3sat

3sat is the name of a public, advertising-free, television network in Central Europe. The programming is in German (in either Standard German or Austrian Standard German, depending on the producer of the respective programme) and is broadcast primarily within Germany, Austria and Switzerland (the major countries of the German-speaking world).

3sat was established for cultural programming broadcasts, over satellite networks. The network was founded as a cooperative network by Germany's ZDF, Austria's ORF and Switzerland's SRG SSR idée suisse (formerly SRG). 3sat's broadcasting began on 1 December 1984. The ZDF network provides leadership within the cooperative, though decisions are made through a consensus of the cooperative's partners.

In 1990, the former DFF (German Television Broadcaster) of the German Democratic Republic became a cooperative member of 3sat, and a name change to 4sat was considered. Eventually it was decided to keep the original 3sat name. DFF's membership was dissolved in 3sat on 31 December 1991 as the broadcaster itself ceased to exist per Germany's Unification Treaty.

On 1 December 1993, ARD joined 3sat as a cooperative member. This followed ARD's creation of their satellite channel "Eins Plus". 3sat today broadcasts programming 24/7. 3sat is available on the European Astra satellites at 19.2° east, cable television, and in Austria and Germany on digital terrestrial television.

Since 2003, it can be viewed by 40 million households in Germany, Austria and Switzerland and 85.5 million households in all of Europe.

Television series

• "3sat börse" (3sat Market), Fridays 9:30 pm
• "DENKmal" ("Think about it" - the name is a pun on the German word for monument), a knowledge quiz, transmitted once a month on a Saturday evening at 7:20 pm. During the quiz there are six puzzles taken from biographies.
• "scobel", a general knowledge series. Transmitted fortnightly, Thursdays at 9 pm. (Named before "Delta")
• "FOYER", a theater series. Transmitted fortnightly, Saturdays at 7:20 pm.
• "hitec" ("High Tech"), reports on science and technology, Sundays at 4 pm.
• "Kulturzeit" ("Cultural Time"), weekdays, 7:20 pm.
• "nano", "The World of Tomorrow," weekdays 6:30 pm.
• "neues", Computainment, Sundays at 4:30 pm.
• "tips&trends", a series covering products for the home, automobile, fashion and sport, Saturdays at 5:30 pm.

External links

• 3sat.online Homepage (German)