The SD shutdown in Germany has begun. You can gradually only receive many TV channels in HD. Now you should pay attention to this.
Many SD programs are no longer broadcast in Germany. This year there are even more to come. (Source: Montage: Netzwelt/Image: Netzwelt with AI and Pixabay)
- Already on January 7th, ARD stopped broadcasting the program in SD. The third programs are also affected.
- On November 18, 2025, ZDF will follow suit by switching off the SD program.
- You can then only receive the TV channels in HD.
This year, television networks will stop broadcasting their programs in standard definition (SD). These will then only be offered in high definition (HD). The reason for this is the lower image quality of the SD programs, which was suitable for older television models, but is no longer sufficient for increasingly larger TV models. As a result, the image often appears blurry on modern devices. HD channels, on the other hand, offer significantly higher video resolution, making the image appear clearer and more detailed.
According to ZDF Almost all households in Germany already receive television programs in HD quality. By eliminating the SD offer, the costs of program distribution can be reduced. According to its own statements, the public broadcaster therefore wants to meet the expectations of economical and responsible handling of broadcast contributions by switching off the SD program.
Which channels will be switched off when?
Since January 7, 2025, ARD programs including the third programs (WDR, NDR, MDR, BR, rbb, SR and SWR) can no longer be received in SD quality. the broadcaster announced this. Am 18. November ZDF also stops broadcasting its programs in SD. ZDF also announces that the SD programs from the channels ZDFneo, ZDFinfo, 3sat and KiKA will also be discontinued on the deadline.
The large German private broadcasters such as ProSiebenSat.1 and RTL continue to broadcast their programs in SD quality. There is currently no information from the broadcasters about switching exclusively to HD programs.
The shutdown applies to both satellite and cable reception. The two largest cable network operators in Germany Pyur and Vodafone Since January 7, 2025, ARD has also no longer offered programs in SD quality. From November 18, 2025, at the same time as the end of distribution via satellite, the feeding of ZDF programs into the respective cable networks will also end.
Check whether the TV supports HD
To check whether the channels are already being received in HD, you should call up the television's entire program list. HD channels can be identified by the program name, and many programs also display the HD addition next to the television logo. An HD-capable television or a suitable receiver is required for reception.
The quickest way to find out whether the device supports HD reception is to compare the model name using a search engine such as Google. As a rule, these are televisions that are up to ten years old. If the device does not support HD, a suitable receiver can be used with DVB-S2 reception. These are available on Amazon, for example, for under 50 dollars.
Find HD channels automatically via channel search
In order to receive HD channels, an automatic channel search is usually sufficient. This can usually be done by pressing the Settings button on the remote control and then selecting the appropriate option. The signal source must be DVB-S2 for satellite reception and DVB-C as the standard for cable reception. A manual channel search is recommended if some programs are already received in HD.
Austria and Switzerland have also made the switch
In Austria, at the same time as the ARD channels, the SD variants of ORF (Austrian public television) were switched off on January 7th, the station reports. The Swiss Radio and Television Company stopped broadcasting on SD in February 2016. This means that all three German-speaking countries are now increasingly relying on modern transmission standards.
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