Vodafone Germany is launching a new TV service with a hybrid set-top box for access to satellite or analogue cable TV services as well as its own IPTV offering. Vodafone TV will be available from 17 February, and the basic package includes 50 TV channels plus 12 HD channels. The service needs a DSL connection with a minimum download speed of 2 Mbps, but Vodafone's DSL offerings start at 6 Mbps so the service is available for all Vodafone DSL customers. Customers who want to watch the HD channels need a 10 Mbps DSL connection or satellite TV connection. Vodafone TV will also offer four theme packages with pay-TV channels, a video-on-demand service called Vodafone Videothek and several foreign-language packages including Turkish, Polish and Russian. The set-top box is called the Vodafone TV Center and includes an EPG as well as hard disk with 320 GB storage. During the pilot phase, started in December 2010, several hundred Vodafone customers tried Vodafone TV. At the official launch, Vodafone will offer a triple-play package including 16 Mbps DSL, unlimited calls to fixed lines in Germany and the basic TV package for EUR 39.95. For other Vodafone DSL packages, the basic package will cost EUR 10 per month extra. More details about prices and included channels will be announced at the official launch, and customers can already register their interest on the Vodafone website.
