Cable, Satellite, Streaming or Terrestrial TV

The USA has many exports, but the most powerful may be the culture sent around the world and directly into people’s homes. From Charlie Chaplin to Mickey Mouse to the latest “Bachelor,” these beacons of American norms and standards are not just entertainment, but examples of the American lifestyle.

A German Way Expat How To Guide by Erin Porter

Not to mention the growing media markets in other countries like Korea, the UK, Spain, and Germany itself (subtitled “Dark,” “Babylon Berlin,” and “Deutschland ’83” are all available in the US and elsewhere). Powerful studios in these countries now share their content on worldwide platforms such as Netflix and Prime Video, so people are gaining greater knowledge of what other cultures find entertaining. The world really is becoming a small place.

Long gone are the days when TV shows or movies took months, or even years, to arrive in foreign markets. German Game of Thrones fans waited just as anxiously for the final episode as those in the USA, and it premiered just hours after the American debut. Viewers anywhere in the world can watch things almost instantaneously with the main difficulty being the time difference. It is common for people abroad to instate a media black-out in the time before a big episode or even preface face-to-face conversations with “No spoilers!”. (Confession: I have been one of those people).

So take heart! It is possible to watch English-language programming in Germany. Here is our complete guide on how to access international entertainment in Germany.

German TV (Fernsehen)

Basic cable television (in German) is available in practically every flat or home with an outlet. Several years ago (in 2017) there was a big hubbub as Germany changed how TV was broadcast over the air, meaning that only the public TV channels remained “free” to view via a normal TV antenna. (Most Germans were already watching cable or satellite TV.) By now the transfer has been made and, while your residence may not come with light fixtures or a kitchen, it likely will have an outlet for digital TV.

What basic German TV offers you is the ability to watch news, sports, and German shows, as well as some international entertainment. Ever watch Road House in German? I have.

You can watch with a DVB-C/DVB-S/DVB-T2 Fernseher (television set), or online. TV entertainment is almost universally produced in German or dubbed (synchronisiert) in German, so you may struggle if your German is not up to par. On the other hand, watching TV auf Deutsch can be a great language-learning aid.

Discover more about German TV channels in our German Television article, and learn about German TV apps in our blog post.

Television and Radio Fees in Germany

It’s a good thing that this is so easily available, as you are going to pay for TV in Germany, whether you want to or not. Everyone living in Germany is responsible for the Rundfunkbeitrag (broadcasting/media fee) that is assessed for every household in Germany – even in the unlikely case that you don’t have a TV, radio, or computer.

The agency responsible for collecting the fee, AZD, is notoriously aggressive. Once you have completed your residential Anmeldung (registration), they will find you – or you can register online.

It is inexpensive at €17.50 per month, but the options are honestly subpar (besides perhaps Tatort) compared, say, to the BBC, and come with commercial breaks. No wonder so many people try to avoid paying. Unfortunately, you should take our advice and just pay. The collection of this tax is unavoidable (unless you are living on assistance/WBS).

Radio (Rundfunk)

Yes, this is an article about television, video, and movies, but… a quick shoutout to RADIO! Radio is a great alternative when you can’t watch video or TV (like when you’re driving). You’re paying for the German public radio broadcasters (Deutschlandfunk, DW [also in English!], ARD and its regional stations), so you might as well listen to them. But what about English-language radio?

Besides streaming radio from around the world online, if you live in certain areas of Germany, all you have to do is turn on your FM radio to hear English. The German capital city has at least one radio station broadcasting in English. Berlin’s KCRW 104.1 FM (Sorry, no longer broadcasting in 2021), formerly NPR Berlin, is affiliated with its sister station KCRW in Southern California, NPR, and PRI.

If you live in a region of Germany where US or NATO forces are stationed (Bavaria, Kaiserslautern, Spangdahlem, Stuttgart, Wiesbaden), you may be able to pick up AFN Europe, the Armed Forces Network that broadcasts music and news to Americans stationed overseas. AFN is also available online as AFN 360, but is subject to geo-blocking. From AFN: “AFN 360 will work in countries where AFN radio is broadcast. You can listen to AFN 360 on computers or portable devices connected in Germany, Italy, Belgium, The Netherlands, Spain, Turkey, the Azores, or on OCONUS military workstations.”

VOA (Voice of America) still broadcasts via FM and shortwave radio (!), but is also online. For a British view, you can listen to the BBC World Service (90.2 FM in Berlin) or BFBS Radio (British Forces Broadcasting Service), 103.0 FM (DTelekom) in Bielefeld, Germany. The BBC World Service also has FM stations in Germany (some are DAB digital). Also check your cable service for possible FM radio stations (BBC, etc.) they may carry.

