Ceske Radiokomunikace reports on DVB-T completion and DVB-T2
Ceske Radiokomunikace has reported the successful completion of the transition from analogue to digital terrestrial broadcasting (DVB-T).
Three DTT networks cover 99.6% of the population and the terrestrial platform remains the preferred option for TV broadcasting in the Czech Republic serving more than 50% of TV households.
A priority for the company is the introduction of HD TV broadcasting using DVB-T2 and the expansion of pay TV in the country.
Currently, Radiokomunikace operates three multiplexes: Multiplex 1 covering 99.6% of population is operated on behalf of public-service operators and includes four TV channels and eight radio programmes; Multiplex 2 covering 99.6% of population is owned by Radiokomunikace and offers five TV channels; and Multiplex 3 covering 95.7% of population is operated by Czech Digital Group, a subsidiary of Radiokomunikace and contains two TV channels and one radio programme.
Source: Telecompaper
Item added: 19th December 2011
Lagardère interested in DTT service
The media group Mafra which owns the DTT programme service Ocko may be acquired by the French media group Lagardère.
Lagardère is already in the radio market but would like to extend its services to television.
In France, Lagardère is on the DTT platform through its joint ownership of the DTT children's service Gulli. Previously, Lagardère owned Virgin 17 which it later sold to the Bolloré Media Group and is now known as Direct Star.
Ocko, a television music service, is available across all television platforms in the country, including DTT.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 12th December 2011
DVB-T2 an option for TV Nova
The leading Czech broadcaster TV Nova would be unlikely to charge viewers to receive an HD version of its flagship channel distributed by DVB-T2 according to comments from the company’s CEO Jan Andrusko, attributed to “Digizone” however they might charge to view other Nova HD channels he added.
The HD version is already available to cable and DTH viewers in the Czech Republic, although it currently only has a small market share.
The Czech Republic completed its transition to DTT broadcasting on the 11th November. Some simulcasting is still taking place from a few remaining analogue transmitters which will be switched off in mid-2012.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 21st November 2011
Switch to digital TV completed
The Czech Republic completed the transition to digital terrestrial TV broadcasting with the conversion of the last digital transmitters at Tlusta hora and Plostiny in the Zlin region, on the 4th November.
DTT signals are currently available to 99.6%of population. Three digital multiplexes offer eleven TV channels and nine radio stations.
During the period from 2008 to November 2011 Radiokomunikace installed a total 69 digital TV transmitters and 100 repeaters.
The completion of the project which uses DVB-T will be followed by the next stage in DTT development which is the implementation and development of the follow-up system DVB-T2, to enable efficient HDTV broadcasting. The company will be ready to bring the Summer Olympic Games 2012 in higher picture quality, it said.
Source: Telecompaper
Item added: 14th November 2011
DTT transition colloquium
The Czech Republic’s broadcasting regulator the CTU is organising a colloquium on the 11th November to coincide with the country’s official analogue switch off date. The aim of the colloquium will be to summarise and present the facts relating to the preparation and implementation of the transition to digital terrestrial TV broadcasting, as well as an evaluation of the technical plan. Information will also be presented on the long-term experiment with DVB-T2 and a discussion on trends in digital terrestrial TV.
Source: Telecompaper
Item added: 6th November 2011
CRa look to extend DVB-T2 trial
The broadcast network operator Ceske Radiokomunikace (CRa) wants to extend its current DVB-T2 trial which will finish in 2012.
CRa has requested an extension to its trial license for another 18 months.
However an extension of this length requires an amendment to the Electronic Communications Law which is currently being debated by the Parliament.
DVB-T2 trials are currently underway in Prague and Ceske Budejovice.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 6th November 2011
100% coverage for Mux 1
In the most recent “7th DTT progress report” published by the Czech regulator CTU the coverage of DTT in the country is given as 100% for the first multiplex, 95% for the second, 91% for the third and 23% for the fourth. According to the report, the transition is progressing on schedule.
In September, the amendment of the Act on Czech TV was adopted, setting the deadline for the transition to DTT as the 11th November, with the exception of two locations (Jesenik and Zlin), where the providers of the channels Nova and Prima will switch-off by the 30th June 2012.
Source: Telecompaper
Item added: 24th October 2011
Interest in DVB-T2 strong
Czech tower company Ceske Telekomunikace (CRo) has expressed its interest in securing the country’s fourth DTT multiplex especially if it can be used for DVB-T2 services.
Kamil Levinsky, the new director of CRo, gave the news during an interview with Digizone, reports Broadband TV News.
The CRo is currently testing DVB-T2 with the aim of establishing a D book for uniform standards similar to the one that currently exists in the UK.
Levinsky expects receivers with DVB-T2 tuners to be available in the Czech market in the first half of 2012.
In a previous interview, Levinsky had expressed the view that three quarters of the Czech population may be able to watch the London Olympics next year in HD over DVB-T2.
He still believes this to be possible and that sporting events such as the Olympics are a major opportunity for the introduction of DVB-T2.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 3rd October 2011
DVB-T covers over 90% of population
The Czech regulator, the CTU, has announced that the Analogue Switch Off (ASO) in the Trutnov and Brno regions took place on the 30th June.
On the 1st July with the switching on of digital services the population coverage of MUX 1 had increased to 99.9%, MUX 2 to 95% and MUX 3 to 89%.
ASO will take place in Ostrava during November 2011 and in Zlin and Jesenik by the 30th June 2012. These are the final regions still transmitting analogue TV in the Czech Republic.
Source: Telecompaper
Item added: 1st August 2011
CDG allows regional broadcasting
The Czech Digital Group (CDG) has changed the terms of carriage on the country’s third digital multiplex, which it operates. Instead of requiring stations to have their broadcasts transmitted to the whole country, in future they will be able to cover individual or groups of regions.
The offer is expected to appeal to stations with limited funding.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 11th July 2011
DTT viewer numbers continue to climb
During the year to the end of Q1 2011 the number of Czech homes watching DTT services rose from 39.3% to 51.7% according to data attributed to Mediaresearch. At the end of the same period only 5.5% of homes still watched analogue TV, DTH reception grew from 24% to 29%, while cable and IPTV fell from 24.6% to 24.3%.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 31st May 2011
Digitisation on track
Broadband TV News reports that the Czech Telecommunications Office (CTU) has issued an assessment of the digitisation process in the country.
The first multiplex is up and running and reaches nearly 100% of the population. The second multiplex reaches 89%, the third over 85% and the fourth 25% (mainly Prague, Plzen, Brno and Ostrava).
