Terrestrial digital TV launched in Crimea
Terrestrial digital TV services have been launched in autonomous region of Crimea, with services provided using 17 DTT transmitters in the region, BizLigaNet reported. The regional broadcasting company Crimea launched the DTT signal. This will be followed by the launch of TV programmes from the Ukrainian national broadcasters on the 1st January.
Source: Telecompaper
Item added: 19th December 2011
Ukraine to allocate UAH 350 mln for terrestrial digital TV
Ukrainian prime minister Nikolay Azarov said the government will allocate UAH 350 million (€32 million) for the launch of terrestrial digital-TV, BizLigaNet reported. Ukraine plans to switch to DVB-T2 digital terrestrial TV by 2015. Analogue switch off will begin in 2013.
Source: Telecompaper
Item added: 14th November 2011
DTT award challenge progresses
The legal actions brought about by failed bidders in Ukraine’s DTT tender are to be considered in a single case by the Kiev Administrative Court.
This follows a decision by a panel of judges in response to an application from the defendant, the National Council on Radio and Television according to local reports.
The actions are by TVi, Info 24, TVi Kultura, Malyatko TV and TRK Era.
Although the case in Kiev pertains to licence awards on four national DTT multiplexes, a separate case on regional DTT licences is also being heard in the court.
Cases against the national awards are also being heard in Donetsk and Crimea.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 6th November 2011
Zeonbud to encode DTT
The decision to encode the Ukrainian DTT service provided by Zeonbud has come in for strong criticism.
Quoted by Telekritika and Mediasat, Valentin Koval, the general manager of the channels M1 and M2 Estrada, said the move would encourage rather than prevent piracy.
Mediasat’s Alexander Gluschenko agreed, adding that there is not one conditional access system that cannot be cracked.
He also refuted the idea that encoding would protect the market from low-quality equipment.
It is believed that the encoding could lead to at least some of the channels on the Zeonbud platform being offered on a paid basis.
The type conditional access system likely to be used has not been disclosed.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 24th October 2011
Zeonbud launches services with DVB-T2
The DTT platform operator Zeonbud has launched its DTT services using the DVB-T2 standard and has become the first Eastern European DTT platform to make use of DVB T2
The four multiplexes launched offer 20 free-to-air channels, including the country's major stations: 1+1, TET, Pershyi Natsionalnyi and Ukraina.
In total, the National Broadcasting Council awarded licences for 28 channels of which eight are allowed to broadcast in HD (HD channels have not yet been launched). By the end of October 2011 the operator is planning to cover 95% of the country's population with its DTT network, broadcasting from 150 transmitters (166 planned).
Already, the government has allocated UAH 350 million (€32 million) in its budget for 2012 to be used towards the purchase of DTT receivers for low-income families.
Source: Screen Digest
Item added: 17th October 2011
Rethink, regional DTT
Ukraine’s National Council Radio and TV Broadcasting (NTVCU) has decided to retender a total of 162 regional DTT frequencies according to reports attributed to Mediaset.
The NTVCU originally received 59 applications for 28 slots on four national multiplexes and 1,040 for 668 on a regional multiplex.
However, its licence awards have proved to be highly controversial.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 13th September 2011
Ukraine announces DTT winners
Ukraine’s National Council for Television and Radio Broadcasting (NTVCU) has chosen the winners of the tender for the 28 channels that will be carried on the country’s first four DTT multiplexes, reports Broadband TV News.
According to Interfax-Ukraine, they include TRK (ICTV), Novy Channel, Teleodyn (M-1, M-2), Studio 1+1, Tet TV company, Kino-TV and the private joint stock company International Media Center (STB).
Among the others are K-2, Ukrainian Independent TV Corporation (Inter), NVM TRK (Fifth Channel), NKTU (First National Channel), Tonis, Mega, Muzyka TV, Information Service TV Studio (NTN Channel) and Musical Television (MTV Ukraine).
TRK Ukraina secured licences for all three of its channels (Ukraina, Kinotochka and NLO-TV), while the Russian broadcaster ORT failed in its bid to land a licence for a localised version of its service.
