Germany’s HD+ joins FreeTV Alliance

German free-to-air satellite TV provider, HD+, has joined the recently formed FreeTV Alliance – a group that aims to standardise satellite TV services and technologies in Europe.

Launched at IBC in September, the FreeTV Alliance was set up by free satellite service providers from France, the UK and Italy – Fransat, Freesat and Tivusat.

Georges Agnes, managing director at HD+, said the firm is “proud to be joining the FreeTV Alliance as we believe this will be a highly effective forum to contribute to the development of the free-to-air TV market.”

The main goal of the FreeTV Alliance is to support the development of free-to-air satellite TV by making it more economical for manufacturers to develop new products. It is doing this by producing a range of common recommendations and specifications based on open standards that can apply across set-top boxes and smart TVs in Europe, with the first due to be launched later this year.

“We are very pleased to be able to confirm that HD+ is now joining the Alliance. The size of the German market demands that its views and values are represented and to have the HD+ team on-board will ensure that this happens,” said FreeTV Alliance chair and Tivùsat CEO, Albert Sigismondi.

HD+ was originally slated as a launch member of the FreeTV Alliance, however was unable to commit to the project in September, saying at IBC that it aimed to become involved in the scheme “in due course.”