Multiplex one and two carry channels previously available on analogue, while the third and fourth offer new services.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 4th April 2011
CRa reconfirm interest in DVB-T2
The Czech national transmission company and multiplex operator Ceske Radiokomunikace (CRa) has recently reconfirmed its interest in DVB-T2.
CRa is currently undertaking a non-commercial DVB-T2 trial, using the Prague Zizkov transmitter, to distribute four channels all in HD. They are CT HD, Nova HD, Prima HD and Barrandov HD.
In a recent interview CRa’s executive director Kamil Levinsky said that he intends to offer these channels commercially on the country’s first and second multiplexes but does not see a future for HD using DVB-T. However the CRa is prepared to offer HD services on the DTT platform using DVB-T2 but doing so would require a request from broadcasters as well as the necessary frequency allocation from the Czech Telecommunications Office (CTO).
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 21st March 2011
DTT capacity for small Broadcasters
České Radiokomunikace (CRa) is to make capacity available on its third multiplex for up to 11 services using MPEG-2. These allocations will be used to make it easier and less expensive for small television and radio broadcasters to join the DTT platform. The increase from the existing 5 services to 11 will be made by reducing the bit rate available for each service which in turn will decrease the total cost of the transmission.
Currently, Multiplex 3 is available to 85% of the population.
Source: E15.cz
Item added: 14th March 2011
DTT market reorganises
The Czech transmission company Radiokomunikace (CRa) has strengthened its position in the country’s DTT market-place by acquiring the Czech Digital Group (CDG) from the Dutch SP D Corporation, reports Broadband TV News.
CRa already operates the country’s DTT multiplex 1 on behalf of the public broadcaster CT as well as multiplex 2, which carries a number of commercial services including TV Nova, Prima TV and TV Barrandov.
CDG operate the country’s third multiplex which carries Z1 and Public TV, while the fourth, multiplex is operated by Telefónica O2 on an experimental basis and carries CT HD, Nova HD and O2 Info.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 20th December 2010
Czech Republic plans DVB-T2 launch
Pavel Dvorak, the president of the Czech Telecom Office (CTU), says that the country plans to finish testing DVB-T2 at the end of next year and possibly issue a tender for DVB-T2 digital TV broadcasting in 2012 or 2013, reports to Broadband TV News. The first commercial DVB-T2 service would then become operational between 2013 and 2015.
DVB-T2 trials are already underway in Prague and will be expanded to Ceske Budejovice in 2011.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 13th December 2010
Ceské Radiokomunikace sold to Macquarie
The Falcon Group consortium has sold the Czech broadcast network operator, Ceske Radiokomunikace (CRa) to the infrastructure funds managed by the Macquarie Group.
CRa provides the transmission of analogue and digital terrestrial TV and radio signals for public and commercial TV and radio broadcasters in the Czech Republic via an infrastructure of 26 high-rise towers and over 800 towers and masts, as well as a 2600 kilometre fibre-optic backbone network
Sources: Digital TV Europe.net and The Australian
Item added: 13th December 2010
DTT covers 99% of the population
Czech Television’s (CT) multiplex now covers 99% of the population whilst the second and third multiplexes cover 89.5% and 84.4% respectively. The fourth multiplex operated by Telefónica O2 reaches 22%.
The figures quoted by Broadband TV news are attributed to HN which also says that in total CT, TV Nova and Prima TV can be received in digital form by 89.4% of the population up by 30% on the same time last year.
The complete transition from analogue to digital coverage in the country should be completed on the 11th November 2011.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 27th September 2010
More DTT channels on cable network
The Czech cable operator RIO Media will begin distributing over 50 of its most watched TV channels via DTT from the end of this month reports Broadband TV News.
The channels will be made available first in Olomouc and Prostejov, and subsequently 10 more cities in the Czech Republic
RIO Media currently claims to have 115,000 subscribers.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 6th September 2010
DTT penetration reaches 41.1%
According to figures released by the ATO (Asociace televizních organizací) and MEDIARESEARCH a.s. for the end of Q2 2010 digital terrestrial, penetration was 41.1% at the end of June with 25.8% of households having a DVB-T set-top box, 14.4% having a DTT-capable television (IDTV) and 1.1% having a DVD player with a DVB-T tuner.
Satellite TV reception overtook cable TV in popularity in the quarter reaching 28.9% of households compared with 24.5% for cable and IPTV.
Source: digitaltvnews.net
Item added: 31st August 2010
More DTT channels on the cable networks
Following the lead from UPC, the Czech cable company Nej TV has added DTT channels to its cable offer.
An article on the Broadband TV News website says that according to Parabola, Nej TV will offer its subscribers anything between seven and 21 DTT channels free of charge. Nej TV is backed by BKS Capital Partners and has a presence in over 40 Czech cities.
UPC began a DTT trial in the Czech capital, Prague, earlier this month and eventually plans to offer its subscribers must-carry channels on the first and second multiplexes free of charge.
(for more details see previous item)
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 28th June 2010
UPC starts DTT trial
UPC Czech has begun a DTT trial in Prague, reports Broadband TV News.
The eventual aim of UPC is to offer its subscribers the must-carry channels on the countries 1st and 2nd multiplexes. The channels are CT services and TV Nova, Prima TV, Barrandov, Nova Cinema and Prima Cool. They will be offered for no additional fee.
The new DTT service will cover the whole of Prague by the end of July and will then be extended to other cities including Brno, Liberec and Ostrava.
The coverage target is 60-70% of the Czech Republic’s 4 million TV homes that already have a second TV set and would like to receive basic digital channels free of charge.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 7th June 2010
DVB-T2 trial in Prague
The broadcast network operator České Radiokomunikace (CR) is presently conducting a short trial using the DVB-T2 standard. The trial service is available in Prague on Ch25 from a 330Watt transmitter covering the whole city. The total bit rate being transmitted is 40.2Mbit/sec in a standard UHF 8 MHz channel, almost double the bit rate of the current DVB-T transmissions.
CR is calling on the government to provide capacity for a nationwide DVB-T2 network by allocating extra spectrum. It would like to be able to offer HD services using DVB-T2 in time for the next Olympic Games in 2012 and is confident that it can provide services to 8.5 million viewers located in the urban centres.
Source: Digizone.cz
Item added: 24th May 2010
DTT coverage at 95%
More than 95% of the Czech population are now covered by DTT services from the countries first DTT multiplex.
Broadband TV News quotes Zdenek Duspiva, the chairman of the National Coordination Group, as saying that with these figures the Czech Republic should have no problems in meeting its ASO target of the 11th November 2011.
