Poland Testing DVB-T2
On December 21, 2012, the Polish public broadcaster TVP started DVB-T2 trials together with Samsung and the national transmission company Emitel. The trial will start with a single transmitter covering the Warsaw region with a second transmitter to be added soon. Poland's transition to digital is to be completed in July 2013.
Source: Broadband TV News
Date: 4 Jan, 2013
TVP to launch HD DTT channels
Public broadcaster TVP has decided to launch an HD DTT versions of its two main channels TVP1 and TVP2 on the 1st June, 2012.
TVP1 HD will be distributed on the country’s first DTT multiplex (MUX-1) and TVP2 HD on the third (MUX-3).
According to TVP, the launch of the HD DTT versions of the channels will allow viewers to watch Euro 2012, which is being hosted jointly by Poland and Ukraine and starts on the 8th June, as well as the London Olympics from the 27th July until the 12th August, in the highest quality.
TVP already provides an HD channel named TVP HD in its service offering.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 29th October 2011
Warsaw to complete ASO in March 2013
TVN board member Tomasz Berezowsk, speaking during a panel discussion at this year’s PIKE conference, announced dates for the analogue switch off in Poland.
Analogue switch-off will take place in Poznan during November 2012 and Warsaw in March 2013. ASO in Poland is planned for completion by July 2013.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 24th October 2011
Regional DTT with TVP
TVP the Polish public service broadcaster is planning to launch 16 regional DTT channels by 2013. The service would cover the 16 voivodships (territories) that make up the country.
TVP say that the launch would be dependent on TVP’s method of funding being resolved within the next two years.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 5th September 2011
Digitisation Law published
The Polish law on digitisation has appeared in an official publication of legal acts known as Dziennik Ustaw reports Broadband TV News (27th July). This means it will now come into effect in 14 days.
The law is in two parts, part 1 dealing with the implementation of DTT, the analogue switch off and the public information campaign on digitisation. The second part covers legal aspects and the actions of the two regulators, who are the Office of Electronic Communications (UKE) and National Broadcasting Council (KRRiT).
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 1st August 2011
DTT coverage increases
From the 1st August Poland’s second DTT multiplex will cover 87% of the population following the commissioning of 22 new transmitters. In total 40 transmitters are now transmitting MUX 2 which broadcasts seven channels, soon to increase to eight with the inclusion of Puls 2.
MUX 2’s coverage will further increase to 94% by the end of the year, reaching its target of 97% by the end of 2013.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 1st August 2011
MUX 1 licences soon
Poland’s National Broadcasting Council (KRRiT) is to issue licences to the companies operating four commercial channels on the first DTT multiplex MUX 1 within a matter of days according to Wirtualne Media, reports Broadband TV News.
Agnieszka Ogrodowczyk, the director of the Council’s licensing department, said the recent delay had been brought about by the withdrawal of one of the original licence winners (Kino Polska TV). After receiving the licences the holders will have to apply to the Office of Electronic Communication (UKE) for a frequency. The multiplex could launch in some parts of the country as soon as this autumn.
MUX-1 will be rolled out on a region-by-region basis, available in some regions by the autumn and then throughout Poland in time for Euro 2012 football tournament next summer.
The licence holders for the four channels are Eska TV, ATM Grupa, Stavka and Lemon Records.
MUX 2 and MUX 3 are already in operation.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 24th July 2011
DTT Info campaign in Poland
Poland has officially launched an information campaign to help its citizens with the transition to digital broadcasting.
Magdalena Gaj, the deputy minister of infrastructure, is reported to have said that the campaign would go on until the 31st July 2013, the date planned for the country’s analogue switch off.
Poland launched two DTT multiplexes late last year and a third is expected to be launched shortly.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 17th July 2011
Channel changes on multiplex 1
Recently changes have been made to the television programme services available on the DTT multiplex 1. Polo TV which offers popular Polish music will replace Kino Polska Nostalgia which had planned to offer cinema. The National Broadcasting of Council of Poland made the change after the return of Kino Polska’s DTT licence.
Services on the first multiplex include TVP1, TVP2, and TVP Info from the public service broadcaster TVP, the continuous news service U-TV, the music services ESKA TV, the entertainment service ATM Rozrywka TV and now Polo TV.
Source: KRRiT website
Item added: 11th July 2011
Sejm approves DTT law
Poland’s parliament, the Sejm, has voted through the new DTT law and most of the 11 amendments required by the Polish Senate, which where preventing its progress to law.
The publicly owned TVP and other broadcasters will operate the countries first DTT multiplex.
TVP and the country’s four main commercial broadcasters Polsat, TVN, Polskie Media and TV Puls must all participate in a campaign on digitisation.
Poland’s second and third multiplexes were launched late last year, while its first multiplex, which will carry a mix of TVP and new commercial channels, is due to launch imminently.
The confirmed analogue switch off date is the 31st July 2013.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 4th July 2011
Digital Law progress
Work on Poland’s new digital law, governing DTT broadcasting, is expected to be in place by the end of the year.
According to a report attributed to Rzeczpospolita, the country’s Senate has refused to approve a number of key items in the proposed law and has returned the document to the parliament asking for 11 amendments.
Despite the fact that the law is not yet in place DTT services are already in operation, with the first two multiplexes having started transmissions late last year. The ASO date has been set for the 31st July, 2013.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 20th June 2011
Must carry DTT channels on cable and satellite
The National Broadcasting Council (KRRiT) is contemplating making the soon to be available 20 DTT channels a must carry for cable and satellite operators.
Doing this would increase the number of viewers for these channels while DTT becomes established and would also be beneficial to the new broadcasters launching on the terrestrial television platform. Cable and satellite operators are said to be opposed to the move.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 31st May 2011
Analogue switch off date confirmed
The Polish parliament (Sejm) has approved the country’s new digitisation law which now passes to the Senate before coming into effect.
The ASO date in the legislation is the 31st July 2013 with the switch to DTT being undertaken on a step-by-step basis using simulcasting as part of the process.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 16th May 2011
Licence awarded for DTT Multiplex 1
The National Broadcasting Council (KKRiT) has awarded four licences to broadcast DTT services in Multiplex 1.
The new broadcast services are called Kino Polska Nostalgia (Kino Polska TV), Eska TV (Eska TV), ATM Rozrywka TV (ATM Grupa) and U-TV (Stavka) and the programming will cover a wide-range of cultural areas including movies, entertainment, news and music.
They will be broadcast alongside the three slots already allocated to the public service broadcaster TVP.
KRRiT’s decision will now be referred to the Office of Electronic Communications (UKE) and the multiplex will be launched following the signing of an agreement between the transmission company Emitel, public broadcaster TVP and the four successful companies.
Source: KRRiT website
Item added: 3rd May 2011
Emitel expands DVB-T coverage
Polish terrestrial digital TV operator Emitel will increase the coverage of its DVB-T network from the 30th April. The operator will launch ten new transmitters in various regions across the country.
Five of the transmitters located at Bialogard, Czestochowa, Ilawa, Kalisz, Olsztyn and Swinoujscie will be used to increase the coverage of the countries 2nd DTT multiplex to around 46% of the population. Another four transmitters at Bialystok, Gorzow Wielkopolski, Lodz and Rzeszow will increase the reach of the 3rd multiplex to 24% of the population from the 27th April.