The NTVCU received a total of 59 bids from 54 companies for carriage on the multiplexes (MX-1, MX-2, MX-3 and MX-5), which will be operated by Zeonbud.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 22nd August 2011
Inter Group applies for DTT slots
The media group Inter has submitted applications for 12 television programme slots on the DTT platform according to Broadband TV News.
Television services proposed by Inter include News TV, Sport TV, Melodrama, Net Income as well as its existing services Inter, K1, K2, NTN, Mega, Inter-Film, Enter and MTV Ukraine.
Zeonbud plans to launch its DTT service in September and the four multiplexes will eventually distribute 28 channels nationally and four on a regional basis.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 24th July 2011
DTT deadline slips
The National Council for TV and Radio Broadcasting in Ukraine (NTVCU) has put back the deadline for bids for DTT slots on the country’s four new multiplexes until the 22nd July.
The remaining schedule is expected to be unchanged with the evaluation of tenders still taking place in early August.
Zeonbud, the operator of the four multiplexes mentioned (MX-1, MX-2, MX-3 and MX-5), is expected to start rolling out DTT services this autumn.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 11th July 2011
Ukraine and Russia coordinate use of DVB-T frequencies
Ukraine and Russia have coordinated frequency allocations for over 750 DVB-T stations for both countries, according to the Ukrainian National Centre for Frequencies. Ukraine previously coordinated its DVB-T frequency allocations with Slovakia and Poland during the month of May, reports Ukrnovosti.ru.
Source: Telecompaper
Item added: 27th June 2011
Local services sign for Zeonbud
The DTT multiplex operator Zeonbud has agreed to offer the services of the local media group StarLightMedia on its platform.
These services include ICTV, STB, Novy Kanal and M1 and are expected to launch by the end of the year.
Although the capacity of Zeonbud’s 4 multiplexes is 28 channels, this is already oversubscribed with applications for 38 slots having already been received.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 20th June 2011
Local DTT programming considered
AKTR and ATV report that the National Council on Television and Radio Broadcasting has held a meeting in the city of Odessa to discuss the issue of a reduction in regional programming if space is to be made for local DTT broadcasting..
According to the report from Broadband TV News the regulator is proposing that all regions should be served by four local TV stations and will invite applications for licences from the 20th May.
One proposal that may be considered is that cities like Odessa would be served by its own local DTT multiplex.
In Odessa there are currently 11 Free to Air (FTA) and 17 cable channels available.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 23rd May 2011
DTT slots on offer
Ukraine’s National Council on Television and Radio (NTVCU) has announced a competition for broadcasting on four of the country’s six planned DTT multiplexes.
Twenty eight channels are on offer on the MX-1, MX-2, MX-3 and MX-5 multiplexes.
Ten of these channels will be for SD or HD services and 18 for SD channels.
Recently the platform operator Zeonbud chose the DVB-T2 and MPEG-4 standards for the multiplexes which could be fully up and running by the end of the year.
The progress of the MX-4 and MX-6 multiplexes whose licences are held by UDTVN and Ether respectively have still to be announced.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 18th April 2011
NTVCU considers pay-DTT services
The National Council for TV and Radio Broadcasting (NTVCU) is considering making licences available for the provision of pay-DTT services. This is because the advertising market in the Ukraine is small which may mean that the free-to-air model currently being considered is not sustainable.
The NTVCU is also preparing plans for the provision of DTT receivers for low-income households. These households would be eligible to purchase receivers at UAH 300 (€26).
It is expected that 8 million households will qualify for the programme and that a total of 12 million receivers will be sold. In addition, a further 1.5 million households will be given receivers free of charge.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 4th April 2011
Zeonbud to use DVB-T2
The Ukraine DTT multiplex operator Zeonbud has chosen the DVB-T2 digital broadcasting standard for its 4 multiplexes according to Mediasat.
The report says that the company took the decision last week following an amendment to its licence conditions, earlier this month, which now allow it to choose the broadcasting format.