The countries second multiplex, operated by the broadcast network operator CRa, covers 65% of the population. The third multiplex, operated by the Czech Digital Group, covers 55% and the fourth, currently being used for trials, is available to 26.6% of the population and operated by Telefónica O2.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 18th January 2010
DTT received in 29% of homes
Data researched in May-June, by the Association of Television Organisations (ATO), shows that 29% of Czech homes receive DTT, reports Broadband TV News.
Cable, satellite and IPTV services are used by 52% whilst 16% still watch analogue TV.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 10th August 2009
Czech Republic Update
Recent reports attributed to HN and published on the Broadband TV News website have given additional insight on the DTT situation in the country.
The Czech Regional TV Agency head Jaroslav Berka is reported to have said that they intend to start broadcasting on a DTT multiplex within a year.
He was quoted following the award of a ‘compensatory’ licence by the Czech Radio and TV Council (RRTV).
In a separate item Plzen in western Bohemia is said to be on track for analogue switch off at the end of September. Currently 75% of the cities homes receive DTT signals.
Plzen follows Prague, which completed ASO on the 30th April and it will become the second city in the Czech Republic to make the transition.
Additional information also suggests that the future of the third DTT multiplex is in doubt because the music channel Ocko has decided to withdraw from the DTT platform.
To find out more details on each story, select one of the following links: Broadband TV News1, Broadband TV News2, Broadband TV News3
Item added: 3rd August 2009
DTT progress on track
The Czech public networks transition to DTT broadcasting is proceeding according to plan reports Broadband TV News.
The web based news sheet attributes these comments quoted in HN to Pavel Hanus who is in charge of the process. The report adds that by the end of September Multiplex 1, which is allocated to public TV, will reach 75% of the Czech Republic increasing to 93% by the end of the year.
The Czech Republic currently has four multiplexes and is converting to DTT on a region-by-region basis. The process should be completed by the 30th June 2012.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 24th July 2009
New service on DTT platform
The commercial broadcaster TV Prima has launched a new DTT services called R1 aimed at female viewers, reports Broadband TV News.
The new service is available on Multiplex 2, which is operated by Ceske Radiokomunikace (CRa).
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 22nd June 2009
DTT coverage milestone reached
Coverage of the first Czech DTT multiplex, operated by public service broadcaster CT, will reach 75% of the population by the 31st August. Currently the coverage stands at 52% and to increase its reach, the analogue terrestrial service of CT2 will be switched off at two transmission sites, Ještěd and Černá. The Černá transmitter will be switched of first on the 31st July followed by Ještěd, which goes offline as the new digital transmitters are switched on.
At the moment three more DTT multiplexes are on air, but their coverage is not as great as for multiplex 1.
Most of the multiplexes use MPEG-2 video compression apart from one operated by telecom operator O2 which uses MPEG-4 (H.264, AVC).
Source: Parabola.cz
Item added: 8th June 2009
DTT in Prague now at 48%
According to the latest research from the National Coordination Group for Digital Broadcasting, published by HN, 48% of households rely on the DTT platform, 21% use digital cable, and 19% rely on satellite.
Analogue switch-off in the Czech Republic is planned for completion by the 11th November 2011.
Main source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 25th May 2009
Digital penetration over 50%
Attributed to data produced by STEM/MARK for Mediaresearch, Broadband TV News reports that 51.9% of the Czech population receive their TV services via DVB-T, DVB-S, DVB-C, IPTV or TV over the internet as of this January, up from 28.6% in January 2008.
DVB-T had the most significant growth up from 22% to 27.1% during the period from November to January.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 7th April 2009
Prague is digital city
Digital TV is watched by 73% of Prague’s population according to a survey from HN a representative National Coordination Group for digital broadcasting.
A further 13% plan to switch when the analogue transmissions are switched off on the 30th April and 11% have yet to decide whilst 3% are not planning to switch.
Details from the survey add that 47% of Prague’s population receive DTT, 22% use cable, 11% satellite and 3% IPTV.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 7th April 2009
DTT services in the Czech Republic
The latest Web Letter from Digitag gives an in depth view of the current DTT situation in Czech Republic and can be accessed by clicking on the following source link.
Source: Digitag March 2009 Web Letter
Item added: 7th April 2009
Over 500 channels available on DTT platforms in Europe
Recent data from the MAVISE TV database, developed for the DG Communication of the European Commission by the European Audiovisual Observatory, shows the continued expansion of television channels in the European (EU 27 + Croatia and Turkey) television market. More than 200 new TV channels were launched in 2008. There are now a total of 5587 channels (plus 412 non-European channels) available in the 29 countries.
Digital terrestrial television (DTT) has experienced significant developments in the last year.
Six of the 29 countries included in the MAVISE database have already ceased analogue terrestrial transmission.
France, Italy, Spain and the UK (four markets with large use of terrestrial television) have reached very high levels of DTT penetration in households and two of these have started regional switch-off of the analogue signals
The market will see more rapid development this year with the expected launch of new services in Slovenia, Denmark, Portugal, Ireland, Poland, Greece, and Slovakia. Full article at: EAO press release
Item added: 7th April 2009
DTT coverage increases
Public Broadcaster CT’s DTT signal now reaches 61.5% of the population, according to a study produced by the Czech Telecom Office (CTU).
In addition TV Nova, Prima TV and Barrandov reach 53%.
Next month Prague will become the first major part of the country to go all-digital.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 23rd March 2009
Czech Republic reviews Digital Dividend
The Czech Telecom Office (CTU) has opened the second round of a consultation process on the utilisation of the Czech Republic’s digital dividend, reports Broadband TV News.
This latest consultation will look at innovations and new services in the 470-862 MHz band.
A workshop entitled the transition to digital TV broadcasting and the digital dividend to be held in Prague on the 18th and 19th March will conclude the consultation.A further third round of consultations in the autumn will look at the digital switchover and especially the possible deployment of DVB-T2 and HD services.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 9th February 2009
DTT coverage grows
Figures from Czech Telecom Office (CTU) published by Digizone show that the fourth digital Multiplex reaches 27.6% of the population. The service operated by Telco Telefónica O2 hasn’t officially launched services and at present is only providing test transmissions. The transmissions are both MHP services and HD broadcasts of CT1 and TV Nova.
Coverage figures for the other multiplexes were also released. Multiplex 1 reached 58.3% of the population, Multiplexes 2 52.1%and Multiplex 3, 45.7%.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 12th January 2009
Fifth multiplex for Mobile TV
Pavel Dvorak, the president of the Czech Telecom Office (CTU), said during a recent meeting with Digizone that the Czech Republic is likely to allocate a future fifth multiplex to mobile TV and broadband services, reports Broadband TV News
Further talks on the subject will take place in January and a workshop will be held in March to clarify the CTU’s opinions.
