HD+ is a premium high-definition (HD) satellite and streamed TV service for German users, owned by HD PLUS GmbH, a subsidiary of SES based in Unterföhring near Munich, Germany.
HD+ carries HD and ultra-high-definition (UHD) channels outside the established pay-TV networks, broadcast encrypted from satellites at the Astra 19.2°E position direct to home satellite dishes. Reception and decryption is with a dedicated HD+ set-top box, an HD+ conditional-access module (CAM) and Smart Card in a receiver or TV set equipped with a CI+ slot, a Sky Deutschland pay-TV reception system, or certain integrated TV sets. HD+ reception systems also provide reception of free-to-air (unencrypted) HD channels from the same satellites.
In December 2021 the HD+ IP service was launched, streaming HD+ channels to viewers' TV sets through a smart TV app without the need for a dish or set-top box (but without access to UHD TV channels).SES unbundles HD+ from satellite and launches IP service Broadband TV News. 8 November 2021. Accessed 28 February 2022HD+ IP on HD+ website Accessed 28 February 2022
The HD PLUS GmbH company grew out of ASTRA Platform Services (later SES Platform Services, then MX1, now part of SES Video) and offers the technical management and the marketing of HD programmes for all broadcasters, including the distribution of the smart cards required for reception. In October 2014, HD+ joined the Free TV Alliance, alongside other free-to-view broadcasters Tivù Sat and Fransat, and free-to-air Freesat.
As of December 2016, there were nearly 3 million households in Germany receiving the HD+ service.
HD+ channels HD channels
UHD channels
History of HD+ channel line-up The HD+ service launched on November 1, 2009, with two channels, RTL HD and Vox HD. Sat.1 HD, ProSieben HD and kabel eins HD were added on January 31, 2010.Sat.1, ProSieben and kabel eins from January 2010 in High Definition on HD+ Business Wire. July 20, 2009. Accessed November 27, 2020
Sport1 HD (previously DSF) joined the service on the first anniversary of the launch of HD+, on November 1, 2010, becoming the first channel in the HD+ package from outside the RTL and ProSiebenSat.1 groups.Sport1 relies on HD and HbbTV (in German) Film TV Video. November 8, 2010. Accessed November 27, 2020 On December 1, 2010, HD versions of German women's entertainment channel sixx (owned by ProSiebenSat.1 Media) and entertainment channel RTL II launched in HD on HD+. In June 2011, Comedy Central and nickelodeon from MTV Networks joined the HD+ platform and it was announced that news channel, N24 would join HD+ from July, bringing the number of channels offered to 11.German news channel N24 joins HD+ Broadband TV News. June 15, 2011. Accessed November 30, 2020
In October 2011 Tele5 HD launched on HD+ and on May 1, 2012, Super RTL launched a high definition version of the RTL/Disney owned channel on the HD+ platform alongside Discovery's DMAX channel.Discovery’s DMAX-HD joins HD+ Advanced Television. April 30, 2012. Accessed November 27, 2020 The 15th channel to join HD+ was adult pop music channel Deluxe Music, in December 2012.Vorerst nur bei HD+: Deluxe Music bald auch in HD (in German) DWDL de. December 13, 2012. Accessed November 30, 2020
Disney Channel HD left the German pay-TV platform, Sky Deutschland in November 2013 to relaunch on HD+ on January 17, 2014, as an advertising-financed service.<ref>Krieger, Jorn Disney Channel moves German pay-TV exit forward Rapid TV News. December 10, 2013. Accessed November 27, 2020</</ref>Disney Channel HD joins HD+ platform Broadband TV News. 20 December 2013. Accessed 27 July 2024 In April 2014 HD+ added the news channel n-tv HD, male orientated entertainment channels ProSieben Maxx HD and RTL Nitro HD, and women's lifestyle channel TLC HD to the line-up, bringing the total number of channels in the service to 20.HD+ grows to 1.5 million customers Broadband TV News. April 28, 2014. Accessed November 27, 2020
In the months leading up to the launch of HD+, it had been reported that MTV – already broadcasting in HD from Astra 19.2°E – was in discussions to join the packageMTV and DSF might join HD+ Broadband TV News. September 28, 2009. Accessed November 27, 2020 but it was only some six years after those discussions, on September 1, 2014, that MTV HD left the Sky Deutschland pay-TV platform and became the 21st channel to join HD+. However, MTV HD was not available for customers that viewed HD+ via Sky Deutschland (as there was no VideoGuard encryption enabled for MTV HD) until 21 October 2015.MTV HD returns to Sky D customers via HD+ Broadband TV News. October 20, 2015. Accessed November 27, 2020 In October, the number of channels was reduced back to 20 when Viacom reorganized its channels in Germany. Comedy Central was no longer available via HD+ and Nickelodeon, which previously shared its channel with Comedy Central, increased its broadcast hours to 24 hours a day.Nickelodeon HD mit Vollprogramm und MTV neu bei HD Plus (in German) Satvision. August 27, 2014. Accessed November 27, 2020
On January 1, 2015, the women's channel Sat.1 Gold started broadcasting in HD on the HD+ platform, the last of ProSiebenSat.1's SD channels to launch in HDSat.1 Gold HD to launch on January 1, 2015 Broadband TV News. December 1, 2014. Accessed November 27, 2020
In September 2015, HD+ started broadcasts of the ultra-high-definition television (UHD) demonstration channel, UHD1, showing sports, culture, lifestyle, and nature video clips and trailers.SES and HD+ launch Ultra HD channel on Astra Broadband TV News. August 31, 2015. Accessed November 27, 2020
On October 4, 2016, INsight TV HD, an action and extreme sports channel from TV Entertainment Reality Network (TERN) became the 22nd HD+ channelInsight TV startet bei HD+ – Abenteuer, Action- und Extremsport ab 4. Oktober INFOSAT – INFODIGITAL. September 30, 2010. Accessed November 27, 2020 and on December 1, 2016, Eurosport 1 HD started broadcasting on the HD+ platform.Eurosport 1 HD to join HD+ on Astra Broadband TV News. November 28, 2016. Accessed November 27, 2020 In August 2017 Eurosport announced that HD+ subscribers could add access to live sports coverage on the Eurosport 2 HD Xtra channel for an additional €5/month.
