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Kabel BW launches HDTV package

German cable operator Kabel BW will launch a pay-TV package with HDTV channels on December 1st.

‘Clever HD' will offer music channels MTVN HD, Deluxe Lounge HD and Classica HD along with action sports channel Rush HD for a monthly sub******ion fee of €4.90.

MTVN HD has so far only been available on Deutsche Telekom's IPTV platform T-Home Entertain while Deluxe Lounge HD has been carrying out test transmissions on Kabel BW's network for several months. Classica HD has not yet been present in Germany while Rush HD has only been available in standard definition in Kabel BW's men's package and on Eutelsat's direct-to-cable platform KabelKiosk.

Also forming part of Kabel BW's HD line-up will be erotic channel Penthouse HD, marking the channel's premiere on German TV screens. Penthouse HD will be offered as a stand-alone service for €7.90 per month while Clever HD subscribers have the option of add the channel for a surcharge of €5 per month. A special offer will accompany the launch: When booking Clever HD with or without Penthouse HD, subscribers will get a free HD receiver.

Kabel BW will also soon commence carriage of Austrian commercial channel Servus TV both in standard and high definition as a free-to-air service. The channel, operated by energy drink manufacturer Red Bull, has so far only been available in Germany on Astra (19.2° East) and on Unitymedia's cable network.

With the new additions, Kabel BW will offer a total of 19 HD channels including the complete HD package from pay-TV operator Sky Deutschland. A further expansion is planned. According to Kabel BW, it has offered cable distribution to Germany's two large commercial TV groups RTL and ProSiebenSat.1 for their HD channels, which so far have only secured carriage on SES Astra's HD+ platform for DTH households.