Zeonbud was awarded licences to operate four multiplexes (MX-1, MX-2, MX-3 an MX-5) in late 2011 and expects them to be operational by the end of the year, with ASO being possible in 2013.
While Zeonbud will use DVB-T2 on its four multiplexes two of the countries six multiplexes are still allocated for DVB-T and DVB-H services.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 28th March 2012
ASO possible in 2013
Ukraine could be ready to complete ASO in 2013, according to Zeonbud, reports Broadband TV News.
Zeonbud is expected to invest around $150 million (€109 million) on DTT infrastructure, with its four multiplexes (MX-1, MX-2, MX-3 and MX-5) likely to be operational by the end of this year.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 28th February 2011
NTVCU issues licence warning
The National Council for TV and Radio Broadcasting of Ukraine (NTVCU) has warned UDTVN that it must launch its DTT services or risk losing its DTT licence, reports Broadband TV News.
UDTVN holds the licence to operate one national multiplex, MUX-4.
Zeonbud was recently awarded a licence to operate 4 multiplexes (MUX-1, MUX-2, MUX-3, MUX-5) while Ether holds the licence to operate Multiplex 6.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 21st February 2011
Four national DTT multiplexes licensed.
The National Council on Television and Radio Broadcasting has awarded the license for the operation of 4 national DTT multiplexes to a company named Zeonbud.
The four multiplexes (MX-1, MX-2, MX-3 and MX-5) will use the MPEG-4 AVC compression standard to carry at least 32 free-to-air television services.
In February 2010, the Council cancelled all previous DTT licence awards.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 13th December 2010
DVB-T2 trial underway in Odessa
The regional broadcast network operator Odessa RTPC launched a trial using the DVB-T2 standard on 24 June 2010.
The trial services were available in the Odessa region from a single transmitter offering 13 services in standard definition. The DVB-T2 multiplex had a total capacity of 36-40 Mbit/s.
Transmission parameters:
transmitter power 10-20 W
channel band 8 MHz
FFT 32K
guard interval 1/128
modulation QAM-256
code rate 3/4
The reception conditions with different modulation parameters and multiplex capacity will also be tested during the trial.
Source: UDTVN Item thanks to DigiTAG.com
Item added: 26th July 2010
Digital transition in the Ukraine
Although the Ukrainian Government had planned to start DTT services in nine regional centres on the 4th February this was suspended after only four days.
Recent reports however say that DTT may soon be available in the city of Donetsk as early as September if funding permits.
DTT is already available in Kiev were DTT services began around a year ago.
However even though some of the launches have stalled, the production of STB’s in Ukraine is going ahead. The manufacturing company Meridian will have the first devices available this month
ASO in Ukraine is expected to be by 2015.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 15th March 2010
DTT expansion delayed
The previously reported expansion of the DTT service already available in Kiev and Odessa has been delayed and is unlikely to launch until September, reports Broadband TV News. Whether the nine new transmission sites are technically ready for launch is not known.
The delay is thought to be due to the lack of available funding from the government.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 22nd February 2010
DTT coverage expands
The DTT roll-out in the Ukraine has been further extended by the launch of DTT from nine new transmission sites. This has almost doubled the number of viewers able to access DTT from 6 to 11 million. The multiplex operated by UDTVN offers viewers 9-10 free to air services using MPEG-4 (H.264, AVC) coding and HD services are expected to be launched in the summer.
Analogue services continue to offer an alternative choice of 13-15 free to air channels which is a severe obstacle to the take up of the new DTT service.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 8th February 2010
Analogue Switch Off by 2012
The Ukrainian president Viktor Yuschenko is reported to have said that the country must complete the transition to digital broadcasting by 2012. He added that “neighboring Poland, Slovakia, Romania and parts of Russia will have all completed the transition by that date and that there is no choice but for Ukraine to do the same”. The report is attributed to the news agency Ukinform.