GEMA

GEMA (Gesellschaft für musikalische Aufführungen; English: Society for musical performing and mechanical reproduction rights) was once a dirty word for many people in Germany. It restricted what videos could be enjoyed in Germany like on YouTube. Instead of that funny cat video your mom sent, you would get a message saying, “This video is not available in your country”. GEMA has been called one of the most aggressive PROs (performance rights organization) in the world.

Fortunately, since November 2016 GEMA’s reach has been considerably shortened, but you will still find it from time to time. There is nothing to do but move on to the next funny cat video.

Streaming Options for TV in Germany

Now let’s get to the meat of this article. If you are understandably dissatisfied with the German TV options – all is not lost. As mentioned in the intro, there are many ways you can watch English-language TV within Germany, and streaming is by far the easiest, most popular way to connect with English-language content in Germany.

I will cover some of the top providers along with their pros and cons.

Netflix

The behemoth of streaming services around the world, Netflix is also available in Germany (with a German account). An ever-changing stable of thousands of options are at your fingertips, including popular TV shows, blockbuster to independent movies, and original Netflix content. It is available on smart TVs or through the app for a set price each month (about €12 per month).

However, the German Netflix may look a little different if you have used it elsewhere. The interface is the same, but the options are different. Studios make different deals with Netflix country-to-country based on copyright. That means while Americans can watch episodes of The Good Place or The Great British Bake Off, they aren’t offered on Netflix in Germany. On the other hand, you may find that shows you don’t have in the UK or USA, or wherever else you may be, are available on German Netflix. (More on how to get around this in the VPN section below).

Full disclosure: I am a Netflix subscriber, and it is far and away my favorite streaming service.

Amazon Prime Video

Now known simply as “Prime Video,” the Munich-based German version is another major streaming service with the ability to find a range of shows not on Netflix. More options and even more original content!

There is also the ability to buy entertainment that is not currently streaming, either to watch immediately online or to have the DVD sent to your home (sometimes for same-day delivery). If you are an avid Amazon orderer, it just makes sense to have Prime and access to all these shows, plus free shipping, and other perks for €69 per year. NOTE: Prime Video in Germany is separate from the same service in Canada, the UK, or the USA. You need a German account to watch the German Prime Video service. (Also see the VPN section below.)

The downside of Prime Video, which I have personally experienced, is the poor interface. Finding the shows that are offered for free can be unnecessarily complicated, with tons of paid options appearing as well. In the past, it has also done a terrible job remembering preferences, with my household continually changing the language back to English – even on English-language programs.

TIP: If you have an Amazon Fire remote, you can say the name of a movie or show while pressing the mike button, and the item you want will pop up! Also use Prime’s “Meine Videos” (“Watchlist”) feature to save titles you want to watch later.

Apple TV+

This is another popular streaming service geared towards Apple lovers, particularly if you have an Apple TV streaming box. It offers channels like BritBox, CBS, Cinemax, College Humor, and HBO, and just recently started offering its own original content in a move that is quickly becoming the wave of the future.

Currently, this new service costs $4.99 per month and you can test it out with a 7-day free trial. Even better, if you have an Apple device purchased after September 10, 2019, it comes with Apple TV+ already installed and a year of free service. Apple is also streaming its shows on its website for people using Safari, Firefox, or Chrome browsers.

On the downside, there are only nine original shows at this point though the offer many of your favorite stars from Jennifer Anniston to Oprah. Time will tell how well Apple will do in this crowded market, as Disney+ and others are also throwing their hat in the ring (see below).

Disney+ (Disney Plus)

The new Disney+ streaming service, with its vast vault of Disney, Marvel, Pixar, Star Wars, and other movies and shows, is scheduled to debut in Germany at the end of March 2020. Disney+ is expected to offer serious competition for Netflix and the rest of the gang. Disney’s new “Mandalorian” series with Baby Yoda has been a big hit in the US. Stay tuned. Disney+ has been streaming in the USA since November 12, 2019.

Sky

Formerly satellite only, Sky Deutschland is another English-language streaming service those outside of the UK might neglect. It came into focus for us with the last season of Game of Thrones (HBO in the US). Knowing they had what everyone wanted, Sky offered a vastly discounted fee for new users, and we bit.

They also have loads of other popular programming, including many options from the UK. Sky UK TV advertises their high-quality images, especially for 3D broadcasts of sports.

Slingbox

Not to be confused with the Sling live-TV streaming service, Slingbox is another way to watch content from abroad. This is a physical device that attaches to your cable box or DVR and allows you to view your TV/cable-box/DVR content anywhere you have an internet connection. The Slingbox allows you to remotely control a DVR or cable box from anywhere with decent internet access. You can be in Germany or anywhere and watch your home TV (live or recorded) on your computer or mobile device. And it costs you nothing extra, other than the cost of the device itself, and any sat or cable TV subscriptions you already pay for.

