The term “cord cutting” comes from the USA. What is meant by this is that in many households the classic TV cable connection is being terminated, not least for reasons of cost – i.e. the cable is being cut. Instead, streaming services and TV live streams are used via the Internet. The topic will take on a whole new explosiveness for German cable TV users in the coming year.
An important change will come into effect in July 2024. For apartment landlords, the apportionability of the TV cable fees does not apply. Landlords can still pass on the fees for the TV connection to the operating costs. The tenants benefited from the fact that the landlords were able to agree favorable terms with the TV providers. The disadvantage: the tenants could not decide for themselves how they wanted to get their TV programs. In the future you will be spoiled for choice.
The Internet is becoming more and more interesting for owners of a Smart TV. According to Internet TV provider Zattoo, every third party affected by the cable TV change can imagine switching to IP TV. A new feature for devices with Google TV follows this notch. The TV programs are integrated directly into the start page via the new live tab and are therefore just as easy to access as the films and series of the preferred streaming services.
The first partners that Google won for the new TV function in Germany include the Joyn service, which belongs to ProSiebenSat1, and the Internet TV provider Zattoo.
“By allowing Zattoo content to be viewed directly on Google TV, we offer even easier and faster access to live TV content,” commented Constanze Gilles, who is responsible for consumer business at Zattoo.
The free Zattoo access with additional advertisements is limited to 30 hours per month on Smart TV devices, the unlimited premium access with 159 channels – 146 of them in HD – with two simultaneous streams costs 9.99 euros per month.
Joyn also offers free basic access. It includes 65 free TV stations, including all public broadcasters and the ProSiebenSat1 stations as well as other TV stations such as Eurosport, Deluxe Music and Comedy Central.
However, the programs of the RTL family are not included. A Joyn Plus+ subscription for EUR 6.99 per month is required for pay TV channels such as Sat1 emotions, ProSieben Fun or eSports1 and more channels in HD quality.
For Joyn, the aim of the expanded cooperation with Google is “to make the full variety of Joyn’s live TV offer visible to users at a glance,” said Maximilian Baur, Director Partnerships & Strategy, the Tagesspiegel.
As before, the content of Joyn and Zattoo can also be used via the apps of the smart TV devices, even if it is not Google TV.
Source: Tagesspiegel
I have been working in the news industry for over 10 years now and I have worked for some of the biggest news websites in the world. My focus has always been on entertainment news, but I also cover a range of other topics. I am currently an author at Global happenings and I love writing about all things pop-culture related.
