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.