On the downside, this means you need to have an account in the States or wherever the television content you want to watch is based. Because of this, this option is best for traveling or for people maintaining two households in different parts of the world – or who have a friend or relative back home willing to share.

Cable and Satellite TV Options in Germany

Cable in Germany

As discussed under German TV above, many basic channels are already offered via a basic cable that should be installed in your flat. These are predominately German channels, but you can extend your offerings with Kabelfernsehen.

Installation
Some Altbaus (old buildings) may not have been renovated to include the basic cable line, and then you will need to contact the Hausverwaltung (house management). It will require wiring and drilling and the cable company will not do that without the building management’s cooperation.

Note that your options may also be limited to a specific provider depending on your building. Because of the difficulty wiring these buildings, some places have a Hausanschluss or “house connection” to a specific internet/cable provider. For these reasons, streaming has become much more popular.

Cable providers include Vodafone, Primacom, and Unitymedia, among others. These offer some English-language channels, although the majority of channels are still in German. These enhanced channels may come with some additional cost to your internet connection.

Satellite TV in Germany

Satellite television offers an even wider array of international shows than cable. A 45 to 90cm diameter dish is required to receive the most channels. (See the photo above.)

The Astra 2 satellite is popular in Germany for its access to British channels including BBC, ITV, and Sky channels. Other satellite options include Intelsat, Eutelsat, and Premiere.

The disadvantage of satellite versus cable is that a dish can be difficult to install – requiring permission from the landlord and ideally a south-facing balcony or roof-space. The initial set-up costs range from 200 to 400 euro.

Blu-ray/4K Movies in English

For those viewers interested in top quality, Blu-ray and UHD/4K media are your best option.

• Blu-ray: This format supersedes the DVD format in that it can store several hours of video in high-definition and ultra-high definition.
• 4K TVs: This emerging technology has high resolution, four times the number of Full HD. 4K TV is also known as Ultra HD or UHD.

Amazon.de offers a wide selection of both types (plus Prime Video streaming), and you can refer to our guides on DVD and Blu-ray and International Blu-ray/4K/DVD Players and TVs.

VPN Options for Germany

VPNs (Virtual Private Networks) are an easy way to watch shows destined for other countries. By using this service, you can hide the IP address and replace it with the VPN provider. That means that even though my computer and I live in Berlin, by using a VPN I can bypass geographic restrictions and watch shows in the USA, UK, and many other locations…most of the time.

Many sites have gotten quite sophisticated and can still figure out if you are in another country. For example, Netflix and BBC can often detect your true computer/IP location. Most VPNs allow you to try them out for 30 days so you can see if they work for your preferred streaming service. You should also read our German Way VPN guide with reviews of different providers.

Illegal Streaming and Downloads
In general, any mainstream service you are paying for like those mentioned above are legal. There are innumerable other sites that are illegal. They tend to pop up, get banned, and then spring up with a new url and design. Streaming is illegal and these sites leave users susceptible to fines and viruses.

Germany is vigilant in chasing down illegal downloads, in particular. Many people using torrents or downloading movies have received the now infamous letter from a lawyer demanding several thousands of dollars for illegal downloads. This is above board and there is a whole market of law firms chasing down offenders, and another fighting the suits.

This is one of the reasons Germans are notoriously private about their Wi-Fi and passwords. Violators can be tracked down to the IP address, not who exactly committed the infraction. Whoever owns the address is responsible for the fine.

A VPN may protect you from fines, but it is best to do the right thing and avoid these risky sites altogether.

More | German Way Expat How To Guides

Related Pages
MORE AT THE GERMAN WAY

• How to Watch German Television – Why your North American TV set won’t work in Europe… and what you can do about it. Also see: Radio and Television in Germany (ARD, ZDF, etc.)
• How To Open a Bank Account in Germany – A step-by-step guide to the process of opening a bank account, plus information about the types of banks and accounts.
• How To Set Up a Business in Germany – A practical guide for prospective entrepreneurs in Germany: How to prepare, get government support, register your company, and deal with legal issues.
• Cultural Comparison Charts: USA vs Germany – Helpful, comparative info about daily life in the US and Germany
• Dining Etiquette and table manners in Germany
• German Way Expat How To Guides – Practical how-to’s in many areas for expats in Germany
• Living in Germany – For expats in German-speaking Europe
• History & Culture – Austria, Germany and Switzerland
• The German Way Expat Blog – For expats, by expats

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