNews in German without major extra cost.
WEB > EuroNews
WEB > Dish Network German Package