Dvorak emphasised the CTU’s stance of technological neutrality for what will be the fifth multiplex
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 22nd December 2008
DTT coverage reaches 58%
DTT coverage reached 58.1% of the population by the 15th December according to Parabola.
This followed the switch off of analogue services in Susice-Svatobor and Chomutov-Jedlová and the switch on of replacement digital transmitters. Now DTT coverage reaches 52.3% of the area of the Czech Republic and 58.1% of the population.
ASO is set for October 2011.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 16th December 2008
Nova Cinema launch date announced
The Czech movie channel Nova Cinema will be launched on the DTT platform on the 15th December.
The launch was made possible by the recent issue of a DTT licence by the Czech Radio and TV Council (RTTV).
Nova Cinema is currently available in 27% of Czech homes via cable and DTH and this figure should rise to 50% when it is launched on the DTT platform, increasing to 65% of homes by the end of 2009.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 9th December 2008
Opposition for free HDTV
Zdenek Duspiva, the head of the body overseeing the country’s transition to digital broadcasting is quoted by Digizone as saying that throughout the world and especially in Western Europe channels in HD format are invariably paid for .
He used this statement to justify his assertion that HD channels should not be offered free of charge in the Czech Republic, during a speech at the Teleinformatika conference in Prague, reports Broadband TV News.
The Czech public broadcaster CT began HD trials last year and plans to offer regular HD transmissions from 2009. Its HD offer will, at least initially, be delivered by cable, satellite and IPTV.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 1st December 2008
Nova Cinema launched by CET21
As mentioned in September, Nova Cinema was planned for launch on the DTT platform utilising the compensatory licence awarded to CET 21.
CET 21 has now applied for a licence to launch Nova Cinema on the DTT platform The service is already broadcast on cable and satellite platforms.
CET 21 has received two licences for the DTT platform one of which is reserved for TV Nova and the other, planned for use for Nova Cinema, is a compensatory licence made available for relinquishing its analogue TV licence which was still valid until 2016.
Main source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 17th November 2008
Czech Television’s DTT multiplex
Public service broadcaster Czech Television (CT) is rolling out its DTT Multiplex in Prague, Chleb, Usti nad Labem, Brno and Ostrava. The multiplex will provide the four CT programme services, CT1, CT2, CT3 and CT4, making them available to 60% of the population. The spectrum space for the multiplex has been made available by the switch off of the analogue channel CT2 on the 31st October.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 3rd November 2008
TV Barandov launch date set
TV Barrandov has signed an agreement with the network operator Cesky Radiokomunikace for the carriage of its DTT service and will launch in January 2009 on Multiplex 2.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 27th October 2008
More DTT available
The National public broadcaster CT has switched on DTT transmitters in Prague-Cukrak and Ceske Budejovice-Klet according to Broadband TV News which attributes the report to Parabola.
The new four-channel service is being transmitted on the same channel reserved for the analogue version of its second national channel CT2. The digital services being broadcast are CT1, CT2, CT4 Sport and CT24 as well as the public broadcast CRO’s radio channels.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 6th October 2008
Nova Cinema on DTT
The Czech film channel Nova Cinema is to start broadcasting on the DTT platform within the next six months, reports Broadband TV News.
To do so it will utilise a ‘compensatory’ licence awarded to CET 21, TV Nova’s licence holder, by the Czech Radio and TV Council (RRTV) this August.
ATO-Mediaresearch estimates that Nova Cinema’s audience is 15.36% of all Czech viewers and will increase significantly once the service becomes available on the DTT channel.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 23rd September 2008
Ocko seeks digital licence
The Czech music channel Ocko plans to apply for a ‘compensatory’ digital TV licence at the beginning of 2009.
Jiri Balvin the head of Ocko is reported as saying that by law the channel is entitled to such a licence and that he now wants to ‘send a signal to the Czech media’ that Ocko is ‘ready technically and financially to meet the requirements’
Ocko is watched in the Czech Republic by 1.5 million viewers accessing the service via cable, DTH and IPTV.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 23rd September 2008
TV Nova and Prima TV cooperate on switch to digital
Prima TV and Nova TV which operate commercial services on the analogue TV network have agreed to cooperate on digital switchover.
Three regions have already switched to DTT transmission bringing digital services to half the population and four multiplexes should be available countrywide by 2012.
Both the analogue licences owned by the companies run until 2017/2018 and their agreement to switch to digital services will see them handing these licences back early in exchange for digital only licences.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 22nd August 2008
Analogue Switch Off begins
Public service broadcaster Czech Television (CT) has switched of its analogue channel CT2 in the city of Plzen (Pilsen), reports Broadband TV News. Plzen is located near the German border.
Czech Television together with national transmission company Ceske Radiokomunikace (Cra) has also launched a temporary multiplex covering the West Bohemia region. The multiplex is expected to become permanent when CT and CRa sign an agreement during August.
Analogue switch of is planned for completion in most of the country by the 11th November 2011 followed by the regions of Zlinska and Jesenicka in June 2012.
At present one multiplex provides official DTT services to approximately 40% of the population.
Main source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 4th August 2008
Barrandov launch date announced
Czech digital terrestrial channel Barrandov TV is now set to launch on the 11th January 2009 following a series of delays.
Barrandov TV was one of the six TV channels awarded a “compensatory” licence recently, following a long drawn out dispute over an initial licence award in 2006.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 8th July 2008
DTT tender stalled
Czech public broadcaster CT has withdrawn its open tender for the set up of an additional DTT multiplex. The new multiplex would have been the third of a planned four to become available in the country. Two are already in operation.
According to Broadband TV, local reports say that the decision was made by CT’s general director Jiri Janecek following the recommendations of a committee that evaluated bids from three parties – Bohemia Royal, Ceske Radiokomunikace (CRa) and Slovakia’s TRI R, recently renamed Towercom.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 8th July 2008
Digital TV market expanding
Digital TV services are watched by 24.1% of Czech homes according to research data published by Mediasearch covering the period up to and including Q1 2008.
DVB-S satellite services are watched by 11.8% compared with 4.2% a year earlier. During the same period DTT viewers increased from 4.2% to 19.2% of homes.
DTT is now available in most of the largest population areas.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 10th June 2008
DVB-T2 and MPEG-4 for HD on DTT
The broadcast network operator Ceske Radiokomunikace (CRa) has announced plans to switch to the DVB-T2 specification in 2013, at a meeting with journalists on the 28th May.
