Lithuania

[LT] Model for Introduction of Digital TV

IRIS 2005-1:1/38

Viktoras Popandopula

Radio and Television Commission of Lithuania

At the end of 2004, the Lithuanian Government adopted the "model for the introduction of digital television", which had been prepared by the Lithuanian Radio and Television Commission, the Communications Regulatory Body and the Ministries for Culture and Communication.

According to this model, digital terrestrial television will be introduced in Lithuania in two stages. In the first phase, four national networks will be created to broadcast or retransmit no fewer than 20 television channels. These networks will be gradually expanded, beginning in the major cities. Lithuania's five largest cities - Vilnius, Kaunas, Klaipėda, Šiauliai and Panevėžys - should all be covered by 2007 and at least one of the four networks should cover 95% of the country by the start of 2009.

The second stage will begin in 2012, when the gradual switchover from analogue to digital terrestrial TV will take place. Analogue broadcasts will not be switched off until at least 90% of households in the area covered by the broadcaster are able to receive digital channels.

The Lithuanian Radio and Television Commission is currently preparing the invitation for tenders for the digital networks, which will close on 30 June 2005. At present, Vilnius residents can receive two unencoded and three encoded digital terrestrial TV channels, which are transmitted in Vilnius on Channel 53; however, this service does not belong to the aforementioned DTT networks.