United Kingdom

[GR] Digital Terrestrial Television in Transitional Period

IRIS 2008-9:1/20

Alexandros Economou

National Council for Radio and Television

The first co-ministerial decision on the digital switchover was published in the Greek Official Journal, on the basis of Article 14 of Law 3592/2007 (see IRIS 2007-8: 12) relating to the transition to digital terrestrial television. This decision fixes 1 November 2008 as the date for the voluntary commencement of transmission of DTT by the existing analogue stations. According to the text of the decision, this first stage of the DSO will involve seven multiplexes, each of them containing four television channels: three of the multiplexes will be allocated to the public broadcaster ERT, the Channel of the Greek Parliament and the private Pay-TV channel Filmnet, two of them to national private broadcasters and the last two to regional and local channels. The decision also contains the main technical elements (frequencies, transmission centres and geographical areas concerned) and the licensing procedure (submission of a declaration by the national broadcasters and decision of the regulatory authority, the Ethinko Symvoulio Radiotileorasis (National Council for Radio and Television – ESR) based on quality criteria for the regional and local stations).

The success of the introduction of DTT in Greece (in this transitional period) depends especially on the result of negotiations between the national broadcasters concerning the creation of a society in charge of the technical aspects of digital transmission and on the range of information to be released to the public concerning DTT, as at the moment there is no special body responsible for the coordination of all concerned parties.

The Greek authorities also presented, on 23 July 2008, a technical study concerning the final frequency chart for DTT which will constitute the main frame of the relevant co-ministerial decision. According to this text, there are twelve multiplexes to be allocated not merely for ordinary television purposes, but for mobile television and for additional services (i.e. tele-medicine) as well. During the public consultation on this study, the Greek government must elaborate the legal framework related essentially to licensing, cross-ownership and programme content issues (this will take the form of a Presidential Decree and three ministerial decisions).

Finally, a technical study on the frequencies of analogue radio stations (FM) was also presented on the same occasion. The ministerial decision which could result from this study, after being introduced to public consultation, is expected to give solutions to the serious problem of the numerous radio stations actually functioning on a “para-legal” basis (with the exception of the region of Athens). The procedure of licensing is to be conducted by the National Council of Radio and Television.