Director for the digital transition Levinsky Kamil said that the DVB-T2 format would be used together with MPEG-4 compression to broadcast an HD TV service.
He went on to say that Ceske Radiokomunikace was considering the launch of a pilot using the new technologies in 2010 either in Prague or Brno.
Source: DigiZone.cz
Item added: 2nd June 2008
DVB-H tender possible
Broadband TV News reports that a tender for a DVB-H licence could be issued this summer and that both T-Mobile and Télefonica O2 have expressed interest.
T-Mobile has already undertaken several successful DVB-H mobile TV trials.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 12th May 2008
2011 Analogue switch Off confirmed
The digital switchover plan published by the CTU (Cesky Telekomunikacni) has been approved by the Czech government. Although the plan calls for switchover by November 11th 2011, two regions, Zlínska and Jesenicka will continue analogue transmissions until June 2012. Commercial broadcast licences are still valid until 2016/17 and for the switchover is voluntary. To make an earlier switchover more attractive broadcasters will be offered a DTT broadcasting licence in compensation.
Source: CTU website
Item added: 6th May 2008
More channels for Brno
Czech national broadcaster Prima TV plans to launch its DTT service in Brno during the second half of May
These services will be made available on the multiplex run by the Czech Digital Group.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 6th May 2008
Czech Z1 to launch on DTT platform
The Broadcast Council RRTV has restored the previously withdrawn DTT licence to the Czech channel Z1.
Z1 is expected to launch in the next two months with news and current affairs programming in competition with public broadcaster CT24.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 15th April 2008
Analogue Switch Off date changed
The Czech Republic has put back its analogue switch off date until November 11, 2011. According to local reports, the move was announced in a final version of the switchover plan (TPP), approved by the country’s Telecom Office (CTU). The Czech Republic has already begun the transition to digital broadcasting, with the first region to switch off its analogue signals being Domazlice in August last year.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 10th March 2008
Digital take-up grows
According to Mediaresearch, 12% of households in the Czech Republic were receiving digital TV services by the end of 2007. Half (6%) of these were doing so by watching DTT channels.
The Czech Republic introduced DTT services in late 2005 and coverage has now reached 40% of the population.
The Czech telecommunications Office is expected to publish its plan for digital switchover by the end of March.
Main source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 10th March 2008
DTT licences confirmed
TV Barrandov and EDB the operator of Regionálni Televizni Agentury (RTA) have had their DTT licences confirmed by the country’s Broadcasting council RRTV.
They both have 360 days to launch a new service but it is expected that TV Barrandov will be ready to go much sooner than that.
TV Barrandov and RTA are two of six companies awarded digital TV licences in April 2006 which were subsequently withdrawn following protests from TV Nova and others.
They are now entitled to compensatory licences, according to legislation that came into effect at the beginning of this year.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 4th March 2008
Update on DTT in the Czech Republic
The digital terrestrial television platform in the Czech Republic recently received a boost following the new amendments, which have been added to the existing media legislative framework, according to a recent Web letter from Digitag.
The February 2008 Web Letter’s main feature is a comprehensive review of the current situation with DTT, in Czech Republic and the full letter can be accessed by clicking on the following source link.
Source: Digitag Feb08 Web Letter
Item added: 19th February 2008
DVB-H trial to use OMA BCAST Smart Card Profile
T-Mobile CZ, has selected Nagravision’s OMA BCAST Smart Card Profile system for its forthcoming DVB-H trial. The trial will evaluate and certify the end-to-end performance of handsets, SIM cards and the headend in a close to real life environment before the full commercial service launch.
The OMA BCAST Smart Card Profile, was developed by the Open Mobile Alliance (OMA) as a protection scheme for mobile television.
Source: Nagravision
Item added: 19th February 2008
Digital decision expected shortly
TV Barrandov is expected to be the first digital TV channel in the Czech Republic to have its licence confirmed by the RRTV, reports Broadband TV News. The web log cites local reports as saying that RRTV (Radio and TV council) was given 60 days to make a decision after receiving applications for ‘compensatory’ licences from Barrandov and five other companies. If the decision is positive they will have 360 days to launch a service.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 5th February 2008.
Only 85% coverage at Switch-over
Jane Hannahovou, head of network operator CRa, has warned that DTT coverage will only be 85% at the proposed analogue switch-off date in October 2010. Hannahovou went on to say that up to 1.5 million people, many in five or six large towns including Karlovy, Vary, Most and Liberec, might not have coverage by then.
Coverage is expected to reach 95% of the population in 2011, with full coverage by 2012.
Cra, the Czech Digital Group (CDG) and Telefónica O2 are the designated multiplex operators in the Czech republic.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 5th February 2008
CDG to expand DTT coverage
The Czech Digital Group (CDG) has announced plans to extend the coverage of its multiplex, designated B, beyond Prague to Brno and Ostrava. The CDG also said that Pay-TV channels on the DTT platform are likely to be introduced on DTT no sooner than 2011.
The Czech Republic has two other multiplexes, one multiplex (A) operated by Radiokomunikace and the other multiplex (C) (still in the experimental phase), operated by Telefónica O2.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: January 8th, 2008
Media Law amendments approved
Czech president Vaclav Klaus has approved amendments to the media law, which will pave the way for the countries transition from analogue to digital television.
The amendments which come into effect at the beginning of 2008 see that all parties currently holding an analogue licence will be awarded with one allowing digital transmission. The award is dependant on them meeting specific criteria. The six companies, which had their digital licences withdrawn last year, will be issued with ‘compensatory’ licences.
The analogue switch off, target date, is now set as October the 10th, 2010.
Main source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 27th November 2007
TV Nova on DTT platform in North Bohemia
TV Nova has begun DTT broadcasts from Buková hora in North Bohemia.
Its signals are being carried on the Radiokomunikace multiplex, which is also distributing the public broadcaster CT’s four channels (CT1, CT2, CT24 and CT4 Sport), along with several radio stations.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 7th November 2007
Analogue Switch Off date may be delayed
Broadband TV News reports that the Czech Republic may delay its Analogue Switch Off date until November 2011. Pavel Dvorak, the head of the Czech Telecom Office (CTU), is understood to be in favour of the delay, believing that the existing 2010 deadline is unrealistic.
