Czechia

[CZ] DVB-T Switchover Continues

IRIS 2008-9:1/5

Jan Fučík

Česká televize

An increasing number of regions in the Czech Republic are receiving digital television. Since the start of September, the Budějovice and Praha transmitters have been broadcasting both digital and analogue TV signals. Households that are still receiving the analogue signals will need to switch to a digital receiver by April 2009, after which channels will only be available via DVB-T.

In addition, a number of other regions will be switched to DVB-T in April 2009. Households that need to switch to digital reception will be informed via the DVB-T on-screen ticker. The Budějovice and Praha transmitters will stop the analogue transmission of public service channels CT1 and CT2 in April 2009. Households that receive signals from one of these transmitters will need to direct their aerials at alternative transmitters.

Viewers who receive their signals from the Plzeň transmitter can already receive DVB-T signals. They can switch to digital terrestrial TV immediately in order to receive CT4 (sport) and CT24 (news), as well as CT1, CT2 and public service radio ("public service multiplex").

From April 2009, households equipped with aerials in central and southern parts of the Czech Republic should use the digital TV signals from the Budějovice and Praha transmitters and ensure their receivers are suitable for DVB-T. Viewers receiving TV signals through an aerial must switch to DVB-T directly. Those who receive signals from one of the transmitters concerned will see on-screen tickers informing them that they need to switch to digital reception in the next few weeks.

Both Czech private TV channels TV Nova and TV Prima are supporting the plans to switch from analogue to digital TV. TV Nova and TV Prima are gradually switching off their analogue frequencies, since these frequencies are required for the extension of the digital broadcasting network. In return, the private broadcasters are receiving licences for additional channels.

Around half the Czech population can already access digital television. The analogue signals currently being broadcast in parallel will be gradually switched off between now and 2012.