Millions of households affected: ZDF announces program change
The German television landscape has been undergoing significant changes in recent years, with high-resolution image quality becoming the norm while some channels still cling to outdated transmission formats. This dual infrastructure results in substantial costs and resource allocation. Now, one of the largest public broadcasters is taking a decisive step that will alter how millions of people watch television.
The ZDF channel is halting the broadcast of five channels – ZDF, ZDFneo, ZDFinfo, 3sat, and KiKA – in Standard Definition quality from November 18, 2025. These programs will only be available in High Definition quality moving forward. The decision to make this switch is grounded in a responsible management of broadcasting fees, with the majority of households already capable of receiving HD signals.
According to the Astra TV Monitor 2024, 2.5 million households in Germany do not currently have the technical capability to receive HD television. These viewers will be most affected by the transition, as they will lose access to the affected programs post-switch unless they make necessary adjustments. Commercial users such as hotels, hospitals, and elderly care facilities with older equipment will also be heavily impacted.
Experts advise that in most cases, purchasing a new television is unnecessary for HD reception. For devices less than ten to twelve years old, a simple channel scan through the menu is usually sufficient as modern TVs come equipped with integrated HD receivers. Only very outdated technology will require a DVB-S2 receiver or a new device. The transition to HD itself does not entail any extra costs for viewers.
The shutdown of SD channels is part of a larger trend in the industry. Previously, numerous regional ARD channels like WDR, NDR, and BR had already discontinued their SD streams. Private networks like QVC have also ceased operations in outdated quality. While certain private channels have opted to continue their SD offerings for now, it is likely that more networks will follow suit in the near future. The technological advancements make dual broadcasts increasingly unsustainable.