The second multiplex should reach 97% of the population by the 31st July and the third 45% by the 27th October.
Sources: Emitel
Item added: 26th April 2011
TV6 to launch on multiplex 2
The media group Polskie Media has announced plans to launch a new entertainment service, TV6, on the 30 May. The service will be available on DTT multiplex 2 well as from satellite.
Polskie Media already operates the leading commercial television service TV4 and has been allocated two slots on multiplex 2 which launched at the end of 2010.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 11th April 2011
TP Emitel sold to Kapiri Investments
The broadcast network operator TP Emitel has been sold to Kapiri Investments for PLN1.7 billion (€422 million) by its owner telecom operator TPSA.
The single shareholder of Kapiri Investments is the London-based private equity group Montagu IV.
TP Emitel operates the networks which deliver Poland’s Digital Terrestrial TV programming and before the deal can go through it must be approved by the Polish Competition Office (UOKiK).
Main source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 28th March 2012
17 applications for DTT licences
A total of 17 broadcasters have applied for licences to operate services on the four slots still available on the DTT platform.
These broadcasters include 4fun.tv (4fun Media), Next HD (Astro), Entertainment TV ATM (ATM Group), CTV (Cable Television Networks), Eska TV (Eska TV belongs to the ZPR SA), TV Trwam (Lux Veritatis Foundation), Polish Cinema Nostalgia (Cinema Poland TV), Polo TV (Lemon Records), Tele 5 (Mediasat), RMF TV (Multimedia), Four Polish Radio (Polish Radio), U-TV (Stavka), Superstacja (Superstacja), Orange sport info (Polish Telecom), iTV (Telestar), Machina TV ( Point Group) and TVN Meteo (TVN).
The three other slots available on the multiplex have already been allocated to the public service broadcaster TVP and are called TVP1, TVP2 and TVP Regional.
In order to be eligible for the DTT licence, applicants must already hold a licence to operate on the satellite platform.
Source: SATKurier.pl
Item added: 21st March 2011
Tender for Multiplex 1
The Polish National Broadcasting Council (KRRiT) has announced a tender for four TV channels on the country’s first DTT multiplex.
The multiplex, which is already operating, currently carries the public broadcaster TVP’s three main channels TVP2, TV2 and TVP Info and has enough capacity for 7-8 SD channels.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 27th December 2010
Third multiplex launches soon
Poland’s third DTT multiplex will officially make its debut on the 27th October according to the state Broadcaster TVP.
In a statement issued by TVP, the broadcaster says it will carry TVP1/TVP2/TVP Warszawa, TVP Info in its regional variations, TVP Kultura and TVP Historia. All will be FTA and in SD.
TVP adds that the rollout of the third multiplex will take place in four stages. At launch, it will be available to 58% of the population in four voivodships (regions of Poland). Stage two (up to 27th April, 2011) will see its reach extended to a further five voivodships, covering 20% of their population; stage three (up to 27th October, 2011) a further seven voivodships, covering 45% of their population; and stage four (up to 27th April, 2014), when 98% of the population will be covered.
ASO will take place no earlier than mid-2012 and no later than mid-2015. In the meantime, TVP will continue to simulcast its output and offer teletext in DVB-T.
The third multiplex will, be operated by TP EmiTel, which is wholly owned by the incumbent telco TPSA.
Main source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 18th October 2010
DVB-H makes progress
Info-TV-FM is to start cooperating with an electronics company named Vedia as it bids to launch a full mobile TV service in Poland.
According to Wirtualne Media, Vedia, in which Info-TV-FM’s owner NFI Magna Polonia has acquired an 8.64% stake, will start producing electronic devices giving access to mobile content, including TV services, in Q1 or Q2 next year. The aim will be to sell between 100,000-200,000 devices by June 2012.
DVB-H is available in a number of cities, including Poznan and Kraków, although effectively on a trial basis, with reception being free of charge.
The main obstacle to launching a full commercial operation remains the inability of Info-TV-FM to reach an agreement with the countries four mobile operators, Polkomtel, PTK Centertel, Polska Telfonia Cyfrowy and P4.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 11th October 2010
Polish DTT finally launches
Following months of delays, digital terrestrial broadcasting was finally expected to make its debut on the 30th September, reports Broadband TV News. This was made possible by an agreement between the national transmission company Emitel and national commercial broadcasters Polsat and TV4 on the 29th September and TVN and TV Puls earlier in the week.
The four broadcasters will each contribute two channels to the second multiplex, which, according to a statement from Emitel, will be launched from transmitters in Warsaw, Poznan, Zielona Góra and Zagan on the 30th September.
Poland’s DTT service will eventually offer viewers around 30 channels.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 4th October 2010
Consultation on spare DTT capacity
The Polish National Broadcasting Council (KRRiT) has launched a consultation into the allocation of spare capacity on the country’s DTT multiplex.
Broadband TV News quotes Satkurier as publishing that the regulator has announced that the filling of this capacity with new TV channels is key to the creation of open and pluralistic digital terrestrial TV in Poland.
At present, the only channels on the first multiplex are TVP1, TVP2 and TVP Info, with the public broadcaster’s other services having been reserved capacity on what will be the third multiplex. Capacity for four more SD channels is also available on the first multiplex.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 4th October 2010
Polish DTT starts rolling
Reports suggest that problems with the launch of the country’s second DTT multiplex have now been resolved after the country’s four leading commercial broadcasters, Polsat, TVN, TV Puls and TV4 reached an agreement on the terms of operation with the national transmission company Emitel.
If the agreement can be signed by the end of the month Emitel believes that it can quickly launch a total of eight channels, two from each of the four broadcasters.
In practice, MUX2 could be operating from September 30 in four locations, including Warsaw, where Emitel is already undertaking DTT trials.
Earlier this week it was reported that Emitel will begin operating Poland’s third DTT multiplex, allocated solely to publicly owned TVP, in late October. The multiplex will cover four voivodships reaching around 58% of the population at launch and cover the whole population by May 2014
Source: Broadband TV News and Broadband TV News
Item added: 10th September 2010
Second DTT channel for TV Puls
The Polish commercial broadcaster TV Puls will launch its second channel when the country’s second DTT multiplex makes its debut. Broadband TV News quotes a Wirtualne Media report as saying that the new channel TV Puls 2 would be aimed at children and young people.
TV Puls has also put back plans for a stock market floation.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 6th September 2010
Another setback for DTT launch
Rzeczpospolita reports that Witold Kolodziejksi, the head of the National Broadcasting Council (KRRiT), is threatening to write to the country’s PM in protest at decision by the Government Legislation Centre to reject licensing conditions proposed by the regulator, according to Broadband TV News.
In the Centre’s view, they do not comply with the terms of existing broadcast legislation.
Without an agreement between the two, the Office of Electronic Communications (UKE) cannot allocate frequencies to radio stations on DTT multiplexes and if this happens it is unlikely that the DTT launch would be in September.
Poland launched its first multiplex last September, but it is operating on a trial basis in a limited number of locations.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 17th July 2010
September launch for DTT
DTT should finally be launched in September according to Broadband TV News.
Quoting Anna Strezynska, the president of the Office of Electronic Communication (UKE), Rzeczpospolita says that the first ‘digital islands’ are likely to appear in two months time, adding that the UKE and National Broadcasting Council (KRRiT) are waiting for the government to publish licensing conditions.
