Arte (Association relating to European television) is a European public broadcaster dedicated to culture. Arte programs are available via antenna, cable, satellite and the Internet. In addition to traditional television broadcasts in German and French, the media library operates as an independent platform. Arte consists of three separate companies: the European Economic Interest Grouping (EEIG) ARTE, based in Strasbourg, and two member companies that act as editorial and program production centers: ARTE France in Paris (formerly known as La Sept) and ARTE Deutschland in Baden-Baden (a subsidiary of the two major German public broadcasters ARD and ZDF).

As an international joint venture (EEIG), the program is aimed at audiences in both countries and is 80% produced by the French and German subsidiaries, which each produce half of the programs. For this reason, the channel has two audio tracks and two subtitle tracks, one in French and one in German. 

Selected programs are available online with English, Spanish, Polish and Italian subtitles.

On the evening of May 30, 1992, Arte launched via satellite (TDF 1-2 and DFS1-Kopernikus) and cable. The opening ceremony was broadcast live from the Opéra du Rhin in Strasbourg. To mark the start of terrestrial broadcasting in France, Arte broadcast Wim Wenders' Wings of Desire (Der Himmel über Berlin) on September 28, 1992.

Arte initially broadcast its main program from 7 pm to 3 am. Since 2006, Arte has been available around the clock.

In 1996, Arte went online with its own website. Arte was the first broadcaster to provide on-demand videos. With the launch of the media library - formerly Arte+7 - in 2007, Arte is increasingly focusing on the convergence of television and new media. The broadcaster's internet offerings have grown steadily in recent years. (Source: Wikipedia)