The early contract extension ensures that WELT HD will remain available via digital terrestrial television to viewers with a Freenet TV subscription. The agreement continues the long-standing partnership between WeltN24 and Media Broadcast.

WELT HD provides round-the-clock news coverage, analysis and international reporting, alongside documentaries and factual programming. The channel is available nationwide through the DVB-T2 HD terrestrial network in high-definition quality.

“For a news and information service such as WELT HD, stable and reliable distribution is essential,” said Francie Petrick, Managing Director of Media Broadcast. “The contract extension demonstrates WeltN24’s confidence in DVB-T2 HD and ensures that news and background reporting will continue to be available nationwide via terrestrial television.”

Frank Hoffmann, Chief Executive Officer of WeltN24, added: “Quality journalism deserves the best possible presentation. We are therefore pleased to continue our partnership with Media Broadcast on a long-term basis and to keep offering our programme via DVB-T2 HD. This will allow us to continue bringing WELT TV’s news expertise directly to our viewers in the highest picture quality.”

The renewal follows a series of recent DVB-T2 HD distribution agreements between Media Broadcast and major broadcasters, including Warner Bros. Discovery, RTL, ProSiebenSat.1 and Sport1, securing terrestrial distribution on Freenet TV through to 2030.

The long‑term extension secures continued terrestrial availability of both channels in HD quality for viewers with a Freenet TV subscription. The agreement continues a long‑standing partnership between the broadcaster and Media Broadcast.

DMAX HD targets a broad, predominantly male audience with factual entertainment, documentaries and real‑life reportage across genres including adventure, motoring, lifestyle, knowledge and work. Eurosport 1 HD positions itself as the most extensive free‑to‑air live sport channel in Germany, offering year‑round coverage of international competitions.

“With DMAX HD and Eurosport 1 HD, two high‑reach channels will continue to rely on distribution via DVB‑T2 HD and therefore on a stable and high‑performance transmission of TV content. We are delighted to continue our collaboration with Warner Bros. Discovery,” said Francie Petrick, Managing Director of Media Broadcast.

The contract renewal with Warner Bros. Discovery follows agreements with RTL, ProSiebenSat.1 and Sport1, securing DTT distribution with Media Broadcast until the end of 2030.

Freeview New Zealand is to launch Freeview NextGen, a new broadband-delivered free-to-air TV service built on the DVB-I standard.

The platform is expected to debut in Q3 2026 with launch partners Hisense and TCL, and Freeview says it is on track to become the world’s first nationwide free-to-air TV platform powered by DVB-I.

Freeview NextGen will allow viewers to watch Freeview channels over Wi-Fi or broadband without needing a satellite dish, aerial connection or dedicated app.

The service will be integrated into the native TV interface and setup process on compatible sets, initially from TCL and Hisense.

For homes using both broadband and an antenna, Freeview NextGen will combine internet and broadcast signals into a single TV guide, automatically removing duplicate channels.

Leon Mead, general manager of Freeview, said the service was designed to futureproof free-to-air television as viewing habits and TV interfaces continue to change.

“Freeview NextGen represents momentum in futureproofing free-to-air television for all New Zealanders,” he said. “While the trusty aerial and satellite will be around for a while, this is the future for TV.”

Freeview said the launch would make live TV streaming and setup simpler, while ensuring local channels remain easy to find as more households rely on broadband for home entertainment.

In the pilot project, launched in June 2024, MSA is working with terrestrial network operator Media Broadcast to assess how traditional broadcasting can be combined with 5G mobile technology using a point-to-multipoint architecture. This approach means a single signal is broadcast simultaneously to all compatible devices, similar to conventional digital terrestrial television, rather than using individual mobile data streams.

The trial uses UHF channel 40 at the transmitter site in the city of Halle and is designed to test the distribution of TV channels and other services using the 5G Broadcast standard. Local TV channel MDF 1 is part of the line up, marking the first time a local commercial broadcaster is involved in a 5G Broadcast trial in Germany.

A key feature of the technology is that reception does not require a SIM card or mobile contract. Instead, compatible devices such as smartphones, tablets or in-car systems can receive content directly via broadcast signals, without consuming mobile data volume.

According to the MSA, the objectives of the extension include further testing with near-series 5G-enabled devices and the development of potential warning functionalities, indicating a possible future role for the technology in public alert systems alongside media distribution.

“Today’s meeting highlights the wide range of tasks carried out by MSA,” said MSA Assembly Chairman Markus Kurze following the Assembly’s decision to extend the trial. “I am pleased that together with partners such as Media Broadcast we are making broadcast technology future-proof.”

