NDR Fernsehen is a regional television channel targeting northern Germany, specifically the states of Schleswig-Holstein, Lower Saxony, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Hamburg and Bremen. It is broadcast by both Norddeutscher Rundfunk (NDR) and Radio Bremen, although NDR provides most of the output as they are many times bigger than Radio Bremen. It is one of seven regional "third programmes" offered by the ARD members.
It started broadcasting on January 4, 1965 as the common channel of NDR, Radio Bremen and Sender Freies Berlin (SFB). It eventually adopted the name "Nord 3", later "N3". In 1992, the stations broadcast area changed as Mecklenburg-Vorpommern was added to NDR after the German reunification and SFB left the N3 cooperation in October to start its own channel, Berlin 1. The name "NDR Fernsehen" was adopted in 2001.
The channel is available in five different versions for the broadcast of local programmes in the early evening. Four of the areas are branded "NDR Fernsehen", while the Bremen area uses the name Radio Bremen TV (RBTV) for their local programmes. The regions are:
The NDR-branded areas generally broadcast a shorter news bulletion at 6 o'clock and a half-hour bulletin at 7.30. The Radio Bremen TV area has some more local television programmes. As many of the other third programmes, NDR Fernsehen simulcasts the main 8 o'clock edition of Tagesschau.
The channel was initially only available terrestrially in its designated area, but since it became available on satellite and cable television it is available nationally. Many Danish cable networks also relay the signal.