The first multiplex will initially carry TVP1, TVP2 and TVP Info, along with four additional channels to be chosen by a competition. The second multiplex will carry two channels each from TVN, Polsat, TV Puls and TV4. The third multiplex will be activated towards the end of October, initially in four voivodships which together cover 58% of the population. TVP1, TVP2 and TVP2 will move from the first to third multiplex, to be replaced by thematic channels.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 12th July 2010
DTT progress
Poland’s Analogue Switch Off (ASO) is now likely to take place on the 31st July 2013 reports Chris Dziadul of Broadband TV News.
Crediting the source of the news as Satkurier the article goes on to say that Poland’s second DTT and third DTT multiplexes will both probably be launched this October, by which time 80% of the country should be covered by DTT signals.
The government has also just adopted a draft law on the implementation of DTT, with minds apparently having been focused by what is likely to be the winding up of the National Broadcasting (KRRiT) and the need to deal with unfinished business.
Poland’s first DTT multiplex, which is being operated by the incumbent Telco TP’s subsidiary EmiTel on a temporary basis, was launched last September
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 7th June 2010
Commercial Broadcasters move to MUX2
The National Broadcasting Council in Poland has adopted a resolution that allows commercial stations to move from Multiplex 1 to Multiplex 2, a move which should end the current deadlock in the development of DTT in the country.
Following the resolution, TVN, TV4 and TV Puls will move from Mux 1 to Mux 2 enabling DTT services to be launched on a national scale.
More detail at: Wirtualne Media
Item added: 31st May 2010
3D transmission on DTT platform
The first Polish 3D TV trial on the DTT platform took place in Warsaw on the 15th May.
Using the satellite feed of a football game from Canal + the broadcast network operator Emitel transmitted a live 3D transmission from the Palace of Culture and Science across the terrestrial network.
The 3D signals were received and displayed on Samsung receivers and viewed with the aid of special glasses.
Source: Emitel website
Item added: 31st May 2010
Delay for mobile TV
DVB-H licence holder, Info-TV-FM, still has to reach an agreement with mobile telecom operators before it can launch a mobile service.
Head of Info-TV-FM, Albert Kuzmicz believes that an agreement will be reached before the end of the year.
According to its licence obligation, Info-TV-FM is required to launch commercial services in 31 cities by the end of next year. Currently, services are available on a trial basis in 11 cities.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 3rd May 2010
Agreement for Multiplex 3 signed
The Polish public broadcaster TVP and national transmission company Emitel have signed an agreement for the launch of what will be the country’s third DTT multiplex, later this year.
The third multiplex will initially be launched on the 27th October in four voivoships (provinces) in central-eastern and north western Poland covering 58% of their populations.
In the second and third stages of the multiplexes roll-out coverage will increases by 20% and then 45% of other voivoships. By the 27th April 2014 coverage should have increased to 98% of the population. The multiplex is also expected to carry TVP’s HD service.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 30th April 2010
Tender for Mux 3 technical operator, closed
Polish public services broadcaster’s (TVP) tender for the technical operation of the country’s third DTT multiplex is now closed. So far the applicants have not been announced. TVP were initially awarded the multiplex at the end of July 2009 by the UKE and this was subsequently confirmed in October.
The country’s first two multiplexes and their channel line up is still being discussed but according to Broadband TV News commercial broadcasters would like the second multiplex assigned for their own use.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 8th March 2010
DTT changes in Poland
The Polish National Broadcasting Council (KRRiT) has given its backing to a proposed re-arrangement of the country’s DTT platform according to Broadband TV News.
Quoting Satkurier as the source it goes on to say that the commercial stations Polsat, TVN and TV Puls will move from the first multiplex, where they are currently located together with the public broadcaster’s TVP1, TVP2, TVP Info and commercial station TV4, to the countries second multiplex, which is still to be launched.
Polsat, TVN and TV Puls would be FTA on the second multiplex, while TV4 which is also likely to move to the second multiplex, would be one of four paid-for services on it.
The four resulting vacant spots in the first multiplex will then be put up for offer by other interested parties.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 11th January 2010
TV Puls interested in DTT platform
One of the country’s four leading commercial broadcasters, TV Puls is said to be considering launching new services on the DTT platform according to reports in SATKurier.
It would like to launch two new services one of which would be for children and the other an HD channel showing its current and future content.
Source: SATKurier.pl
Item added: 21st December 2009
Poland ponders new DTT plan
A new plan for the introduction of DTT services in Poland may be adopted at the beginning of 2010, reports Chris Dziadul in Broadband TV News.
Quoting reports in Wirtualne Media, the country’s leading commercial broadcasters Polsat, TVN and TV4 have proposed that the first multiplex should be allocated solely to the publicly owned TVP, while they should be placed on the second multiplex.
The plan is understood to have the support of both the Office of Electronic Communications (UKE) and National Broadcasting Council (KRRiT). A meeting to discuss it is scheduled to take place on the 21st December.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 14th December 2009
Tender for Multiplex 3 released
TVP has issued a tender for Polands third DTT multiplex.
Broadband TV News reports that details in Satkurier give the deadline for submissions as the 22nd December. To enter, applicants have to submit a deposit of PLN10 million (€2.45 million).
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 16th November 2009
Confidence in Mobile TV
Albert Kuzmicz, president of NFI Magna Polonia has said that Mobile TV is likely to take off in Poland in Q2 next year, reports Broadband TV News, quoting Wirtualne Media as its source.
Kuzmicz is further quoted as saying that an investment of PLN100 million will be made in the Mobile TV service. The figure invested so far is PLN20 million and the break-even point is estimated as 4-5 years.
NFI Magna Polonia’s subsidiary, Info-TV-FM, is already operating a trial DVB-H service, which will continue operating until the end of the year.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 9th November 2009
UKE issues implementation plans
In a decree issued on the 30th October 2009, the President of UKE granted a general exclusive frequency license for the terrestrial broadcasting of digital TV programme services in first DVB-T multiplex (MUX1). The decree concerned the modification to existing analogue licences and announced that the analogue switch over will be completed by the 31 June 2013. Broadcasters in Multiplex 1 must also use MPEG-4, H.264 AV Coding. Multiplex 3 has been allocated to Polish Public TV (TVP).
Plans for the make up of the first and second multiplex remain unchanged from previous announcements.
Source: UKE Office of Electronic Communication
Item added: 19th October 2009
First DTT Multiplex launch delay
The country’s first multiplex, set for launch on the 30th September, has been delayed.
Media reports quote Anna Strezynska, the president of the Office of Electronic Communications (UKE), as saying that the delay is down to broadcasters challenging the concessions they have received for the first multiplex.
Strezynska also said broadcasters were reluctant to release their analogue frequencies, knowing that they would face more competition in the digital sphere.
At present it is not know if the delay will also affect the launch of the second multiplex, which was planned to start operation early in 2010.
Main source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 6th October 2009
DVB-H service offer launched in Warsaw
INFO TV-FM launched its DVB-H service offer in Warsaw on the 26th September.
It will act as a wholesale operator providing a platform for multiple commercial retail operators to supply individual services. The full commercial retail service is expected to be launched in 2009/2010. The service will be expanded to nine other Polish cities by the end of 2009 and a total of 31 cities in 2011. Nationwide coverage is planned for 2015.
