ARD-alpha

ARD-alpha is a German free-to-air television channel run by regional public-service broadcaster Bayerischer Rundfunk. Its programming consists of shows made by Bayerischer Rundfunk, as well as from ARD and Austrian broadcaster ORF. The channel was originally called BR-alpha but was rebranded as ARD-alpha on 29 June 2014.

ARD-alpha
Launched7 January 1998 (1998-01-07)
NetworkARD
Owned byBayerischer Rundfunk
Picture format720p HDTV
(downscaled to 16:9 576i for the SDTV feed)
Audience share0.1% (October 2017 (2017-10), KEK)
CountryBavaria, Germany
Broadcast areaGermany
Sister channel(s)Bayerisches Fernsehen
Websiteard-alpha.de
Availability
Terrestrial
Digital terrestrial televisionVaries depending on the region
Cable
Kabel DeutschlandChannel 502 (SD)
UPC Switzerland (Switzerland)Channel 74 (SD)
IPTV
Telekom EntertainChannel 80 (SD)
A1 TV (Austria)Channel 47 (SD)
Logo of BR-alpha from October 2007 to 29 June 2014

Programmes

ARD-alpha broadcasts educational programmes including; science, religion, music, philosophy, literature, language learning, art and culture.

History

BR-alpha (1998-2014)

BR-alpha, as the station was originally called, started broadcasting on January 7, 1998. The station's programmes were originally broadcast in analog using the Astra satellite and was also distributed by cable networks. The schedule focused mainly on education and information. The channel began digital broadcasts via Astra in the summer of 1998.[1] On 28 November 2000, the heads of the regional public broadcasters agreed to start cooperating with BR-alpha.[2]

On 30 September 2002, the channel started broadcasting Planet Wissen ("Planet Knowledge" in English), a general knowledge programme and a co-production of BR-alpha, Westdeutscher Rundfunk and Südwestrundfunk. The programme also has an extensive internet presence. Bavaria started digital terrestrial television broadcasts on 30 May 2005, as did BR-alpha.[3]

The channel's scheduled were revamped on 16 February 2008. Career guidance programmes, a magazine aimed at young people called freiraum were started, and programs W wie Wissen and Faszination Wissen were also added.[4]

On 9 August 2009, the youth program on3-südwild switched from Bavarian Television to BR-alpha.[5] On 27 June 2010, Andreas Höfer won the Deutschen Kamerapreis (German Camera Award) in the category TV movie /docudrama for the BR-alpha film Empathie – Stumme Schreie (Empathy - Silent screams).[6]

ARD-alpha (since 2014)

The channel was renamed ARD-alpha on 29 June 2014. The schedule was reorganised the previous day. BR is still responsible for financing and broadcasting the channel, but some programmes originally broadcast by other ARD member stations were added to ARD-alpha's schedule.[7][8] Cooperation with ORF (the Austrian public broadcaster) in the form of alpha-Österreich continued and its television programs are now aired after 10 pm instead of in the early evening. Werner Reuss is head of ARD-alpha.

Broadcast

SD broadcasting via satellite (Astra 19.2) stopped on 12 January 2021.[9]

Audience share

Germany
January February March April May June July August September October November December Annual average
2017[10]0.1%0.1%0.1%0.1%0.1%0.1%0.1%0.1%0.1%0.1%

References
  1. "BR startet TV-Bildungskanal" (in German). ARD. 7 January 1998. Retrieved 3 November 2015.
  2. "Verwaltungsvereinbarungen überarbeitet" (in German). ARD. 28 November 2000. Retrieved 3 November 2015.
  3. "Digitales Antennenfernsehen startet auch in Bayern" (in German). ARD. 30 May 2005. Retrieved 3 November 2015.
  4. "BR alpha mit modifizertem Programmschema" (in German). ARD. 16 February 2008. Retrieved 3 November 2015.
  5. "Bayerisches Fernsehen modifiziert Programm" (in German). ARD. 9 August 2009. Retrieved 3 November 2015.
  6. "20. Deutscher Kamerapreis verliehen" (in German). ARD. 27 June 2010. Retrieved 3 November 2015.
  7. Marcel Pohlig (27 May 2014). "Neuer Name: BR-Bildungskanal wird zu ARD-alpha". DWDL.de (in German). Retrieved 3 November 2015.
  8. Manuel Nunez Sanchez (27 May 2014). "BR-alpha wird zu ARD-alpha". quotenmeter.de (in German). Retrieved 3 November 2015.
  9. https://www.digitalfernsehen.de/news/empfang/satellit/exklusiv-schnelle-ard-antworten-zur-sd-abschaltung-552931/
  10. "KEK/Zuschaueranteile 2017" (PDF). kek-online.de. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 November 2017. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
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