Despite the proposed delay the digital transition is continuing and most recently with Doamazlice, near the German border, which made the change to digital only during the summer.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 23rd October 2007
Licence restoration brings launch date worry
Jiri Balvin, the head of the Asociace Digitalnich Televizi (ADT), has told the Czech press that he has no idea when the association’s six members will launch digital TV channels. The six operators, Ocko, Febio TV, RTA, Z1, TV Pohoda and TV Barrandov, found out earlier this week that the digital TV licences they were first awarded last year and then withdrawn, will be restored. A condition of the licences is that services must begin within a year once the existing legislation comes into effect on 1st January 2008.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 9th October 2007
DTT coverage grows
Broadband TV News reports that data produced by Mediaresearch indicates that 12.8% of Czech TV homes were able to receive DTT signals by the end of Q2, up from 10% at the end of the previous quarter. The transition to digital broadcasting ramped up last month with analogue transmitters being switched of in the Domazlice region. The switch off will continue in other parts of the country until completed in 2010.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 25th September 2007
Analogue Switch Off begins in Domazlice
On 31st August 2007 analogue television was switched off in Domazlice, located in the south-western part of the Czech Republic.
The two Czech Television analogue channels previously broadcast are now only available on the DTT network.
Analogue switch off for the whole country is planned to take place by 10th October 2010.
Source: Digitag
Czech Television strategy for switch-over to terrestrial digital broadcasting can be downloaded by clicking on: Strategy
Item added: 3rd September 2007
TV Nova helps digital switchover
Leading Czech station TV Nova has announced that it will contribute CZK1.5 million (€53,542) towards the cost of set-top-boxes. The money will help the transition from analogue to digital broadcasting in Domazlice located next to the German border. Domazlice will be the first part of the Czech Republic to go all-digital when it switches of its analogue transmitters at the end of August.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 8th August 2007
Telefónica O2 to launch HD channel
The first HD channel in the Czech republic was planned for launch on July 2nd by Telefónica O2.
The service will be offered to the Telco’s 36,000 IPTV subscribers as well as being made available on its DTT multiplex.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 3rd July 2007
TV Nova extends coverage
TV Nova has announced that it will extend its DTT coverage beyond Prague, Brno, Ostrava and Domazlice on July 1st. The changes will increase the coverage to 48% of the population.
TV Nova is carried on the multiplex operated by transmission company Radiokomunikace, which also has additional, plans for new digital channels some of which will be HD.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 3rd July 2007
Withdrawal of DTT licences cancelled
The Czech High Court has overturned the previous ruling by the Prague Court to withdraw digital TV licences awarded to six companies in April 2006. TV Nova and Prima TV contested the previous award of the licences.The six TV companies, TV Barrandov, Febio TV, TV Poihoda, Z1, Ocko and RTA still have to wait until the existing broadcasting law is amended before their licences are finally restored.
Source: broadbandtvnews
Item added: 21st June 2007
New date for analogue switch off
Domazlice is still set to be the first area to switch of its analogue TV transmitters and begin broadcasting only in the DVB-T digital format. The original date for this to happen has now been changed from the 30th June to the 31st August.
Broadband TV News reports that the Czech Telecom Office (CTU) has agreed the new date.
The complete transition to digital, in the Czech Republic, should be completed by 2010.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 21st May 2007
ADT appeals to the owner of CME
Broadband TV News report that the Czech television Association (ADT) are said to have written an open letter to Ronald Lauder, founder and owner of US investments company CME, asking for support for the digitisation of TV services in the Czech Republic.
CME own TV Nova, which last year successfully campaigned for the withdrawal of digital licenses already awarded to the six members of ADT-TV.
ADT believes that the Czech Republic could have up to 20 digital TV stations by 2009.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 15th May 2007
Czech mobile TV trial results
Richard Stonavsky (T-mobile), speaking at the recent CACC 2007 conference in Prague, released some of the findings of the six week mobile TV trial undertaken by T-mobile and Radiokomunikace late last year. It found that most people watched short programming, news, music and feature films. At least 50% of the participants used interactive applications, with most willing to pay CZK100 (€3.57) a month for the package of channels and twice as much for premium services. The most requested TV channels were the existing terrestrial services. Stonavsky also went on to say that the existing Czech Media Law needs to be amended in order to allow telecom operators to be allowed to distribute programming from other parties via mobile.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 24th April 2007
Analogue switch-off begins as DTT coverage expands
Domazlice will switch of its analogue broadcast services on the 30th June making it the first region in the Czech Republic to do so. The switch-off has been accelerated in this region due to the need to co-ordinate frequencies with Germany. The switchover will also take place soon in Usta nad Labem also because of the need for frequency co-ordination.
DTT signals are already available in Prague, Brno and Ostrava.
The Czech Telecom Office also announced that DTT transmissions will soon start in the towns of Plzen and Pardubice later this year and that HDTV services will not be launched on the DTT platform until adequate free spectrum space is available.
Analogue switch off in the country is planned for completion by October 10th, 2010.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 19th April 2007
Czech monitoring group for DTT transition
Key organisations in the Czech TV industry have joined forces to create a new association known as Digi Monitor.
Brought together by an initiative involving the Czech Telecom Office (CTU) and Czech Association of Competitive Communications (CACC), they include UPC, O2, the Czech Digital Group (CDG), Rohde & Schwarz and country’s three leading broadcasters CT, TV Nova and Prima TV and will monitor the transition from analogue to digital broadcasting. This is being undertaken on a region-by-region basis in the Czech Republic and is due to be completed in 2010.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 13th March 2007
DVB-H and DVB-T news from the Czech Republic
The recent T-Mobile DVB-H trial in Czech Republic produced similar results to trials in other European countries. News and music were the most popular content with CT4 and then Ocko the most watched. Viewers accessed services for an average of 20 minutes each day.
Two hundred and fifty users took part in the Prague trial between the 23rd October and the 5th December.
The Czech Broadcasting Council (RRTV) has also announced that Prima TV is to be allowed to undertake DTT transmissions in other parts of the country. Prima TV already distributes digitally on The Czech Digital Group (CDG) multiplex in Prague.
Source: T-Mobile press release and Broadband TV News
Item added: 13th February 2007
CTU issues DTT deployment plan
Cesky Telekomunikacni Urad (CTU), the Czech communications regulator, has released its plans for DTT deployment in the Czech republic, so that the public consultation process can take place. As well as general details the plan also lists transmission powers for each DTT station as well as the technical parameters to be used. The overall analogue switch-off date is given as 2010.
To see the full details click on the following link: CTU website
Item added: 5th December 2006
Six-week public test of “TV in your pocket”
T-Mobile together with Radiokomunikace has launched a six-week public test of its “TV in your pocket” project, which involves DVB-H technology.
