3sat

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Categories: German television networks | Television stations in Germany

This article is about the German-language TV network. For the three-literal Boolean satisfiability problem, see 3SAT.

3sat's logo

3sat is the name of a public, advertising-free, television network in Central Europe. The programming is in German, and is broadcast primarily within Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

3sat was established for cultural programming broadcasts, over satellite networks. The network was founded as a cooperative network by Germany's ZDF, Austria's ORF and Switzerland's SRG SSR idée suisse (formerly SRG). 3sat's broadcasting began on 1 December 1984. The ZDF network provides leadership within the cooperative, though decisions are made through a consensus of the cooperative's partners.

In 1990, the former DFF (Deutscher Fernsehfunk - English: German Television Broadcasting) of the German Democratic Republic became a cooperative member of 3sat, and a name change to 4sat was considered. Eventually it was decided to keep the original 3sat name. DFF's membership was dissolved in 3sat on 31 December 1991 as the broadcaster itself ceased to exist per Germany's Unification Treaty.

As of 1 December 1993, ARD joined 3sat as a cooperative member. This followed ARD's creation of their satellite channel "Eins Plus" (One Plus). 3sat today broadcasts programming 24/7. 3sat is available on the European satellite Astra 1, cable television and in Austria and Germany on digital terrestrial television.

Television series

"3sat börse" (3sat Market), Fridays 9:30 pm
"DENKmal" ("Think about it" - the name is a pun on the German word for monument), a knowledge quiz, transmitted once a month on a Saturday evening at 7:20 pm. During the quiz there are six puzzles taken from biographies.
"Delta", a general knowledge series. Transmitted fortnightly, Thursdays at 9 pm.
"FOYER", a theater series. Transmitted fortnightly, Saturdays at 7:20 pm.
"hitec" ("High Tech"), reports on science and technology, Sundays at 4 pm.
"Kulturzeit" ("Cultural Time"), weekdays, 7:20 pm.
"nano", "The World of Tomorrow," weekdays 6:30 pm.
"neues", Computainment, Sundays at 4:30 pm.
"tips&trends", a series covering products for the home, automobile, fashion and sport, Saturdays at 5:30 pm.