Vodafone to Cease SD Broadcasting of ZDF Channels

Vodafone has announced that it will terminate the standard definition (SD) broadcasting of ZDF channels on November 18. This decision includes the cessation of satellite broadcasts for ZDF in SD quality, with all ZDF programming to be available only in high definition (HD) thereafter.

The cable provider stated that the decision was primarily driven by a decline in interest for SD broadcasts. At the beginning of the year, only two percent of its cable customers used a TV receiver that was not HD-capable, and this number is expected to have decreased further. Earlier this year, Vodafone also ended the SD broadcasts for ARD channels for similar reasons, which had prompted them to eliminate SD offerings for ZDF as well.

By discontinuing SD broadcasts of public broadcasters, Vodafone aims to free up bandwidth, thus enhancing the capacity for future network development. This move is intended to benefit internet users through improved data rates.

For viewers who do not own an HD-capable receiver and are still interested in watching ZDF, it is now essential to purchase a new receiver. These devices can still be connected to televisions that do not support HD.

The channels affected by the SD shutdown include ZDF, ZDFinfo, ZDFneo, 3sat, and KiKA.

This transition follows a recommendation from the Commission for the Determination of the Financial Needs of the Broadcasting Institutions (KEF), which has urged broadcasters for years to transmit their content exclusively in HD to reduce costs. In 2021, the KEF identified potential savings of EUR13.7 million and subsequently eliminated funding for SD broadcasts.