The first three digital terrestrial television licenses granted in Romania

The National Broadcasting Society (Societatea Naţională de Radiocomunicaţii, SNR) from Romania, which currently airs the programs of the Romanian broadcaster TVR, won the tender for three of the five offered licenses for digital terrestrial television, obtaining a “free to air” multiplex, in which the public will be able to receive 15-17 programs in the Standard Definition format, and two multiplexes in the UHF band, economie.hotnews.ro informs.

According to Catalin Marinescu, the president of the Romanian communications regulator ANCOM, this summer public debates will be organized concerning the destination of the other two multiplexes that had not been awarded in the tender, and depending on the consultations results, a new tender is to be organized for them in autumn.

“Through the three multiplexes that the SNR won, it could broadcast about 45-50 programs in the Standards Definition (SD) format,” said Iana Bogdan, representative of ANCOM.

A digital multiplex is a group of radio and television programs, additional multimedia services and other associated identification data transmitted from broadcasting stations to end users by terrestrial radio, using digital modulation within the limits of a standard television channel/frequency block.

Through the first “free to air” multiplex in UHF (MUX 1), the National Broadcasting Society will have the obligation to broadcast, in conditions of transparency, competition and non-discrimination, public and private TV channels that are currently broadcast in the terrestrial analogue system, under the law on broadcasting. This multiplex will have to cover, in fixed reception, 90% of the population and 80% of the territory by 31 December 2016.

ANCOM will grant to SNR licenses to use radio frequencies in order to operate the three national multiplexes of digital television after payment of the license tax. Licenses are granted for a period of 10 years and will enter into force on 17 June 2015.

The process of transition from analogue terrestrial television to digital terrestrial broadcasting in Romania is to be completed by 17 June 2015. After that day, any analogue terrestrial broadcasting will end and will be replaced by digital terrestrial broadcasting of TV programs and additional multimedia services.

Source of photo: http://media.hotnews.ro/