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Since 1 July 2024, millions of tenants in Germany have faced the same question: how do we watch TV now that cable is no longer included in the service charges? The short answer: sign your own cable contract, switch to satellite or DVB-T2 — or simply get TV over your internet connection with IPTV, with no contract and cancellable at any time.
IPTV Fusion is a subscription IPTV service with thousands of live channels and 90,000+ films and series over the internet, from €11 a month with no minimum term. This guide compares the four ways to receive TV in Germany, shows what matters with IPTV and explains the broadcasting fee — useful whether you've just moved to Germany or you're a German abroad who wants German TV.
TV without a cable contract: IPTV only needs the internet connection you already have
Cable, satellite, DVB-T2 or IPTV — which suits you?
Cable contract
Satellite
DVB-T2
IPTV
What you need
A cable socket in the flat
A dish and the landlord's permission
An aerial and good reception
An internet connection
Running costs
Usually €8–15 a month
Low; private HD channels cost extra
Private HD channels cost extra
From €11/month, about €4.60 on the yearly plan
Contract
Often 12–24 months
—
Usually 12 months for private HD
None with IPTV Fusion
International channels
Few
Many, but the dish must be aligned
Hardly any
Thousands, from around the world
On several devices
Only at the socket
Only at the receiver
Only at the aerial
TV, stick, phone, laptop
IPTV is the most convenient choice if you can't mount a dish, your aerial reception is poor, or you want international channels and a big on-demand library alongside the German ones — typical for expats.
How to recognise good IPTV
No contract. "Cancel anytime" should really mean no automatic roll-over into a yearly contract.
Stability at prime time. Test between 20:15 and 22:00, when the whole country is watching.
A German TV guide and catch-up. The EPG must be right; IPTV Fusion offers a 7-day catch-up.
Company details and terms. A serious provider publishes terms, refunds and payment methods you can trace.
A genuine trial. No credit card, no strings — 24 hours with IPTV Fusion.
A German TV guide, catch-up and on-demand: what to check during the trial
Watch on any device — no cable needed
Start your free 24-hour trial. No credit card required.
Samsung and LG Smart TVs: IBO Player Pro from the TV's app store.
Fire TV Stick: IBO Player Pro via the Downloader app, code 481220, or TiviMate with code 272483. Step by step in our Fire TV Stick guide.
Android TV or Google TV box: TiviMate from Google Play.
iPhone and iPad: Smarters Player Lite, the official app from the App Store.
A 4K stream needs about 30 Mbit/s and HD around 10 Mbit/s. More important than a faster plan is a network cable or powerline adapter to the TV — Wi-Fi through two walls is the most common cause of stuttering.
How much does contract-free IPTV cost?
Plan
Price
Per month
1 month
€11
€11.00
3 months
€23
€7.67
6 months
€37
€6.17
1 year
€55
€4.58
2 years
€89
€3.71
No plan turns into a fixed-term contract. All include the full catalogue, 4K where available, 7-day catch-up and 24/7 support; yearly plans add a free IBO Player Pro activation. Every detail is on the IPTV Fusion plans page, each plan with a 7-day money-back guarantee.
What about the Rundfunkbeitrag?
It stays. Germany's broadcasting fee is charged per household, whether you watch via cable, satellite, aerial, IPTV or not at all. IPTV replaces the cable or satellite contract, not the fee.
Is IPTV legal in Germany?
IPTV is a legal delivery technology that German network operators use themselves; telecoms markets are supervised by the Bundesnetzagentur. Whether a particular service is legal depends on its rights to the content. Major German ISPs block services that distribute content without rights through the CUII clearing body — another reason to avoid anonymous sellers with no company details. Our IPTV legality guide explains more; this isn't legal advice.
How to test IPTV in one evening
Request the free 24-hour trial on WhatsApp or Telegram — no credit card.
Install the app for your TV (see above).
Open the Germany group and check your channels, the TV guide and catch-up.
Watch between 20:15 and 22:00 for at least 20 minutes.
With the end of the Nebenkostenprivileg, tenants in Germany choose their own TV. If you don't want a dish, dislike fixed-term contracts and want more than the German channels, contract-free IPTV is the most flexible option — as long as the service holds up at prime time on your connection.
Which IPTV in Germany has no contract and can be cancelled monthly?
IPTV Fusion has no minimum term: the one-month plan costs €11 and does not roll into a yearly contract. Longer plans (3, 6, 12 or 24 months) are cheaper per month and also contract-free. You can test for 24 hours free, without a credit card, first.
What does the end of the Nebenkostenprivileg mean for tenants?
Since 1 July 2024, landlords may no longer include the cable TV connection in service charges. Tenants who want TV need their own solution: a cable contract, satellite, DVB-T2 or IPTV over their own internet connection.
Do I still pay the Rundfunkbeitrag with IPTV?
Yes. The broadcasting fee is charged per household regardless of how, or whether, you watch TV. IPTV replaces the cable or satellite reception, not the fee.
Can I watch German TV abroad with IPTV?
Yes. IPTV only needs an internet connection, so Germans living in Spain, Portugal, Thailand or anywhere else can watch German channels on the same subscription.
Is IPTV legal in Germany?
IPTV as a technology is legal and German network operators use it themselves. What matters is whether a service has the rights to its content. See our IPTV legality guide for details.
48h or 72h IPTV trial? What each trial length lets you check, a 24-hour test script that covers the same ground, and what to do when a day isn't enough.