INFO TV-FM is a subsidiary of NFI Magna Polonia S.A. and was granted a DVB-H licence on the 26th June 2009.
The initial service uses four 0.5 kW transmitters broadcasting on Ch.37 (602 MHz) to cover Warsaw and the surrounding area.
The DVB-H service is transmitted using QPSK in the 4K mode with a guard interval of 1/8 a CR of 2/3 and an MPE-FEC of 3/4.
The service is planned to offer at least 16 TV and radio channels.
Source: INFO TV-FM
Item added: 6th October 2009
Draft DSO plan released by Government
A draft Digital Switch Over (DSO) plan has been published by the Ministry of Infrastructure. It calls for the launch of DTT services on the 20th September 2009.
The roll out will progress to more areas from March 2010 and reach full population coverage by the 31st July 2013.
Analogue switch off will begin on the 30th June 2011 and be completed on the 31st July 2013.
The plan also allows 18 months between the launch of DTT and ASO, with assistance given to low income families towards the purchase of DTT receivers.
A technical annex lists the requirements for DTT receivers, which includes, the use of MHP, DVB-SSU and MPEG-4, (H.264, AVC) for both SD and HD services.
The plan was produced by the electronic communications regulator UKE, the broadcast regulator KRRiT and the Ministry of Infrastructure. Comments on the draft plan can be made until the 24th July.
Source: Ministry of Infrastructure website
Item added: 20th July 2009
Tender for 2nd DTT multiplex in August?
According to the President of the Office of Electronic Communication (UKE), Anna Streżyńska, the invitation for the Tender to operate the second DTT multiplex could be released as early as August. If this is the case then the DTT multiplex could be launched by early 2010.
The Tender Document which has already been agreed by the UKE must be approved by the broadcast regulator KRRiT.
The winning operator will be able to select three services to operate on the multiplex, with the next three chosen by competition between broadcasters, with one other available for regional programmes.
Source: Wirtualnemedia.pl
Item added: 13th July 2009
Polish DTT MUX decision delay
Poland has still to decide on who will operate its first DTT multiplex, reports Broadband TV News.(item attributed to Rzeczpospolita). The report concluded that negotiations with EmiTel are likely to continue for a further two to three weeks.
The full news item can be accessed by clicking on the source link at the end of the item.
The first multiplex will provide a simulcast of the existing analogue terrestrial platform with services from TVP, Polsat, TVN, TV4, and TV Puls. Two further multiplexes are expected to launch in 2010.
Main source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 6th July 2009
Available programmes increase
According to Broadband TV News viewers in Warsaw, Poznan, Kraków and Zielona Góra are now able to receive the regional station TV Puls as well the public broadcasters three main channels TVP1, TVP2 and TVP info. The trial TVP multiplex is also carrying Polsat and TVN programming.
The official launch of DTT services is planned for September this year.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 22nd June 2009
Licence for second DTT multiplex in Autumn
Poland is likely to award an operators’ licence for its second DTT multiplex this autumn reports Broadband TV News. The comments are attributed to Anna Strezynska, the president of the country’s Office of Electronic Communications (UKE).
There are some sticking points in discussions on the terms surrounding the multiplex between the UKE and National Broadcasting Council (KRRiT), one of which is the composition of the channels to be carried by the multiplex.
While the UKE is open to the idea of up to three channels being operated by one company, the KRRiT would prefer each to be owned by different broadcasters.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 15th June 2009
Canal+ wants in to DTT
Canal Plus Cyfrowy has repeated its intention to play a major role in Poland’s soon-to-be-launched DTT operation, reports Broadband TV News.
Speaking to Wirtualne Media, its president Bertrand Le Guern said that the company plans to apply for an operators licence for the second multiplex and wants to reserve one or two slots for its own channels.
He added that Canal Plus Cyfrowy would like to supply content to Poland’s future DVB-H service, a licence for which was awarded to INFO-TV-FM in March.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 18th May 2009
KRRiT announces DTT services
Broadcast regulator KRRiT has announced the range of services that viewers will be able to access on Polands first DTT multiplex, which is expected to be launched in September 2009.
Three services from the public service broadcaster TVP, TVP1, TVP2 and TVP Info, will be made available as well as one service from the leading commercial analogue broadcasters, Polsat, TVN, TV Puls, and TV4. As previously reported MPEG-4 (H.264 AVC) compression will be used.
A second national multiplex with commercial services and a third multiplex with limited coverage are expected to be launched before the analogue switch off is completed by the 31st July 2013.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 8th May 2009
DTT launch gathering momentum
Broadband TV News writes that the country’s four leading commercial broadcasters, Polsat, TVN, TV4 and TV Puls have officially applied to reserve space on the countries first multiplex set to start in September. Wirtualne Media is given as the source of the story.
The public broadcaster’s three main channels TVP1, TVP2 and TVP Info have already been allocated capacity on the multiplex.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 27th April 2009
Poland firms up on DTT specification
Broadband TV News reports that the country has agreed a digital specification for the forthcoming DTT services.
The report from Satkurier says that the country has opted for MPEG-4, H.264 AVC compression for video and 5.1 MPEG-2 or AC-3 Dolby Digital as well as E-AC-3 Dolby Digital Plus for audio.
The plans have been passed to the EC for approval and if this is forthcoming they will be signed of by the Minister for infrastructure at the end of June.
A single multiplex is expected to be launched in September.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 7th April 2009
iTV channel for DVB-H network
The channel line up for the new DVB-H service is beginning to take shape according to Wirtualne Media reports Broadband TV News.
The operator of the iTV channel has signed an agreement with Info-TV-FM the first company in Poland to win a DVB-H licence.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 30th March 2009
More Power for DTT transmission trial
TP Emitel started enhanced DTT trials in Kraków and the surrounding area on the 6th March 2009, according to Broadband TV News.
The enhancement is described as an increase in the transmitter power used, which is said to be more than previously operated in the Kraków/Krzemionki region, to distribute the public channels TVP1, TVP2, TVP Info, TVP Sport and TVP HD.
A full DTT service is expected to be launched in the Autumn
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 9th March 2009
Info-TV-FM wins DVB-H licence in Poland
The Polish regulator UKE has awarded the DVB-H mobile TV licence to the Polish transmission company Info-TV-FM, reports Telecompaper.
Under the licence terms, the company will operate a DVB-H service in 31 towns and cities until 31 May 2015 and nationally from June 2015 until the end of 2023.
Info-TV-FM scored 750,000 points in the beauty contest organised by UKE, overtaking the bid from rival consortium Mobile TV which received 483,944 points.
The Mobile TV company included the country's four mobile operators Orange, Era, Plus and Play.
Source: Telecompaper
Item added: 9th March 2009
Cyfra+ wants DTT multiplex
Canal + Cyfrowy wants to play a leading roll in Polands emerging DTT marketplace according to Wirtualne Media.
The president of the Cyfra+ operating company Betrand le Guern said that it will not only try to secure one or two channel slots but also an operator’s licence for the second multiplex.
Poland is expected to launch its first DTT multiplex this September, followed eventually by two further multiplexes.
A tender for the second multiplex was planned for release in late January 09.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added 23rd February 2009
DTT plans progress
Despite recent disagreements, the Polish Office of Electronic Communications (UKE) has reached a compromise with the National Broadcasting Council (KRRiT) and the countries DTT plans are now back on track.