Francie Petrick, Managing Director of Media Broadcast, added: “With the extension of the pilot project in Halle, we are creating the basis to continue testing 5G Broadcast in a well‑founded way, both in its technological and societal relevance. The results so far show the potential this technology holds for future‑proof media distribution and for protecting the population.”

The Halle pilot was launched following a tender published by MSA in April 2024. The initial allocation was limited to two years, with the possibility of extension.

With the extension, the trial can now run until 31 May 2028.

Cyprus has pushed back its transition to a new digital terrestrial television standard by two months, with the switchover to DVB-T2 now scheduled for July 1.

The decision, taken by the Deputy Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy, is intended to give viewers more time to prepare and follows minor technical issues during the rollout phase.

The upgrade will see Hellas Sat take over operation of the country’s DTT platform, replacing Velister and moving from the older DVB-T standard to DVB-T2.

The change primarily affects households receiving television via rooftop or indoor aerials. Viewers using cable or satellite services will not need to take action.

Households with DVB-T2 compatible televisions will only need to retune their channels. Those with older sets will need a DVB-T2 set-top box or a new television.

The move aligns Cyprus with most European markets, where DVB-T2 has become the standard, offering improved picture quality, greater channel capacity and more efficient use of spectrum.

Retailers in the country are already reporting increased demand for DVB-T2 equipment as the revised deadline approaches.

France’s media regulator Arcom has opened a public consultation on the future of digital terrestrial television (DTT) and the wider television sector, ahead of key spectrum decisions due in 2027.

The consultation focuses on the reallocation of broadcast spectrum that will become available after 11 December 2027, when licences expire for six national DTT channels: TF1 Séries Films, L’Équipe, 6Ter, RMC Story, RMC Découverte and RMC Life.

Under French law, the frequencies can only be reassigned through a formal call for applications, with Arcom set to publish an impact assessment following the consultation.

The regulator is also using the process to examine the longer-term future of television, with a white paper planned for publication in the first half of 2027.

The consultation is structured around four key areas:

• An assessment of the current TV market, including the impact of streaming and shifting viewing habits
• The future role of DTT, including potential decline scenarios and coverage implications
• The 2027 licence expiry and future spectrum allocation framework
• Possible regulatory reforms to improve competitiveness and visibility for national broadcasters

Arcom said the process will explore how traditional broadcasters — both public and private — can compete more effectively with global streaming platforms, as pressure grows on both revenues and content costs.

The consultation also considers extending “services of general interest” status to local TV stations and reviewing distribution rules to ensure prominence and discoverability.

Submissions are open to all stakeholders until 15 June 2026, with contributions feeding into future policy decisions on spectrum use and the regulatory framework for television in France.

Under the extended deal, Sport1 HD will remain available via digital terrestrial television in high definition, accessible to viewers through a Freenet TV subscription across the nationwide DVB-T2 network.

The renewal ensures the continued presence of Sport1’s channel on the platform, underlining the ongoing role of terrestrial broadcasting within Germany’s distribution landscape alongside cable, satellite, IPTV and streaming. The agreement also extends the long-standing partnership between Sport1 and Media Broadcast. According to the technical service provider, the extension highlights the importance of a reliable terrestrial infrastructure for broadcasters and guarantees continued access to a broad TV offering via antenna.

“We are very pleased about the contract extension, which follows the agreements with RTL and ProSiebenSat.1. It shows how important a high-performance and reliable terrestrial infrastructure is for broadcasters and ensures that viewers will continue to receive a diverse TV offering via antenna,” said Francie Petrick, Managing Director of Media Broadcast. “With Sport1, a strong media company continues to rely on DVB-T2 HD, strengthening the attractiveness of Freenet TV for a broad audience and demonstrating confidence in our transmission network.”

Andreas Gerhardt, Chief Content & Distribution Officer at Sport1, added: “We are pleased to extend our partnership with Media Broadcast. It is an important signal of our trusted collaboration and a central component of our distribution strategy. Via DVB-T2 HD, we continue to reach many viewers directly and in high quality, ensuring that Sport1 HD remains available to a broad audience in the future.”

The agreement follows similar renewals by RTL Deutschland and ProSiebenSat.1, committing to terrestrial distribution on Freenet TV through to the end of the decade.

French regulator Arcep has launched a public consultation on the future of the wholesale market for terrestrial audiovisual broadcasting services, as the role of digital terrestrial television continues to weaken against broadband-based delivery.

The consultation centres on Arcerp’s Assessment and Outlook for the Wholesale Market for Terrestrial Audiovisual Broadcasting Services, which reviews the competitive position of the DTT transmission market and considers its prospects as alternative forms of audiovisual distribution and consumption continue to grow.

