TransTel

TransTel (sometimes referred to as TransTel Cologne) is a label and former company set up in Cologne in 1963, whose primary activity was the distribution of West German/German programmes to television stations in Latin America, Africa and Asia, as well as programmes to learn the German language. Since 1998, its archives are with Deutsche Welle.

Logo of TransTel, which was seen in most of the German television programs.

History

TransTel was founded in 1963 with its first production being a translated version of a filmed newsreel. Deutsche Welle was one of its strategic partners, who selected programmes for export, acquisition of rights and translations to several languages.^[1]

TransTel also provided broadcasters with highlights of the 1970 FIFA World Cup, held in Mexico, in anticipation for the 1974 FIFA World Cup, held in West Germany.^[2] For the latter, it provided satellite links for four matches, including the final. In Singapore, Television Singapura (Channel 5) had to pay its royalties back to FIFA, as well as the agencies responsible for the recordings, including TransTel.^[3]

It co-operated with Oregon Public Broadcasting and the Goethe Institute to create The Pappenheimers, a German learning series, which also provided a cultural tour of the country.^[4]

In 1998, the federal government liquidated TransTel and, from 1 January 1999, its catalogue became a part of DW Sales & Distribution.^[5]

See also

• Television in Germany