Wirtualne Media reports that both parties reached a compromise agreement last week. These compromises include the coverage of two more locations, Wisla and Rzeszów in addition to the four that will have DTT services from September; flexibility in the use of the third multiplex; and surrender of frequencies vacated by the switch to digital broadcasting to the UKE.
This surrender of frequencies could result in the UKE allocating some or all of them for DVB-H services.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 26th January 2009
DTT launch set for September
According to Witold Kolodziejski, head of the broadcast regulator KRRiT, the first DTT multiplex will launch in September 2009, reports Broadband TV News
The multiplex will be a simulcast of the existing analogue transmissions from TVP1, TVP2, TVP Info, Polsat, TVN, TV4 and TV Puls and available in Warsaw, Zielona Góra, Poznan and Zagan.
The existing plan is for a total of three multiplexes each providing services compressed with MPEG-4 AVC and free-to-air.
A tender for the operation of a second DTT multiplex is expected to be released by the end of January. This new platform will offer four services comprising of one local service and three services selected by the multiplex operator KRRiT.
The public service operator TVP will operate the third multiplex.
Analogue switch off is set to be completed by 31 July 2013.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 19th January 2009
Two candidates apply for DVB-H licence
As well as the expected bid from a consortium of the four major mobile operators in Poland another bid was also submitted by Info TV-FM a broadcast operator based in Zamosc.
Info TV-FM had previously been undertaking a DTT and DVB-H trial in Poland.
The winning bidder will have the right to operate a DVB-H service in 31 towns and cities until May 31, 2015, and then nationally from June 1, 2015 to December 31, 2023
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 19th January 2009
Polish mobile operators prepare DVB-H bid
According to Wirtualne Media the Mobile TV consortium made up from the country’s four mobile operators will submit a bid for an operator’s licence by the tender deadline of the 15th January, reports Broadband TV News.
Each of the four members has been allocated specific tasks in a future DVB-H service. ‘Orange’ would take care of finance and administration, ‘ERA’ would oversee the network, ‘Plus’ would be responsible for the headend, provision of the EPG and ‘Play’ the content for the service.’
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 12th January 2009
Polish DTT gets moving
Quoted in Wirtualne Media, Witold Kolodziejski, the head of the National Broadcasting Council (KRRiT), said that the long-awaited tender for the first DTT multiplex is likely to be announced this week, reports Broadband TV News.
The multiplex will mostly be reserved for existing analogue broadcasters and is likely be operated by a consortium of broadcasters with the signals transmitted by TP EmiTel.
KRRiT has allowed 45 days for the submission of applications with the whole licensing process expected to take three months.
A tender for the countries second multiplex is expected to be issued shortly after the first one is completed.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 12th January 2009
TV Puls halts expansion
The Polish regional station TV Puls has scrapped plans to launch two thematic channels, one of which would have been in HD, reports Broadband TV News.
TV Puls was until recently backed by News Corp and is currently looking for a new strategic investor.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 22nd December 2008
Joint bid for DVB-H licence expected
According to Broadband TV news, the four mobile operators, PTC, P4, Polkomtel and PTK Centertel, will form a joint venture with the aim of securing a licence to operate DVB-H services.
The Office of Electronic Communications (UKE) is expected to invite candidates to tender for a license to operate a DVB-H multiplex shortly.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 16th December 2008
Poland’s DTT multiplexes down from 6 to 3
Poland may only have three DVB-T multiplexes instead of the planned six, reports Broadband TV News.
The article says that the new scenario was detailed by Anna Strezynska, the president of the Office of Electronic Communication and reported in Rzeczpospolita.
She envisages that one of the remaining three multiplexes will be allocated to mobile TV and the other two to broadband TV services.
Neither Poland’s TV stations nor the country’s other regulator the National Broadcasting Council (KRRiT) favour such a scenario, with the latter preferring to see at least four DVB-T multiplexes
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 9th December 2008
Polish DTT arrangements change
According to reports attributed to Wirtualne Media, Poland’s Office of Electronic Communications (UKE) has decided to take a back seat in the licensing of a DTT platform.
UKE’s president Anna Strezynska has indicated that the continuing difficulties in reaching an agreement with the National Broadcasting Council (KRRiT), Poland’s other regulatory body were the reason for change.
The result is that UKE will no longer be involved in the tender for the second multiplex but will be involved in the allocation process for the first multiplex which both parties would like to see occupied by the current analogue broadcasters.
For the second multiplex KRRiT will select three channels to be carried by the multiplex with a further three being eventually chosen by the multiplex operator and a seventh in a contest involving 16 regional services and organised by KRRiT.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 1st December 2008
DTT negotiations continue
Although it was thought that most of the issues preventing the launch of the Polish DTT platform had been resolved, new issues have emerged.
Information attributed to Wirtualne Media suggests that the two industry regulators KRRiT and UKE are trying to reach a compromise on the terms of the tender for the second multiplex.
KRRiT are reported to believe that the multiplex licence holder should have no say in the content it carries while UKE says it should decide.
It is hoped that the differences can be resolved and an agreement reached by the end of November.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 17th November 2008
Cyfrowa Polska proposed for digital transition
Anna Strezynska, the president of the country’s Office of Electronic Communication (UKE) has called for the creation of a body like Digital UK to help the country push ahead with its analogue switch off in 2012 rather than 2014.
The body has already been given the name Cyfrowa Polska (‘Digital Poland’).
Consultation on the proposed is already underway (October 21st) and will last around a month. It will be followed by talks with the National Broadcasting Council (KRRiT), after which a proposal will be submitted to the government.
Reports also suggest that the UKE and KRRiT are working closely together to ensure that a tender for Poland’s second DTT multiplex can be announced by the end of this month.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 27th October 2008
Second DTT Multiplex tender soon
With the only outstanding issue to be resolved being programme requirements the second DTT multiplex tender is set to open by the end of the month reports Broadband TV News
However the actual launch of DTT in Poland still has a major stumbling block to be overcome according to the article and that is the unwillingness of Polsat and TVN, the country’s two national commercial broadcasters, to relinquish their analogue licences (valid until 2014) in exchange for digital replacements.
An offer from them to do so providing 95% of TV homes have digital receivers by the ASO target date of 2012 was dismissed last week as unrealistic
Source: Broadband TV News
Poland opens DVB-H tender
The Polish telecommunications regulator UKE has issued a tender for an exclusive frequency licence for mobile TV and radio services based on DVB-H technology.
The licence is for an 8 MHz slot in the 470-790 MHz band and offers complete coverage of Poland.
The winner will be authorised to use the DVB-H licence until 31 May 2015 across 31 cities in Poland and from 1 June 2015 until 31 December 2023 all over the country. All participants in the contest have to include a list of radio and TV channels they would broadcast via DVB-H, with a minimum of 66% of capacity dedicated to TV programmes but still allowing for ten radio channels. Offers can be submitted until 15.00 hours on 15 January 2009.
Main source: Telecompaper
Item added: 13th October 2008
Poland’s Second DTT MUX attracts interest
A total of ten separate organisations have so far expressed an interest in being carried on Poland’s second DTT multiplex, reports Broadband TV News.
The figures are said to have been released by the Office of Electronic Communication (UKE) to Wirtualne Media.
