Digital terrestrial television (DTT) is experiencing a surge in popularity in Germany, fueled by a resurgence in mobile viewing habits. A new study conducted by Kantar, commissioned by DTT platform operator Media Broadcast, reveals that 18% of German households, equating to 7.3 million homes, are now watching television via the country’s DVB-T2 network. This represents a substantial 21% increase compared to the previous survey conducted in 2023.
The study highlights that DTT, encompassing both stationary reception on traditional TV sets and mobile usage via PCs, laptops, or portable devices, is currently used by a net total of 18% of households. Mobile usage, in particular, is continuing its long-term upward trend: in 2025, 14% of households (5.8 million) used DVB-T2 on portable and mobile devices, up from 4.4 million in 2023. Stationary reception on TVs also experienced growth, reaching 2.3 million households.
These findings suggest that DTT's appeal is increasingly rooted in its flexibility and mobility. The study points out that, unlike TV streamed over mobile networks, the DVB-T2 technology doesn't deplete data volumes on mobile devices, positioning it as a more cost-effective and robust option for consumers. Media Broadcast contends that this trend underscores the relevance of future broadcast technologies such as 5G Broadcast.
“The current figures on DVB-T2 usage are significant in several respects,” said Francie Petrick, Managing Director of Media Broadcast. “Terrestrial television continues to reach millions of viewers and is meeting the growing demand for mobile use. This confirms that we are on the right track with 5G Broadcast as ‘TV to go’. Terrestrial distribution will thus continue to ensure the consumer-friendly, crisis-proof, and energy-efficient distribution of high-quality audiovisual content in the future.”
The company emphasized that the study was commissioned using the same methodology as the long-running Kantar surveys historically utilized in the German media authorities’ video trends and digitisation reports. While state-by-state coverage data is no longer included, Media Broadcast asserts that the results remain representative of the population.