Kirch Group’s digital pay-TV operator Premiere World and MTV Networks Europe have reached a compromise, ending the conflict over the removal of MTV and VH-1 from the digital platform after DF1’s closure on 30 September. According to MTV, both parties have agreed to develop a new music channel next year, available exclusively to Premiere World’s subscribers. In return, both MTV and VH-1 will no longer be part of the platform.

Premiere World had indicated earlier that it axed most third party channels because it wants to focus on exclusive content. VH-1 and MTV are available on Germany’s cable networks with the latter also reaching 12 million DTH homes through an analogue transponder on the Astra satellite system (19.2 degrees East). Christiane zu Salm, managing director of MTV and VH-1 Central Europe, said: "We are happy about the joint project with Premiere World…However, we regret very deeply that some of our German viewers aren’t able to receive VH-1 any more, but we are sure that this state will only be of short duration." It is expected that MTV’s new pay-TV service will form part of a broad music option which Premiere World intends to launch next year, featuring some pay-radio channels as well.