The next step is for the UKE and its fellow regulator the National Broadcast Council (KRRiT) to issue a tender and seek competitive bits for the operation of channels on the multiplex.
In all there are seven slots available
The platform is expected to be launched next year.
Main source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 6th October 2008
Submissions of interest for Second Multiplex sought
The Polish Office of Electronic Communication (UKE) has asked for submissions of interest from parties who want to operate services on the countries 2nd multiplex. The deadline for submissions is the 1st October 2008.
Earlier this month fourteen applications were received for access to the countries first DTT multiplex. A decision on the line up for the 1st multiplex is expected by the 1st December after which formal applications for the 2nd multiplex will be opened.
Main source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 23rd September 2008
Polsat dismisses accusation of holding up digitisation
The Polish national commercial station Polsat has strongly dismissed suggestions that it is holding up Poland’s transition to digital broadcasting, reports Broadband TV News.
The stations owner said that he was unwilling to give up its existing analogue transmission licence, valid until 2014, until a clearer picture of the future digital market emerged.
He is reported as saying “Today we don’t know how much the state will contribute to digitalisation, how many multiplexes there will be, how many HD channels and how many services offered for free”
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 23rd September 2008
DTT MUX attracts strong interest
Fourteen applications for a licensed allocation on multiplex A have already been received by Poland’s Office of Electronic Communications (UKE). The interested parties include TV channels, TVP1, TVP2, TVP Info, TVN, Polsat, TV4 and TV Puls as well as a number of radio stations.
Public service broadcaster TVP is currently guaranteed an allocation as is the commercial broadcaster TV Puls, which relinquished its analogue broadcast licence.
However, other broadcasters, including Polsat, TV4, and TVN, will need to tender for a DTT licence if they wish to simulcast their services on both digital and analogue platforms.
A tender for licence applications to use the second of the three multiplexes proposed in Poland, is expected to be released before the end of the year.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 1st September 2008
New target for Polish mobile TV
Broadband TV News reports that the tender for mobile TV services in Poland will now be opened in October and the winner announced two months later.
The licence will be valid until 2013 and not the later date previously stated; the holder will also be able to offer a service in 31 cities and two channels in cities hosting the Euro 2012 championships and
A full rollout of mobile TV services can only take place once Poland completes the transition to digital broadcasting in 2012, which will only be possible if stations such as Polsat and TVN are willing to relinquish their analogue licences, currently valid until 2014.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 27th August 2008
Four mobile operators join forces for DVB-H
Wirtualne Media reports that the country’s four mobile operators, Centertel, PTC, Polkomtel and P4 have decided to join forces to take part in the forthcoming DVB-H licence contest.
The joint consortium expect to reach breakeven within seven years of the DVB-H service launch and expect that most of the income would come from the sale of interactive services.
The earliest Poland is likely to launch mobile TV is Q1 2009.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 11th August 2008
Poland opens mobile TV consultation
Poland’s Office of Electronic Communications (UKE) has officially opened a 30-day consultation period into mobile TV licences.
The licences will be valid until the end of 2023 and be for allocations in the UHF band.
Anna Strezynska, the president of UKE, has previously said she expects that the launch date for a mobile TV service would be in early 2009 although the recent document is not specific about this.
Broadband TV News reports that interest in the forthcoming tender is strong, with those likely to take part including the POT (Polsat/TVN) consortium, incumbent Telco TPSA and the country’s four mobile operators.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 11th August 2008
DVB-H tender likely to be delayed
Rather than launching a DVB-H service in an initial 31 cities as previously planned, it is now more likely that a national launch will take place. The new plan follows co-ordination meetings between the Office of Electronic Communications (UKE) and the National Broadcasting Council (KRRiT).
It is also likely that the period of any licence would be increased to 2023 instead of 2015 as previously stated.
No new date for the tender release has been given but it will not take place during August as announced previously.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 4th August 2008
DTT/DVB-H timetable takes shape
The tender for Poland’s second DTT multiplex may be announced in September preceded by one for the DVB-H frequencies in mid-August, reports Broadband TV News. However the future of the first multiplex, reserved for free to air services, is still to be resolved.
The article goes on to say that the DVB-H tender will initially be for a service that only covers the main 31 towns and cities. A tender for national coverage is likely to be released only after 2012, which is the current date for analogue switch off in Poland.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 28th July 2008
Poland considers third multiplex
Broadband TV News reports that local contacts in Poland indicate that the Office of Electronic Communications (UKE) and the National Broadcasting Council (KRRiT), are discussing the possibility of utilising the remaining 20% of frequencies allocated to Poland at RRC 06. These frequencies, which are not already used for the countries two planned multiplexes could be used for a third.
This multiplex would carry a limited number of channels possibly in HD together with additional services.
As will be the case with the second multiplex, the third, if authorised, would also be offered via tender.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 21st July 2008
DVB-H service launch in early 2009
Negotiations with Russia over DTT frequency allocations have been successfully concluded, reports Broadband TV News.
Regulators are now expected to release the tender for DVB-H licences by the end of the month (July).
According to the terms of the tender the winning bidder would have 24 months to launch a service although it is expected that it could be launched as early as the beginning of 2009.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 21st July 2008
DVB-H tender further delayed
Negotiations over frequency allocations with neighbouring countries are still delaying the launch of the DVB-H tender.
Agreements on frequency usage have been reached with Germany, Sweden and Denmark according to Broadband TV News but negotiations are still underway with Russia, whose Kaliningrad region shares a border with Poland.
DVB-H services could be available in 31 cities by the end of the year if the tender is released by the new target date, which is now the end of July.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 15th July 2008
DTT platform gets increased interest
Interviewed by Wirtualnemedia, the heads of the radio stations RMF Maxx and Radio Eska have said they would like to see their respective internet-delivered TV channels also made available on DTT, reports Broadband TV News.
Poland plans to launch DTT services in 2009 on two national multiplexes, with the first reserved for the existing services TVP1, TVP2, TVP Info, Polsat, TVN, TV Puls and TV4.
RMF Maxx and Radio Eksa channels would be broadcast on the second multiplex if their negotiations were successful.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 15th July 2008
Plans for DTT service announced
The Office of Electronic Communications (UKE) and National Broadcasting Council (KRRiT) have announced their plans for DTT services, reports Broadband TV News.
The first DTT multiplex, which will be free to view, will carry the channels already available on the analogue network, which include TVP1, TVP2, TVP Info, TVN, Polsat, TV4 and TV Puls.
The second multiplex is expected to be offered for tender before the end of 2008 and might allow the possibility of HD services.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 26th June 2008
Olympics in HD on DTT
Public service broadcaster TVP has announced plans to broadcast the Beijing Olympics in HD on the DTT platform.
DTT test transmissions will be available in the Warsaw, Poznan, Zielona Góra, Zagan, Kraków, Lezajsk and Krosno areas.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 16th June 2008
HD/DTT services wanted
Representatives of the communications regulators KRRiT and UKE have called for the launch of HD services on the DTT platform according to Broadband TV News.
They would like DTT services to begin as soon as possible, despite the lack of the necessary legislative framework.
A DTT consultation with prospective platform stakeholders is currently underway.
It is expected to be completed by 15 June.
