The end of Free TV in Germany?!
What Telepolis (german) reports today comes right on the heels of yesterdays report about Internet usage in Europe. Apperently the private TV stations in Germany think about going PayTV all together. Pro7, Sat1, RTL, RTL2 and all substation want a "cheap" PayTV model for their programming very soon the plans are already so far that the newer Satellite receivers support the system. Still about 15 million TV household would need to upgrade their satellite equipment and they want to quit out of terrestrial completely. I think at least here in Germany were money in the hand of the ordinary people seems to be getting less and less its just another dig in the grave of TV - especially when people are forced to upgrade their satellite equipment - something around 200 Euros. The reason behind this move are "stagnating commercial prices" - why that would be? Bad programming, less viewers I would guess.