German pay-TV operator Premiere is targeting strong subscriber pick-up in the fourth quarter as the company launches high-definition (HD) services. Premiere plans to launch three HD channels Dec. 3, broadcasting the Bundesliga (German soccer league) game between VfB Stuttgart and FC Bayern Munchen live to kick-off its HD programming. Premiere HD Film and Discovery HD also will begin broadcasting.

At the end of September, Premiere had more than 3.4 million subscribers and expects to finish 2005 with 3.6 million subscribers. In the first nine months of this year, Premiere added more than 160,000 subscribers, compared to additions of 100,000 subscribers in the first nine months of 2004.

Premiere’s revenue improved 8 percent to 778.7 million euros ($917.4 million) in the first nine months of 2005, which ended Sept. 30. In the same period in 2004, Premiere recorded revenues of 719.7 million euros ($847.8 million).