A launch of DTT services is not expected before 2009.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 10th June 2008
Mobile TV tender postponed
The president of the Office of Electronic Communications (UKE) has announced that the mobile TV tender for Poland, which was due in May, will be rescheduled to allow submissions until the end of June, reports advanced-television.com.
The reason given is that the UKE has not yet managed to finalise international adjustments for 5 out of the 31 cities planned to begin DVB-H mobile TV broadcasting.
Source: advanced-television.com
Item added: 3rd June 2008
New DVB-H trial in Krakow
Network operator TP EmiTel has launched a DVB-H trial in the city of Krakow, reports Broadband TV News.
Four mobile operators including Centertel, Polkomtel, PTC and T4 are also participating in the trial,
The trial, which is expected to last several months, will offer viewers access to 13 television programme services and possible coverage of the EURO 2008 Football Championship.
TP EmiTel has been running another DVB-H trial in Warsaw since last October.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 27th May 2008
DTT consortium considers bidding for DVB-H licence
Polish DTT consortium, POT may bid for a DVB-H licence according to TVN president Piotr Walter. The consortium, which is made up of Polsat and TVN, will make their bid decision when the new tender document is made public.
Local reports suggest that a DVB-H service covering 31 cities could be launched in Poland by the end of the year.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 20th May 2008
TVP expands DTT trials
Public service broadcaster TVP has begun another DTT trial, this time in the Lubuskie region, near the border with Germany.
Reports say that the trial offers access to 7 television programme services from TVP (TVP1, TVP2, TVP Info/Gorzów, TVP Polonia, TVP Kultura, TVP Sport and TVP Historia) using the MPEG-4 AVC and Dolby Digital Sound.
Similar trials using MPEG-4 AVC are underway in Srem (Poznan), Warsaw and Kraków while an MPEG-2 trial is underway in the south-eastern part of the country.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 15th April 2008
Mobile Tender in May
Poland will release a tender for mobile TV licences in the middle of May, according to the country’s Office of Electronic Communications (UKE), reports Broadband TV News.
The report goes on to say that the regulator is expected to reserve channel 38 in the UHF TV band for the DVB-H service, which is planned to be available in 31 towns and cities.
Polish mobile companies, Polkomtel, Centertel, PTC and P4 have already announced that they will work together on the introduction of DVB-H services, which they estimate will cost €100-200 million.
Main source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 8th April 2008
DVB-H service gets closer
The heads of the leading Polish mobile companies, Polkomtel, Centertel, PTC and P4 have held a joint press conference, in Warsaw, to announce that they will be working together to introduce a DVB-H service in the country.
The announcement follows an official invitation for companies to participate in a major DVB-H trial during 2008. This prompted a negative reaction from some, who said that a trial was unnecessary as the technology was already proven.
A DVB-H trial has been under way in the country since last November, offering viewers living within 30km of the Palace of Culture in central Warsaw a total of 11 channels from TVP, Polsat and TVN
Main source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 19th February 2008
TVP DTT trial switches completely to MPEG-4
The ongoing DTT trial by TVP is now switching from MPEG-2 to the MPEG-4, H.264 AVC compression, reports Broadband TV News.
Up until the change, TVP used MPEG-2 to distribute TVP1, TVP2, TVP info. and MPEG-4 for its channels TVP Historia, TVP Kultura and TVP Sport.
TVP also uses MPEG-4 in its trials in other parts of Poland.
MPEG-4, H.264 AVC is expected to be the compression system adopted for DTT programming in the whole of Poland.
Main source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 19th February 2008
TV Puls gains more coverage
The National Broadcasting Council (KKRiT) has awarded the commercial TV broadcaster TV Puls a terrestrial channel for DTT broadcasting in the cities of Wroclaw and Szczecin. This will increase Puls TV’s coverage of the Polish population from its current 15.9%.
Previously Puls TV provided religious content, but following its acquisition by News Corporation, the licensing terms have been changed to allow a variety of programming content.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 22nd January 2008
Planned DVB-H Trial attracts 12 companies
Poland’s invitation for companies to participate in a large scale DVB-H mobile TV trial has attracted 12 companies. They include the county’s four mobile operators, Centertel, Polkomtel, PTC, P4 and the DTH platform Cyfrowy Polsat.
TVN, which is said to have criticised the trial by saying that “the technology is already tried and proven” is not participating, neither is TVP.
TVN went further by saying that the real decision to be made for Mobile TV is which business model would work best in Poland.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 27th December 2007
Large scale DVB-H trial in 2008
The Office of Electronic Communications for the Republic of Poland (UKE) is inviting all interested parties to participate in common mobile tests using the DVB-H standard.
Already the UKE has issued 11 radio licences for trials of this type, but recognises that with the EC having announced its preference for DVB-H, the tests have become more important. By the time of Poland’s hosting of the European football Championships in 2012 (with the Ukraine) there will be an estimated 500million users of mobile TV across the world.
In order to ensure equal treatment, the President of UKE invites all interested parties, especially the operators of transmission networks (mobile, broadcasting, access and others), hardware manufacturers and content creators (including broadcasters) to participate in common mobile TV tests in the DVB-H standard.
The President of UKE, in cooperation with the industry, will lay down the rules for common tests and for the participation of particular groups of interested parties according to their competence.
Source: UKE website
Item added: 20th November 2007
New DTT scenario emerges
Web news service broadbandtvnews.com reports that details of an agreement between Polish public broadcaster, TVP, Polskie radio and a mobile company called Polkomtel have just started to emerge. The agreement purportedly signed earlier this year is an agreement to launch a DTT platform using Polkomtel’s infrastructure rather than that of TP Emitel’s. TP Emitel has been undertaking DTT trials for several years.
However whether anything becomes concrete, will depend on the incoming PO (Civic Platform) government, which besides enacting new media legislation favours changes at the National Broadcasting Council (KRRiT) and to the senior management of both TVP and Polkomtel.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 7th November 2007
DTT platform gains new services
TVP, the public service broadcaster in Poland, has increased the number of programme services available on the DTT trial platform in Warsaw and Poznan.
The currently available services TVP1, TVP2 and TVP Info have now been joined by TVP Historia, TVP Kultura and TVP Sport.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 30th October 2007
30,000 DTT STB’s in Poland
According to a report from the PIKE Conference ZAKOPANE, Broadband TV News quotes Wojciek Halka of the Polish Association of Telecommunications Engineers (SIT) as saying that there are already 30,000 homes in Poland with DTT Set Top Boxes despite there being no current DTT platform.
Halka spoke in favour of the introduction of DTT services, which are already available from limited test broadcasts in some parts of the country.
The original Polish plan was for switchover on a region-by-region basis starting in Q1 2006 and completed in 2014. This plan has not been actioned and the government are said to have a new plan for DTT introduction, but have not released any details to date.
Halka predicted that a DTT service could deliver 35-40 TV channels to 6 million homes in Poland.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 16th October 2007
Broadcasters want a strategy for after the digital switchover
Polish broadcasters are asking the government to work out a strategy to cover the completion of the digital switchover, so that they know how many, of the proposed 8, multiplexes will be allocated to them and when it will be possible to launch HD/DTT services.
At present it is known that at least one multiplex will be launched. This will cover the seven programme services from TVP1, TVP2, TVP3, TVN, Polsat, TV4 and TV Puls but it has not been announced who will operate the multiplex.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 9th October 2007
2008 DTT start date possible for Poland
A working document prepared by Poland’s Ministry of Transport, says that the transition to digital broadcasting in Poland could begin in June 2008.
