RTL to broadcast in MPEG-4 in Stuttgart

STUTTGART — From mid-2009, RTL, VOX, Super RTL and RTL II are expected to begin broadcasting via DVB-T in the Stuttgart region using MPEG-4 compression. This will be the first time that MPEG-4 has been used for terrestrial transmission in Germany. New set-top boxes supporting the advanced compression standard are expected to be available around mid-year.

The package will include the two pay-TV channels RTL Crime and Passion, another first as pay TV channels have not been broadcast on DTT in Germany so far. The channels will be broadcast free-of-charge for the first year, however.

Encryption is reported to be being provided by Conax.