Hungary

[HU] Government Decision on Digital Switchover

IRIS 2007-4:1/23

Márk Lengyel

Körmendy-Ékes & Lengyel Consulting, Budapest

Via its decision of 7 March 2007 the Government adopted the Hungarian National Strategy for Digital Switchover and decided to take the regulatory measures necessary for its implementation.

The first version of the strategy was published in early October 2006 as a draft (see IRIS 2006-10: 14). This was followed by two months of public consultation (see IRIS 2007-1: 11). The Prime Minister’s Office finalised the strategy in line with the outcome of the consultation, which was transposed into an official policy document, now forming an appendix to the Government’s decision.

On the basis of the decision the tasks that the regulator faces can be summarised as follows:

- A bill on digital switchover shall be elaborated. It is expected to be submitted to the Parliament in April this year;

- In parallel, the necessary amendments to the relevant decrees shall also be enacted;

- The financial conditions for the switchover shall be settled by September;

- From March 2008, yearly reports shall be compiled for the Government on the implementation of the strategy and on the budgetary, economic, social and cultural implications of the switchover.

It is worth noting that there have been experimental digital terrestrial television broadcasts in Hungary since 2004. However, the launch of commercial services requires that licences be granted for the multiplex operators. This will be made possible by the adoption of the bill on digital switchover, as the next regulatory step in the process.