ARD-alpha

ARD-alpha is a German television station owned by regional broadcaster Bayerischer Rundfunk (BR)

ARD-alpha broadcasts 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with programmes from BR, as well as from ARD and Austrian broadcaster ORF. Until 29 June 2014 the channel was named BR-alpha.

Programmes

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

History

BR-alpha (1998-2014)

The educational television channel BR-alpha started as a 24-hour offer on January 7, 1998. Programs of the station were originally aired via Astra and other cable networks in analog. Programs focused mainly on the areas of educations, information and service. In the summer of 1998, digital broadcasting of their programs began via Astra. On 28 November 2000, the intendants of the regional public broadcasting agencies signed an agreement for cooperation with the Bayerischer Rundfunk-education channel BR-alpha.

On 30 September 2002, there was the launch of Planet Wissen (Planet Knowledge), a common knowledge program of BR-alpha, Westdeutscher Rundfunk and Südwestrundfunk, which also has an extensive internet offer. With the start of the digital terrestrial television in Bavaria on 30 May 2005, BR-alpha began broadcasting through DVB-T.