Berlin starts wireless digital TV with galaxis decoders

- German decoder specialist official partner of the DVB-T launch in Berlin - Low-priced DVB-T receivers from galaxis available in Berlin from end of August

erlin television viewers will receive digital television after the summer holidays even without SAT or cable connection: from the end of August the Lübeck decoder specialist galaxis will be the first German manufacturer to offer specialist shops in the capital area low-priced receivers for the wireless digital television DVB-T. For some time now galaxis has been fitting out test households, broadcasting companies and institutions, state media institutions and technical committees with prototype equipment. To achieve this the company is using its experience from international pilot projects, such as those in the Scandinavian area. The DVB-T broadcasting method is unanimously supported by private and publicly-owned broadcasting companies; analogue terrestrial reception via outside aerial will be discontinued in the summer of 2003 in the wake of the launch of the new technology.

ARD Chairman Fritz Pleitgen sees the DVB-T project in Berlin-Brandenburg as a "milestone on the road to the digital television era". Pleitgen and his ZDF colleague Dr. Dieter Stolte emphasised galaxis' commitment during an event at the beginning of February. galaxis Chairman Winfried M. Klimek considers the start of DVB-T in the capital area to be an important step forward for more variety and competition in digital television: "As a German technology company we are pleased to be able to play a significant role in designing the start of the wireless digital television DVB-T. After years of stagnation, a competition of the digital transport systems cable, satellite and terrestrial is coming into being.

The winner of this competition is the viewer, but also the trade, the German technology industry and the media landscape as a whole. The digital SAT and cable operators will profit from the dynamics of this market and be able to define their system advantages more clearly than before."