The joint hosting of Euro 2012 with Poland is also putting pressure on Ukraine to complete the transition within the next three years.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 14th September 2009
DTT services in Odessa
DVB-T services have been available in the Odessa region since October according to a report on the Digitag website attributed to UDTVN.
Viewers are able to access 9 television programme services from a single multiplex using the MPEG-4 AVC compression format.
In addition, HD/DTT services are expected to begin in March/April in the capital city of Kiev following the allocation of two HD broadcast licenses by the communications regulator NTVCU.
Source: Digitag attributed to UDTVN
Item added: 1st December 2008
DTT in the Ukraine
Details of plans to launch a DTT service in the Ukraine are emerging according to reports from Broadband TV News. Local sources say that, it has already been decided that the country will employ both MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 compression on national multiplexes three and two national respectively. A further two will be allocated to HD and one to DVB-H services. Although the process of channel allocation has already begun, it is widely felt that the planned May 2009 launch date for the service is unrealistic and will be delayed.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 29th January 2008
Ukraine awards DTT licence
Concern of Broadcasting, Radio, Communication and Television better known as RRT Concern, has announced the results of its DTT tender according to Broadband TV News.
Kwant-Efir won the right to operate a Single Frequency Network (SFN) using MPEG-4 covering Kiev and Zhitomyr.
In total five companies took part in the bidding process.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 8th August 2007
Ukraine update
Digital terrestrial television (DTT) services are ready for launch in the Ukraine according to the latest Digitag Web Letter. The Web Letter goes on to say that DTT services are already available in the capital Kiev and that a commercial launch is expected in 2007. Coverage is expected to be extended beyond Kiev in 2008-2009 with full population availability anticipated in 2011.
Four multiplexes are still planned, however it is likely that there will be a mix of MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 AVC coded programmes and some combining of DVB-T and DVB-H broadcasts on a single multiplex. HDTV broadcasting is also being considered.
Most of the DTT platform, approximately 70%, will offer free to air television services, but the remaining 30% will be used for Pay-TV services so as to generate revenue to expand the network.
Analogue switch of is given as either 2014 or 2015.
Source: Digitag Web Letter 56
Item added: 13th November 2006
DTT services to be launched by end 2006
The National Council of Ukraine for TV and Radio Broadcasting has allocated four DTT multiplex licences. It is likely that DTT services will begin at the end of 2006.
As per the terms of the licence, the multiplexes are to be used for test transmissions, lasting no more than one year, followed by the launch of commercial services. The licenses are granted for a 10 year period.
The multiplex licences have been allocated to Ukrainian Digital TV Network (UDTVN) and JSC, Era Production, Express Inform and Gamma Consulting. The service offering in each multiplex is as follows:
Channel 41 multiplex licence held by Era Production:
- Era and National TV service
- K-1
- K-2
- TRK Kyiv
Channel 43 multiplex licence held by Express Inform:
- Channel 7
- Mriya TV
- Megasport
- Channel 5
Channel 51 mulitplex licence held by UDTVN and JSC:
- KDTRK
- Tonis
- 1+1
- Gravis
Channel 64 multiplex licence held by Gamma Consulting:
- Operator's own service to be created
- ICTV
- Novy Kanal
- M1
In addition, UDTVN is planning to launch a DVB-H trial in June 2006.
Reported source: UDTVN
Direct source: Digitag
Item added: 16th May 2006
DTT background
Reported on the Digitag website 15th February 2006
According to information received from DigiTAG member UDTVN, DTT developments are underway in the Ukraine.
The National Television and Broadcasting Council of Ukraine has invited applicants to tender for 4 frequencies in Kyiv to be used for DTT services. The licence is valid for a 7 year period of which one year can be used to conduct HD and DVB-H tests. Applications must be received by 28 February 2006.
In addition, President Yushchenko has signed a new television and broadcasting law. The new law provides the framework for the introduction of DTT services. It does not, however, provide specific dates for either the introduction of DTT services or analogue switch-off.
Reported source: UDTVN
Actual source: Digitag
Item added: 15th
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Last page update: 19th December 2011, Barry Tew
