ARD Alpha is German educational television network owned by ARD and Österreichischer Rundfunk. The channel broadcasts educational programmings related to science, religion, music, philosophy, literature, language learning, art and culture.
BR-alpha, as the station was originally called, started broadcasting on January 7, 1998. The station's programmes were originally broadcast in analog using the Astra satellite and was also distributed by cable networks. The schedule focused mainly on education and information. The channel began digital broadcasts via Astra in the summer of 1998. On 28 November 2000, the heads of the regional public broadcasters agreed to start cooperating with BR-alpha.
On 30 September 2002, the channel started broadcasting Planet Wissen, a general knowledge programme and a co-production of BR-alpha, Westdeutscher Rundfunk and Südwestrundfunk. The programme also has an extensive internet presence. Bavaria started digital terrestrial television broadcasts on 30 May 2005, as did BR-alpha.
The channel's scheduled were revamped on 16 February 2008. Career guidance programmes, a magazine aimed at young people called freiraum were started, and programs W wie Wissen and Faszination Wissen were also added.
On 9 August 2009, the youth program on3-südwild switched from Bavarian Television to BR-alpha. On 27 June 2010, Andreas Höfer won the Deutschen Kamerapreis (German Camera Award) in the category TV movie/docudrama for the BR-alpha film Empathie – Stumme Schreie (Empathy - Silent screams).
The channel was renamed ARD-alpha on 29 June 2014. The schedule was reorganised the previous day. BR is still responsible for financing and broadcasting the channel, but some programmes originally broadcast by other ARD member stations were added to ARD-alpha's schedule. Cooperation with ORF (the Austrian public broadcaster) in the form of alpha-Österreich continued and its television programs are now aired after 10 pm instead of in the early evening. Werner Reuss is head of ARD-alpha.
Programmings
Alpha Campus
Alpha Centauri
Alpha Forum
Alpha Jazz
Alpha Österreich
Anna, Schmidt & Oskar
Anschi, Karl-Heinz & Co.
Avanti! Avanti!
Bäckstage Volksmusik
Bibliothek der Sachgeschichten
Bon Courage
BR-Klassik im TV
Campus Magazin
Denkzeit
Deutsch Klasse
Die Fernsehtruhe
Englisch für Anfänger
Geist & Gehirn
GRIPS
Heimatbilder
Ich mach’s!
Jugendbilder aus sechs Jahrzehnten
Kant für Anfänger
KlickKlack
Köhlmeiers Märchen
Kunstraum
Landschaft des Glaubens
Lógos
Meilensteine der Naturwissenschaft und Technik
MORA gib Dir echtZeit
Musica Viva: Forum der Gegenwartsmusik
Nano
Pauk mit: Latein
Phase 3
Ping Pong die Familienreportage
Planet Wissen
Playtime
Punkt.
Ralphi der Schlaubär aus der Augsburger Puppenkiste
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Broadcast television networks in Germany
