Germany celebrates 30 years of digital satellite TV and 15 years of DAB+ radio

On 28 July 1996 the German market received its first digital satellite television service, launched by media entrepreneur Leo Kirch. Kirch ordered one million d‑Box receivers from Nokia and began broadcasting a slate of channels on Astra 19.2° E under the DF1 brand. Although the service faced challenges securing top‑tier film and sport rights, the launch marked the start of digital satellite TV in Germany.

Fifteen years later, on 1 August 2011 Germany inaugurated its national DAB+ platform, replacing analog FM for many listeners. Spearheaded by public broadcaster Germanyradio, the network now covers over 92 % of the population indoors and more than 97 % of the territory, offering more than 300 digital radio programmes. The rollout has turned DAB+ into the primary driver of radio digitisation in the country.