Watching TV in Germany: Solutions for Expats and Travelers

The German television (Fernsehen) standard used in Germany and most of Europe is not compatible with the television system used in the United States and Canada. Germany’s digital (DVB, was PAL) television system is different from the ATSC television standard in North America. So what can expats do to solve this problem?

A German television picture will not display on a normal US television set. Sports in the ZDF morning show. PHOTO: ZDF

Watching TV in Germany

In Europe, including Germany, most radio and TV broadcasting follows the British BBC model, with a mix of public fee-funded broadcasters and private, commercial radio and TV networks. (For more about the German system, see Radio and Television in Germany.) Each household in Germany with an internet connection, a radio or a TV is required to pay a monthly “broadcast fee” that funds the public broadcasters ARD and ZDF. (More about this fee below.)

Cable or Satellite TV
Until recently there were over 25 digital standard-definition (SD) television channels that could be received over the air in Berlin. The situation was similar all across Germany until terrestrial HDTV began broadcasting in 2017 and the SD channels went dark. However, very few Germans watch terrestrial TV. About 90 percent of TV viewers have cable and/or satellite. But even if you want to watch over-the-air TV in Germany, it isn’t free and you’ll need a TV set that works with Germany’s digital DVB TV standard. If you bring your normal TV set or display — even a digital one — from the US or Canada, you won’t be able to view any of the German channels. (It’s the same in Austria and Switzerland.)

There are also German cable and satellite services that offer programming similar or identical to cable and satellite channels in the US and Canada (BBC, CNN International, Discovery, MSNBC, movie channels, etc.). But a standard US TV set won’t work with those services either. How do you deal with this problem?

TV and DVD Options/Solutions for Germany
There are several factors that make viewing German digital or cable TV on a standard American TV set impossible. Besides the number of lines in the PAL or DVB TV picture, the frame rate (50Hz, 25 per second in Germany; 60Hz, 30 per second in the US) and the color systems are also different. Even with a voltage converter, a normal US digital or analog TV is useless in Germany. But there are several solutions to this problem — some easier or cheaper than others.

Expat TV Solutions for Germany

Expats living in German-speaking Europe have a range of options for watching local and cable/satellite television channels.

Option 1: Buy a German DVB TV set
The simplest solution is to buy a DVB-C/DVB-S/DVB-T2 television set in Austria, Germany, Switzerland, or online. Then you can leave your American TV at home (and sell your used German TV later). With a TV set made for Germany, you automatically get standard German features such as Bildschirmtext, the videotext service available in all three German-speaking countries. That gives you all sorts of information, including news, program guides, and even airline departures and arrivals. With the right kind of DVD or Blu-ray player (see below), it will also work with American and German DVDs or Blu-ray discs.

Option 2: A multisystem TV set
A multisystem television can handle all of the world’s main TV formats (ATSC, DVB, PAL, Secam, etc.). With a multisystem set, you don’t have to worry about which system you’re using, or even where you are. The disadvantages are mostly financial. A multisystem TV can cost a bit more than a normal TV, but it may be a good investment for expats who move around a lot.

Option 3: A DVB-to-ATSC converter
The system-converter option has both advantages and disadvantages compared to options 1 and 2 above. The chief advantage is cost. A decent DVB-to-ATSC converter can be purchased for less than $200. It will allow you to watch German TV and US (Region 1) DVDs on your US television set, so you don’t have to buy a new TV. The disadvantages include the need for a step-down voltage transformer for your US TV set (if it is not a 220/110 model) and a lack of Bildschirmtext (mentioned earlier). Plus, if you have an HDTV set, a DVB-to-ATSC HDTV converter runs about $300 and up. Bottom line: This is a clunky, inelegant solution we don’t recommend.

Option 4: A multisystem 4K/Blu-ray/DVD player
If you are primarily concerned about viewing 4K, Blu-ray or DVDs, a cheaper solution is to buy a multisystem, multiregion DVD player. Although this solution will usually not allow you to view German TV unless you also have a DVB or multisystem TV set, the advantage is that most multisystem DVD players will work on any TV monitor. Note that DVDs can also be played on a computer with a DVD or Blu-ray drive. (Note: Most Blu-ray movies have no region coding and will play on a German or US Blu-ray player.) Computer DVD players can switch to another region code, but some are easier than others to switch and there is a five-time limit.

Option 5: TV on your computer
This is not a primary solution, but it is a great option for a second TV or for those who would like to record German TV programs and movies. You’re probably planning to bring along a computer or two anyway. If you have a laptop computer with a TV tuner card or an external USB device like the EyeTV Hybrid, you can watch (and record) TV on your computer. Of course, you need a card or plug-in device that works in Germany.

When I was living in Berlin, I bought an Elgato EyeTV Hybrid (analog/digital) USB tuner for my Mac in Germany that worked great for both viewing and recording over-the-air broadcasts or listening to FM radio. (Note: German over-the-air TV now requires an encoder box for some channels.) It’s like a DVR in your shirt pocket! The Elgato software and program guide are also very good. The Hybrid can also double as a way to convert your old VHS tapes to a 21st century digital format. The DVB-T/Analog Hybrid (for the Mac) sells for 130 euros in Europe ($150 plus tax in the US). The cheaper EyeTV Diversity tuner (digital only) is only 80 euros. (Note: The German version will not work in the US, and vice versa.) See the Elgato website for details. For PCs there are several options from EyeTV, Hauppauge.com (US) or Hauppauge.de (Germany).

Option 6: Streaming TV services
I use a streaming service in the US to watch German television (on my TV set), and expats can do the same in Germany to watch American and/or German/European TV. German Way Expat Blog writer Erin has written a blog about streaming services and VPNs (Virtual Private Networks) that allow you to watch video/TV that is normally blocked in Germany (such as the US Netflix, Hulu, etc.) VPNs are a gray area legally, and some can be risky (viruses!), so you’ll have to make your own decision about using a VPN, and choose a reputable one. Apple TV, Roku and other streaming video devices are also available in Germany/Europe, but they only offer programming that is legally available in Germany. Erin also mentioned Slingbox, a great option for watching home TV from anywhere with a Wi-Fi connection, also ideal for travelers. See Erin’s blog for more streaming video tips.

The solution you choose will depend on your goals and your financial situation. No one set-up is going to be right for everyone.

More | Radio and TV in Germany

Related Pages
AT THE GERMAN WAY

• GW Expat Blog: Confessions of an Expat TV Addict in Germany – Despite living in Germany for several years, I still watch American TV every day.
• Radio and Television in Germany – Commercial and public broadcasting, DVB-T, PAL and more
• International DVD Players and TVs from the GW Store: international, multisystem DVD/Blu-ray players and flat-screen HDTVs
• HDTV in Germany – For starters, there was no hi-def TV available over the air – until now.
• Electrical Facts – 220 volts and all that
• The German Way Expat Blog
• Telephone Tips for Germany
• Living in Germany – A guide for expats in German-speaking Europe.

ON THE WEB

• ARD – Das Erste – Germany’s “First Programme” (TV)
• ORF TV – Austria’s public TV network
• SRF – Schweizer Fernsehen – Switzerland’s public TV network
• ZDF – Germany’s “Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen”, the “Second Programme”

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