In December 2017, Travelxp joined HD+, broadcasting in Ultra HD and HDR (the first travel channel worldwide to use HDR) but left the service in April 2020.Travelxp 4k to leave Astra Broadband TV News. March 31, 2020. Accessed November 27, 2020 RTL launched its own UHD channel on April 28, 2018, distributed exclusively via HD+.RTL UHD goes live April 28 Advanced Television. April 2015. Accessed November 27, 2020
In March 2019 Comedy Central returned to HD+, replacing Nickelodeon.Comedy Central HD ab sofort bei HD+, Diveo und Freenet über Satellit INFOSAT – INFODIGITAL. March 1, 2019. Accessed November 27, 2020
In August 2021, the ProSiebenSat.1 UHD channel was launched on HD+, broadcasting UHD content from channels, Sat.1, ProSieben, Kabel Eins, ProSieben Maxx and Kabel Eins Doku.ProSiebenSat.1 launches Ultra HD channel Broadband TV News. 4 August 2021. Accessed 26 March 2022
In November 2021, RTLup HD (previously RTLplus) and VOXup HD were added to the platform, bringing the number of HD channels to 26.HD+ adds RTLup HD and VOXup HD Broadband TV News. 16 November 2021. Accessed 26 March 2022
In November 2023, 13 HD channels from German media company High View were added to the HD+ offering at no extra cost to subscribers. The new Variety+ package comprises three entertainment channels (Crime Time HD, Serien+ HD and Red Adventure HD), five music channels (Deluxe Rock HD, Deluxe Flashback HD, Deluxe Dance by Kontor HD, Deluxe Rap HD and Deluxe Lounge HD), two lifestyle channels (Just Cooking HD, just.fishing HD), and three documentary channels (xplore HD, HipTrips HD and OneTerra HD).HD+ adds 13 HD channels from High View on Astra Broadband TV News. 30 October 2023. Accessed 27 December 2023
Service fees and reception equipment Included in the purchase price of HD+ reception equipment is an HD+ smart card valid for a free introductory trial of all channels in the HD+ service. At the launch of the HD+ service the trial period was 12 months; this was reduced to 6 months in November 2013. HD+ extends contract with broadcasters November 27, 2013 Broadband TV News. Accessed March 29, 2017 At the end of the free viewing period, the validity of the card can be extended for a further year on payment of the annual service fee (€50 at the time of the service launch), either direct to HD+ or in stores. In May 2014 the annual service fee, after expiry of the free viewing period, was increased from €50 to €60 and a monthly payment plan of €5.00/month was introduced.Astra's HD+ to add three new channels February 7, 2014 Rapid TV News. Accessed March 29, 2017 In February 2017, the annual subscription was increased to €70 and the monthly fee raised to €5.75. German HD+ platform raises prices, adds multiscreen November 28, 2016 Broadband TV News. Accessed March 29, 2017 In March 2021, subscription fees were raised to €75 (annual) and €6 (monthly). German DTH platform HD+ increases prices Broadband TV News. January 14, 2021. Accessed August 22, 2021
Initially, the main route to HD+ reception was with the set-top boxes especially designed for HD+, connected to a satellite dish pointing at Astra 19.2°E, with an HD+ Nagravision smart card. Other satellite receivers or TV sets equipped with a CI+ slot can be fitted with an HD+ conditional-access module (CAM), bought from HD+ or in stores along with the HD+ smart card.
Since June 2011, all the HD+ channels have been additionally encrypted with VideoGuard to be available to Sky Deutschland subscribers without any HD+ equipment. Sky subscribers with a standard Sky HD satellite receiver and smartcard are able to watch and record the HD+ channels, along with the Sky HD channels and free-to-air German HD channels which also broadcast from Astra 19.2°E.NDS VideoGuard to Secure HD+ Content for Sky Deutschland Business Wire. May 4, 2011. Accessed November 27, 2020
Since September 2011, HD+ channels can also be received via Entertain Sat from Deutsche TelekomLaunch of Entertain Sat: TV service from Deutsche Telekom available throughout virtually the whole of Germany Deutsche Telekom. September 1, 2011. Accessed November 27, 2020 and, since January 2013, thanks to an agreement with the German broadcasting and broadband communications association (FRK), via some small and medium-sized cable networks.FRK einigt sich mit HD+ über Einspeisung in ausgewählten Kabelnetzen INFOSAT – INFODIGITAL. December 19, 2012. Accessed November 27, 2020