Astra’s German analogue switch off

Originally Posted by chris

Satellite operator SES Astra is satisfied with the progress of its digitalisation campaign in Germany. "We are receiving broad positive feedback - especially from our retail partners, who are already enjoying an increased demand for digital receivers", said Wolfgang Elsäßer, managing director of Astra Deutschland, to trade publication Digitalmagazin.

"It is gratifying that manufacturers such as TechniSat, Humax, Samsung, Sony, Hirschmann and WISI support us. Politicians and media authorities have also largely endorsed our campaign, which will lead to an increase in digital satellite households and, ideally, a communicative impulse which will also be taken up by broadcasters - as soon as they know when they want to switch off their analogue signals."

According to Elsäßer, five million households in Germany still receive analogue satellite television via Astra. As every household has approximately two receivers, that means around 10 million digital satellite receivers could be sold, he explained. "That's great business for manufacturers and retailers."

Concerning a switch-off date for analogue television distribution, Elsäßer said: "As broadcasters are aware, for this large amount of receiver sales we need a certain period in advance. I think a two-year timeframe will be necessary to serve this potential." Elsäßer expects the last analogue channels to be switched off Astra's satellites by the end of 2012.



Source:RapidTVNews

Originally Posted by compo222

Hi. My wife just loves her analogue channels
and is worried she will lose the lot early next year! Is this so? Will she be able to buy a German digital box here in the UK?

Cheer, Compo222(David)