German TV channels in the USA
ZDF
Partly. ZDF Auslandsstreams (worldwide, free). Live streams of single programmes that ZDF offers worldwide.
DW
Yes. DW on dw.com and YouTube (worldwide, free). The live channels in English, German, Spanish and Arabic.
Das Erste
Das Erste itself: rights decide. Official alternative: DW (Deutsche Welle) (worldwide, free). Germany's international broadcaster: news and documentaries, free worldwide. Not the Das Erste programme.
RTL
We found no official way to watch RTL live in the USA.
ProSieben
We found no official way to watch ProSieben live in the USA.
Sat.1
We found no official way to watch Sat.1 live in the USA.
German TV in the USA: common questions
How can I watch German TV in the USA?
Das Erste: DW (Deutsche Welle) (not the channel itself). ZDF: ZDF Auslandsstreams. DW: DW on dw.com and YouTube. No official way that we found for RTL, ProSieben and Sat.1.
Which German TV channels are free in the USA?
Free and official: ZDF (ZDF Auslandsstreams); DW (DW on dw.com and YouTube). Free official alternatives, not the live channel: Das Erste (DW (Deutsche Welle)). Each channel page says what the free stream shows.
Which apps and services carry German TV channels in the USA?
ZDF Auslandsstreams: ZDF. DW on dw.com and YouTube: DW.
Can I watch German TV in the USA with a VPN?
We do not list a VPN as an option. Many streaming services forbid them in their terms of use, and their apps are made for viewers in their home country. We only list official ways to watch.
More German TV
All 216 channels on our German TV list
Watching TV abroad: how it works
Every answer comes from the channel pages, which list their official sources. Prices and rules change: the official pages always win.