A new Catholic cultural channel from Austria has started test transmissions on Eutelsat’s Hot Bird 5 satellite at 13 degrees East. The channel, called K-TV, is using the German digital platform on transponder 127 (11.054 GHz H, SR 27.500, FEC 3/4). According to a spokesman, the full launch will take place on 14 August at 0830 CET.

K-TV will offer a free-to-air 24 hour programme for German-speaking Christians in Europe. The schedule consists of magazines about music, advice, health and culture as well as children’s and youth programmes, documentaries and the live transmission of church services. K-TV will be financed through advertising and sponsorship. Most programmes will be produced by small production companies from Austria and Switzerland with a large proportion of content coming from Kephas Fernsehen, a Catholic production company based in Gossau in Switzerland. The close connection with the company is symbolised by the ‘K’ in the channel’s name. K-TV will be distributed in most Austrian cable networks and reach viewers in Germany and Switzerland mainly via DTH.