Das Erste

Das Erste
Logo used since 2014
CountryGermany
Broadcast areaEurope
HeadquartersMunich, Germany
Programming
LanguageGerman
Picture format1080p HDTV
(downscaled to 720p for digital satellite and cable)
Ownership
OwnerARD
Sister channelsOne
Tagesschau24
ARD-alpha
History
Launched25 December 1952 (1952-12-25)
Former namesNWDR-Fernsehen (1952–1954)
Deutsches Fernsehen (1954–1984)
Erstes Deutsches Fernsehen (1984–1996)
Links
Websitewww.daserste.de
Availability
Terrestrial
Digital terrestrial televisionChannel slots vary on each city
Streaming media
DasErste.deWatch live (Germany only)
Ziggo GO (Netherlands)ZiggoGO.tv (Europe only)
HorizonHorizon.tv (Switzerland only)
Canaldigitaal Live AppLive

Das Erste (German: [das ˈʔeːɐ̯stə]; "The First") is the flagship national television channel of ARD, an association of public broadcasting corporations in Germany, jointly operated by the nine regional public broadcasting corporations that are ARD members.

The channel was launched on 25 December 1952 as NWDR-Fernsehen and renamed Deutsches Fernsehen in 1954. Since 1996, the official brand is Das Erste; the full name Erstes Deutsches Fernsehen (First German Television) is still used before every major news edition. In colloquial speech, the station is usually called Erstes Programm ("First Channel"), or by its metonym, ARD.