The pilot will take place in the Prague area during a six-week period form October to November 2006 and involve 250 participants. The main object of the pilot is to test the individual elements of the service as well as customers preferences and behaviour prior to the services commercial launch. The signal will be broadcast from Strahov transmitter and received mainly on Motorola phones. Altogether ten programmes will be transmitted, six of which will be free to air and the remaining four are encrypted. To view the encrypted programmes a special T-mobile SIM card will be needed which will allow users access to the programme services, which they have pre-ordered.
Source: T-Mobile
Item added: 26th October 2006
T-Mobile Czech Republic selects Gemalto for DVB-H rollout
Gemalto, a digital security firm, announced today (24th October) that it had been selected by T-Mobile (Czech Republic) to participate in its DVB-H pilot programme. Gemalto provides the operator with secure personal devices in the form of digital rights management card.
The technology will be tested during a two-month trial phase of the project, when T-Mobile subscribers will experiment with mobile TV and associated interactive services. The commercial launch of the DVB-H service is scheduled for 2007 and the exact date will depend on the success of the two-month trial. In the next phase of the pilot programme subscribers will be able to purchase the right to view sporting events and concerts.
Earlier this year T-Mobile Czech Republic participated in a DVB-H roaming project at the Winter Olympics in Torino. Together with Italian operator TIM the service enabled Czech visitors to watch Czech TV on their mobile phones whilst away from home.
Source: Gemalto press release and T-Mobile
Item added: 24th October 2006
Possible delay to DTT launch
The long awaited launch of DTT is likely to be postponed following a ruling by the Prague Municipal Court cancelling the first six DTT licences awarded in April by the Radio and Television Broadcasting Council (RRTV).
The ruling is based on a complaint filed by commercial broadcaster TV Nova which failed to receive a DTT licence in April. It claimed that RRTV unlawfully changed the license criteria during the tender process.
The dispute may delay the launch of DTT previously planned for the end of 2006.
Source: Prague Post
Item added: 18th September 2006
October 2010 date for analogue switch-off
The Czech Communications Authority (CTU) has unveiled its roadmap for digital switchover with 10th October 2010 being set as the date for analogue switch over to be completed.
The announcement has caused tension between the traditional commercial broadcasters on the analogue platform (TV Prima and TV Nova) and new broadcasters who have been granted licenses to transmit on the DTT platform.
Both TV Prima and TV Nova think that the 2010 date is too soon whilst the other broadcasters granted DTT licences think that the date should be brought forward.
Broadcasters on the DTT platform expect that analogue switch-off will provide a level playing field for all broadcasters whilst traditional broadcasters say that the amount of advertising revenue available will not be able to sustain a free to view platform. Both TV Prima and TV Nova have also been allocated licenses for the DTT platform.
Main source: Digitag
Quoted source: Prague Post
Item added: 15th August 2006
Analogue Switch-Off date to be decided in September
The Czech Telecommunications Office (CTU) will make a final decision on the date for analogue switch-off in September.
The broadcasters Czech TV and TV Nova as well as the network operator Radiokomunikace are calling for analogue switch-off to take place on 11 November 2011.
Quoted source: Radio Netherlands Media Network Weblog
Actual source: Digitag
Item added: 25th July 2006
New association formed to promote DTT
Six new digital TV stations, which gained broadcasting licences from the Council for Radio and TV Broadcasting in early April have formed a new association. The association called ADT aim’s to support the launch of digital broadcasting and to protect the rights and interests of its members. The association would also like to accelerate the switch from analogue to digital TV broadcasting.
As a condition of the licence the six new stations have 360 days to start activities. The Czech Republic will stop analogue broadcasting in 2012 in line with other EU countries.
Source: Prague Daily Monitor
Item added: 4th July 2006
Chamber of Deputies approve changes to media law
On the 25th April 2006 the Chamber of Deputies finally approved amendments to the media law which set the legal framework for the introduction of digital broadcasting in the Czech republic.
Voted by 122 out of the 171 deputies, the law still has to be signed by the president. The law lays down rules for the introduction of digitisation which is already underway in the Czech Republic and now ensures that commercial analogue only stations like TV Nova and Prima TV will get digital licences.
Apart from the media law, two more policy documents cover the introduction of digitisation. The first is the Technical Plan for Transition, which is to be finalised by the Czech Telecommunications Office (CTU) before the end of the year and clarifies the technical conditions of transitions to digital broadcasting. The other document is the government’s Concept for the Development of Digital Broadcasting in the Czech Republic, which sets deadlines for the scrapping of the analogue signal and announces plans for informational campaigns supporting the introduction of digitisation.
Source: Czech Business weekly
Item added: 4th May 2006
More DTT licences allocated
The Council for Radio and Television Broadcasting (RRTV) has allocated six DTT licences to commercial broadcasters. The licences have been awarded to Z1, TV Pohoda, Regionální televizni agentura (RTA), Febio TV, TV Barrandov and Óaka. Over 30 applicants with 40 projects had applied for the licences.
Viewers will be able to access a news services (Z1), a regional service (RTA), a children's service (TV Pohoda), a music service (Óaka) and two generalist services (Febio TV and TV Barrandov).
The DTT licence holders are expected to begin broadcasting services within the next 360 days and it is likely that services will begin by the end of the year. The licences are valid for a period of 12 years.
Multiplex B, operated by the Czech Digital Group, will run the services of Z1, TV Pohoda and RTA while Multiplex C, operated by Ceský Telecom, will run the services of Febio TV, TV Barrandov and Óaka.
Source: Digitag
Item added: 12th April 2006
ČESKÝ TELECOM Acquires another license for DTT
ČESKÝ TELECOM, a.s., has acquired a license for the short-term experimental transmission of digital television (DVB-T) through its subsidiary company OMNICOM Praha, spol. s.r.o. In the scope of the pilot transmission, the operator will offer programs from the Óčko music station and TOP TV, it will also enable viewers to tune into Brno television station TVb 1.
“We received a 60-day license for experimental transmitting, which will begin as of today, March 6, 2006. This will last until the launch of regular digital broadcasting on the basis of a license regulation in multiplex C,” stated Miroslav Hořejší, Deputy Executive Manager, OMNICOM.
Michal Žilka, Executive Director of Content Services and Business Development for ČESKÝ TELECOM, added: “While we are waiting for the license for regular commercial broadcasting in the DVB-T system we would like to be active by means of the pilot transmission. We would also like to test the quality of the transmission of the digital signal and of interactive applications, including those that have been newly prepared.”
Source: Cesky telecom press release
Item added: 13th March 2006
Czech Republic - DTT coverage extended
The coverage of DTT services in the Czech Republic has been extended to 35% of the population since the 9th February and DTT services are now available in the cities of Brno and Ostrava.