Simulcasting of analogue and digital TV would continue for the next 12 months, with analogue switch off in mid 2009.
Poland will jointly host Euro 2012 with the Ukraine making the change to digital broadcasting well before this date a definite target.
The document will be passed to ministers for consideration in the next few months.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 24th July 2007
Extension of Polish DTT trial sought
The DTT trial currently underway in Poland since May 31st will come to an end this month unless an extension can be agreed.
Broadband TV News reports that the trial, being undertaken by a consortium consisting of the country’s two national commercial TV stations Polsat and TVN, is asking the Office of Electronic Communication (UKE) for an extension of the trial.
Some sources indicate that rather than grant such an extension, the regulator may instead give permission for a second trial, for a maximum of six months rather than the year POT would prefer.
The DTT trial is being undertaken in Warsaw and Srem near Poznan, distributing Polsat, TVN and the regional station TV4 using both MPEG-2 and MPEG-4. If the trial is extended then it is likely that both DVB-H and HD in 1080i format will be tested.
Source: Broadbandtvnews
Item added: 27th June 2007
Polski Operator Telewizyjny (POT) to start DTT trial
Polski Operator Telewizyjny (POT), the joint venture set up by the Polish national commercial stations Polsat and TVN, says it will start DTT test transmissions in Warsaw and the Wielkopolska region of Poland by May 30.
Both MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 compression will be used and it will also trial HD in the 1080i format and DVB-H.
DTT transmissions on the platform will be Polsat, TVN and TV4.
Broadband TV News also reports that the National Broadcasting Council (KRRiT) has re-allocated a channel in the Silesian city of Wroclaw, previously used by TP EmiTel for DTT trials, back to analogue service.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 23rd May 2007
New services available for the DTT trial
Broadband TV News reports that the public services broadcaster TVP has included its sports service, TVP Sport, to its DTT trial platform which already has national services TVP1, TVP3 as well as regional services TVP3 available to its viewers. The trial in the Wisla/Gora Skrzyczne region in the south of the country has already provided greater coverage than before. The current trial uses MPEG-2 however TVP may switch to using MPEG-4 AVC later in the year.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 19th April 2007
33% of households rely on the analogue terrestrial platform
A study commissioned by the Office of Electronic Communications, shows that the majority of those responding to the study (53%) use traditional terrestrial analogue television while every third home has cable TV (33%) and every fifth respondent has satellite TV (20%).
Digital television is currently watched in 11% of homes, although more participants are interested in a digital offer.
The survey was undertaken by the Marketing Research Centre Indicator (Centrum Badań Marketingowych Indicator) to better understand consumer preferences in the telecommunications market.
The survey was carried out on a representative sample composed of 1,616 respondents.
Source: UKE website via Digitag
Item added: 6th February 2007
TV sales rise but little chance of HDTV before 2012
According to a Polish News Bulletin reported on TMCnet.com's website, The World Cup is proving particularly beneficial for Polish TV dealers. As of the 18th June retail chains carrying TV equipment have experienced over 10% growth in turnover. Polish viewers are also becoming more interested in HDTV and LCD TV’s. Despite this growth in interest Polish broadcasters are still reluctant to engage in new projects to develop digital TV, due to the high costs involved for what they estimate is only a small number of potential users. Viewers in Poland will probably have to wait until 2012 for the introduction of HDTV according to the article. Deputy Culture Minister Jaroslaw Sellin hinted that the state would not press broadcasters to switch from analogue to digital TV earlier.
Source: Polish News Bulletin via TMC.net
Item added: 25th June 2006
Poland establishes new telecoms regulator
The government of Poland has established the Office of Electronic Communications (UKE) to replace the Office of Telecommunications and Post Regulation (URTiP). The new regulatory body will assume the powers of URTiP as well as certain powers of the National Broadcasting Council (KRRiT).
The UKE'sponsibilities include the reservation of frequencies for radio and TV transmission (both analogue and digital), the provision of electronic programme guides and the regulation of the telecommunications market.
Source and full article: DMeurope
Item added: 17th January 2006
DTT delay likely
Poland's National Broadcasting Council (KKRiT) is likely to delay the DTT multiplex licensing process. Allocation of licences is now expected at the end of 2006 and not the previous date of early 2006.
According to Broadband TV News a debate regarding the video compression standard to be used has raised the possibility of using MPEG-4 instead or as well as MPEG-2.
Source: Broadband TV News, Central Europe, Nov 4th 2005
Item added: 8th November 2005
Poland seeks DTT debate
The president of the Polish Telecommunications and Post Regulation (URTiP) has proposed to the country’s National Broadcasting Council (KRRiT) that a panel of experts be set up to discuss the problems occurring with the launch off DTT in Poland.
The panel will include the three national TV stations (TVP, Polsat and TVN), two other bodies, as well as other interested parties
Although the government approved a DTT strategy this May, many technical and organisational issues still remain unresolved.
Source: Broadband TV News October 6th 2005
Item added: 11th October 2005
Consultation on DTT begins
The National Broadcasting Council (KRRIT) has begun a digital consultation process into digital terrestrial broadcasting. All interested parties are invited to submit their views by mid-August. KRRIT are expected to make a final decision in September and the launch of national DTT services from TVP and POT is expected soon afterwards.
Source: Broadband TV News , July 22nd 2005
Item added: 25th July 2005
POT seeks DTT licences
The Polish DTT consortium POT has applied for permission to begin trials in Warsaw and the nearby city of Lódz according to Broadband TV News (Central and Eastern Europe).
Frequencies are available in both locations from this September until the end of 2006 and POT, which is jointly owned by Polsat and TVN, would like to use them to distribute a range of both its own and the public broadcaster TVP’s channels.
Separately, TP EmiTel, a wholly owned subsidiary of the incumbent telco TPSA, has announced that it would be technical ready to launch a DTT service covering 55% of Poland’s population in Q1 2006.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 2nd June 2005
History
Wojciech Halka, Poland’s vice-minister of infrastructure, has announced that the country is likely to approve a plan for digital terrestrial broadcasting next month and launch a platform either at the end of this year or beginning of 2006. The plan envisages digital rollout to take place on a region-by-region basis, with the first to be converted being Mazowsze and Wielkopolska, and the analogue switch-off date being 2014. A consortium made up of TVP, Polsat and TVN, the country’s three national broadcasters, is working jointly to launch a DTT platform. In a separate development, Zygmunt Solorz-Zak, the owner of Polsat, has announced that the company may hold an IPO in Warsaw at the end of this year.
Source: Broadband TV News Central Europe
Background
Poland has been pursuing a cautious approach to the adoption of DTT despite having one of the most developed digital television market places in Central and Eastern Europe.
It is proposed that two MFN multiplexes will be in operation replicating the coverage of the existing analogue TVP2. Two MFN medium power multiplexes will also be used to cover big cities and an additional multiplex will also be made available making a total of five.
DVB-T field trials have been taking place in Warszawa since November 2001 and Lodz and Wroclaw since March and June 2003. Tests are also planned to begin in Rzeszów and Sucha Góra in early 2004 made possible by recent frequency agreements with Slovakia and Bratislava. It is also reported that permission has been given to "Info" based in Zamosc to start DVB-T trials this year.