Arcep is also seeking views on a set of commitments submitted by TDF, the leading terrestrial audiovisual broadcasting operator, for the next regulatory cycle.

DTT in France remains subject to minimum coverage obligations, requiring national television services to reach at least 95% of the population. However, the regulator said the platform’s position in the television market continues to decline as households increasingly turn to broadband and very high-speed networks for video consumption.

Television delivery in France is spread across several infrastructures including DTT, satellite, cable, ADSL and fibre. Arcep noted that ADSL and fibre-based distribution can either be managed by the internet service provider as IPTV, or delivered independently over the public internet as OTT services.

IPTV has become the dominant broadband television model in France, supported by the widespread take-up of triple play offers from internet service providers. According to Arcep, audiovisual consumption via IPTV has exceeded terrestrial television since 2017, and the regulator expects this shift away from DTT to continue as high-speed and very high-speed network coverage expands further.

Despite these wider structural changes, Arcep said the competitive landscape in the terrestrial broadcasting market has remained broadly stable compared with the previous review period.

Competition remains limited, with TowerCast the only alternative terrestrial broadcaster. At the end of 2025, TowerCast was transmitting around 30.1% of service points, having focused its replication strategy on the complementary network.

Against this backdrop, TDF has submitted a proposed set of commitments to Arcep. The commitments would take effect once adopted by the regulator in a binding decision and would remain in force for 5 years.

Arcep said the consultation is intended to gather stakeholder feedback both on its assessment of the current and future regulatory framework for the wholesale terrestrial broadcasting market and on the commitments proposed by TDF.

Interested parties have until May 4, 2026 to respond. Following the consultation, Arcep said it will publish a draft decision for a further round of public consultation.

TDF has underlined the continued strategic importance of Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) within its audiovisual business, despite a decline in revenues linked to structural changes in the French TV market.

The group reported a 4.3% fall in DTT broadcasting revenues in 2025, reflecting the vacancy of the R3 pay-TV multiplex following Canal+’s withdrawal in June 2025. The absence of the multiplex has weighed on performance, with regulator Arcom postponing the reallocation process by two years from September 2025.

Despite this, TDF said DTT remains a “structuring pillar” of the French audiovisual landscape, citing its free-to-air model, nationwide coverage and role in ensuring continuity of service.

The company continues to position terrestrial broadcasting as a key component of digital offer, providing controlled, resilient infrastructure for the distribution of television services in an increasingly fragmented media environment.

Looking ahead, TDF is preparing for the next phase of DTT evolution, with a particular focus on 5G Broadcast. The technology is seen as a potential way to extend the reach of terrestrial television to mobile devices, while enhancing the attractiveness of the platform.

Within the wider audiovisual division, which posted revenues of €269.8 million, down 0.8%, TDF pointed to the resilience of its broadcast activities despite ongoing shifts toward streaming.

The group said continued investment in DTT infrastructure, alongside developments in DAB+ digital radio, would support the long-term sustainability of terrestrial platforms as part of France’s broader connectivity strategy.

Under the extended deal, six channels from the commercial broadcaster will remain available via DTT in HD quality. The line-up comprises Sat.1 HD, ProSieben HD, Sat.1 Gold HD, Kabel Eins HD, Sixx HD and ProSieben Maxx HD, all accessible through a Freenet TV subscription.

The renewal ensures the continued presence of ProSiebenSat.1’s portfolio on the DVB-T2 HD platform, underlining the ongoing role of terrestrial broadcasting as part of Germany’s distribution mix alongside cable, satellite, IPTV and streaming services. The agreement also continues the long-standing partnership between the broadcaster and Media Broadcast.

According to the service provider, the extension reflects sustained demand for digital terrestrial television and reinforces DVB-T2 HD as a reliable distribution infrastructure. “DVB-T2 HD is a central component of a resilient and high-performance distribution landscape,” said Francie Petrick, Managing Director of Media Broadcast. “The continuation of our collaboration with ProSiebenSat.1 underlines our joint ambition to ensure that high-quality TV content remains reliably available via digital terrestrial broadcasting.”

Nicole Agudo Berbel, Managing Director and Chief Distribution Officer at ProSiebenSat.1, added: “It is important for us that our content is available to viewers everywhere and at any time. We are therefore pleased to extend our partnership with Media Broadcast for the long term, ensuring that our free-to-air channels will continue to be accessible in high quality via antenna.”

The agreement follows a similar renewal by RTL Deutschland, which also extended its DVB-T2 HD distribution contract with Media Broadcast through to the end of 2030. Together, the deals mean that Germany’s two largest commercial broadcasting groups have now committed to DTT for the remainder of the decade.