DTT services were first launched in Prague on 21 October 2005. Viewers can access three television programme services made available by Czech Television which include the generalist services CT1 and CT2 as well as its continuous news service CT24.
To coincide with the start of the Winter Olympic Games, Czech Television has launched a new digital service, CT4 SPORT, dedicated to sports coverage. This service is available on the DTT platform as of 10 February
Source: Digitag and Czech TV
Item added: 13th February 2006
Olympics could be a boon to Digital Television
Despite DTT services being launched in October the Chamber of Deputies again failed to agree on the new media law that should provide a firm basis for digital programming in Czechoslovakia.
The meeting was held on January the 26th and further meetings are to be held in February. Despite the lack of a firm commitment it is estimated that 20,000 set top boxes equipped to receive the new services have already been sold. Retailers are also experiencing increased interest from customers who are looking for better pictures of the Winter Olympics. This is no doubt helped by the launch of the new Czech sports channel CT4 on February 9th, the eve of the Olympics.
At present a date for the full launch of nation-wide DTT has not been decided.
Source: The Prague Post
Item added: 7th February 2006
Czech DTT might use MPEG-4 for its new service
According to a recent web article in Broadband TV News (Central and East Europe) Czech Telecom is considering the use of MPEG-4 on its soon to be launched DTT service.
In Prague and the surrounding area it is reported that 8 DTT channels are already available on a trial service using MPEG-2. These channels are provided in two multiplexes, one from the Czech Digital Group (CDG) and the other from Ceska Radiokomunikace (CRa).
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 23rd January 2006
Digital Broadcasting Launched
Digital TV broadcasting was launched in the Czech Republic on the 21st October 2005.
Up to 2 million people in the Prague area can now receive the digital TV signals of Czech Television (CTV) channels CT1, CT2 and CT24, as well as that of TV Nova, which was invited by CTV to be the first commercial digital network in the country.
The service coverage will be extended to Brno and then to Ostrava next spring according to the CTV technical director Rudolf Pop.
Eventually six digital television multiplexes, providing more than 24 channels, will cover the whole country. Analogue transmissions are expected to be switched-off by or before the end of 2012.
Market analysts estimate that 20,000 set-top boxes have already been sold this year.
Source: The Prague Post
Item added: 21st November 2005.
DVB-H in the Czech republic
T-Mobile (Czech Republic) has been testing mobile television at the INVEX trade fair in Brno. The DVB-H transmission equipment was provided by Siemens communications and the mobile pocket televisions by Benq. As well as looking at television visitors to the trade show are also able to use interactive services to download songs and ringtones.
Source: DMeurope
Item added: 27th October 2005
Czech Republic - Ready for DTT launch
Official DTT services were planned for launch launch on Friday, 21 October according to Digitag.
One multiplex will provide DTT services in Prague and the surrounding area.
Czech Television will provide three television service programmes which include generalist services CT1 and CT2 as well as its continuous news service CT24. Commercial broadcaster Novy will also provide its services. It is expected that Czech Television will launch a sports service on the DTT platform next year .
Service will be available free-to-air and use the MPEG-2 video compression standard.
Coverage will be extended to Brno and Ostrava next year. It is expected that the multiplex will eventually provide services to 70% of all households in two years' time.
Source: Digitag (Czech Television)
Item added: 20th October 2005
Previous
Cesky Telecom begins experimental DTT broadcasts
Czech telco Cesky Telecom, a subsidiary of Spanish telco Telefonica, has begun an experimental broadcast of TV Ocko in its DVB-T multiplex. The broadcasts are licensed to cover the Prague and Brno areas and the objective of the trial is to find out and correct any problems that may occur with the introduction of the DVB-T digital broadcast system. The quality of the transmissions will be tested along with interactive multimedia applications.
Source: DM europe
Item added: 18th October 2005
DTT services get closer
Czech Television has asked the Broadcasting Council (RRTV) for permission to start DTT transmissions next month according to Broadband TV News, Central Europe.
If the request is granted the broadcaster will start distributing its services CT1, CT2 and possibly, news based, CT24 in the first half of 2006.
Coverage will be provided to Prague and the surrounding area first and then increased to cover the cities of Brno and Ostrava. Coverage is expected to be 35% of the population in 2006.
Three multiplexes are expected to be deployed in the Czech Republic, one for Czech Television, operated by the television company Cra, reaching 75% of the population at launch and 97% of the population eventually. Czech Television plans to launch two more multiplexes once the DTT platform is fully operational.
Source: Broadband TV Sept. 16th 2005
Item added: 19th September 2005
Experimental DTT service running in Prague
It is reported that three DVB-T transmitters are running in the Prague area.
Free to air content which includes a 24 hour news service from Czech TV (the Public Service Broadcaster) is being broadcast. Although the service is experimental it is estimated that over 50,000 DTT receivers have been sold mostly obtained from the German and Italian markets.
The current price for an STB in Prague is said to be €100.
Source: DVB and digitv.cz
Item added: 13th September 2005
Three DTT Licences granted
The Czech Telecommunications Office (CTU) has granted three DVB-T digital television broadcasting licences, the CTU announced on its web site, according to the Interfax news agency. The licences have been awarded to state-owned Cesky Telecom, the number two firm on the telecommunications market Ceske radiokomunikace (CRa) and the Czech Digital Group company.
The companies, which have been testing the services since 2000, say they will be ready to start digital TV broadcasting in several months. In the initial phase, CRa will cover Prague, Brno and Ostrava. CT will cover Prague, Brno, Ceske Budejovice, Plzen, Karlovy Vary, Usti nad Labem. Liberec, Hradec Kralove, Pardubice and Olomouc. Previously four CDG and five Cra channels where on air from two transmitters covering 50km around Prague. Radio channels and MHP applications were also tested during the trial period.
Experts estimate that traditional analogue broadcasting in the Czech Republic could wind down in 2010-2012.
In September 2004 Sophia Digital announced that it was to deliver its Multimedia Home Platform (MHP) service to Cesky Telecom. The order includes a solution for MHP Service Management and a platform for creating browser-based MHP services such as super-teletext, shopping, e-mail and voting. Additionally Sophia Digital is to deliver Cesky an electronic programme guide (EPG) platform, games and an interactive news ticker service. Source http://www.dmeurope.com
The information provided comes from many sources and whilst DVB believe it to be correct we cannot guarantee its accuracy.
If you have more up to date information or corrections please send them to dvb@dvb.org
Last page update: 19th December 2011, Barry Tew
