Interesting to contrast this with new legislation being prepared in the Hague to force cable companies to increase the number of channels that HAVE to be put in the basic package of TV programmes on offer to subscribers. The Netherlands seems to be unique in requiring that the two Flemish public service channels are already part of the basic offering. Can't find examples of that elsewhere in the world (channels from a neighbouring country have guaranteed universal access in another). The two Belgian channels make up a a basic package of 15 channels at the moment. The minister will introduced a bill next month to make that 30 channels instead, including commercial channels from KPN, Canal Digital en Tele2.
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You can't receive any Belgian terrestrial TV or radio programmes in Bonn or, for that matter in Cologne, where I live. The heights of the Eifel are in the way.
We used to have Belgian barracks here in Cologne and there were local TV transmitters for RTBF and BRT. Later, both programmes were also avaible on cable. But when the Belgian military left, they took the transmitters with them and a short time later the TV channels were given to some stupid shopping and game channels.
In Germany, the Landesmedienanstalt decides on what is distributed in the cable networks.
The choice of Belgian radio programmes on cable is also totally stupid. Here in Cologne, we are entitled to Vivacité, just another all-day music doodling station, instead of the much more interesting first programme known as La Première.
Unfortunately, Belgian TV and radio programmes aren't easily available through satellite. They're encripted and cost a fortune.
So, it's no wonder you had none of them in your hotel in Bonn.
Ralf
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