Portugal

[PT] Digital TV Contests

IRIS 2008-4:1/30

Luís António Santos

Departamento de Ciências da Comunicação, Instituto de Ciências Sociais, Universidade do Minho

The rules for the allocation of Digital Terrestrial Television concessions, nº 207-A/2008, have been published in the Official Journal.

The document establishes that there are two distinct public calls for tender: the first deals with the award of a national coverage license, concerning Multiplex A, for the transmission of TV programmes with non-conditional access. The second covers the granting, to one sole entity, of five frequency usage rights to the transmission of TV channels with either conditional or non-conditional access (two of these corresponding to national coverage licenses, concerning Multiplexes B and C, and a further three on partial territorial coverage, concerning Multiplexes D, E and F). In essence, the Portuguese government has opted for the adoption of a two-tiered model, with both Free-to-Air and Pay TV options.

Candidates have 40 days (as of 25 February) to submit their applications and the winner of the Pay TV licenses will have 42 months to fulfil the following obligations: a) for Multiplexes B and C, coverage of 75 per cent of the national population, whilst ensuring balanced proportionality, in terms of all continental and insular districts; b) for Multiplexes D, E and F, coverage of 75 per cent of the existing population in a pre-determined (coastal) area (Annexe I). Licences will be valid for 15 years and can be renewed for similar periods.