Czech Television’s DTT multiplex
Public service broadcaster Czech Television (CT) is rolling out its DTT Multiplex in Prague, Chleb, Usti nad Labem, Brno and Ostrava. The multiplex will provide the four CT programme services, CT1, CT2, CT3 and CT4, making them available to 60% of the population. The spectrum space for the multiplex has been made available by the switch off of the analogue channel CT2 on the 31st October.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 3rd November 2008



TV Barandov launch date set
TV Barrandov has signed an agreement with the network operator Cesky Radiokomunikace for the carriage of its DTT service and will launch in January 2009 on Multiplex 2.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 27th October 2008


More DTT available
The National public broadcaster CT has switched on DTT transmitters in Prague-Cukrak and Ceske Budejovice-Klet according to Broadband TV News which attributes the report to Parabola.
The new four-channel service is being transmitted on the same channel reserved for the analogue version of its second national channel CT2.  The digital services being broadcast are CT1, CT2, CT4 Sport and CT24 as well as the public broadcast CRO’s radio channels.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 6th October 2008



Nova Cinema on DTT
The Czech film channel Nova Cinema is to start broadcasting on the DTT platform within the next six months, reports Broadband TV News.
To do so it will utilise a ‘compensatory’ licence awarded to CET 21, TV Nova’s licence holder, by the Czech Radio and TV Council (RRTV) this August.
ATO-Mediaresearch estimates that Nova Cinema’s audience is 15.36% of all Czech viewers and will increase significantly once the service becomes available on the DTT channel.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 23rd September 2008


Ocko seeks digital licence
The Czech music channel Ocko plans to apply for a ‘compensatory’ digital TV licence at the beginning of 2009.
Jiri Balvin the head of Ocko is reported as saying that by law the channel is entitled to such a licence and that he now wants to ‘send a signal to the Czech media’ that Ocko is ‘ready technically and financially to meet the requirements’
Ocko is watched in the Czech Republic by 1.5 million viewers accessing the service via cable, DTH and IPTV.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 23rd September 2008


TV Nova and Prima TV cooperate on switch to digital
Prima TV and Nova TV which operate commercial services on the analogue TV network have agreed to cooperate on digital switchover.
Three regions have already switched to DTT transmission bringing digital services to half the population and four multiplexes should be available countrywide by 2012.
Both the analogue licences owned by the companies run until 2017/2018 and their agreement to switch to digital services will see them handing these licences back early in exchange for digital only licences.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 22nd August 2008


Analogue Switch Off begins
Public service broadcaster Czech Television (CT) has switched of its analogue channel CT2 in the city of Plzen (Pilsen), reports Broadband TV News. Plzen is located near the German border.
Czech Television together with national transmission company Ceske Radiokomunikace (Cra) has also launched a temporary multiplex covering the West Bohemia region. The multiplex is expected to become permanent when CT and CRa sign an agreement during August.
Analogue switch of is planned for completion in most of the country by the 11th November 2011 followed by the regions of Zlinska and Jesenicka in June 2012.
At present one multiplex provides official DTT services to approximately 40% of the population.
Main source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 4th August 2008



Barrandov launch date announced
Czech digital terrestrial channel Barrandov TV is now set to launch on the 11th January 2009 following a series of delays.
Barrandov TV was one of the six TV channels awarded a “compensatory” licence recently, following a long drawn out dispute over an initial licence award in 2006.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 8th July 2008


DTT tender stalled
Czech public broadcaster CT has withdrawn its open tender for the set up of an additional DTT multiplex. The new multiplex would have been the third of a planned four to become available in the country. Two are already in operation.
According to Broadband TV, local reports say that the decision was made by CT’s general director Jiri Janecek following the recommendations of a committee that evaluated bids from three parties – Bohemia Royal, Ceske Radiokomunikace (CRa) and Slovakia’s TRI R, recently renamed Towercom.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 8th July 2008



Digital TV market expanding
Digital TV services are watched by 24.1% of Czech homes according to research data published by Mediasearch covering the period up to and including Q1 2008.
DVB-S satellite services are watched by 11.8% compared with 4.2% a year earlier. During the same period DTT viewers increased from 4.2% to 19.2% of homes.
DTT is now available in most of the largest population areas.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 10th June 2008

DVB-T2 and MPEG-4 for HD on DTT
The broadcast network operator Ceske Radiokomunikace (CRa) has announced plans to switch to the DVB-T2 specification in 2013, at a meeting with journalists on the 28th May.
Director for the digital transition Levinsky Kamil said that the DVB-T2 format would be used together with MPEG-4 compression to broadcast an HD TV service.
He went on to say that Ceske Radiokomunikace was considering the launch of a pilot using the new technologies in 2010 either in Prague or Brno.
Source: DigiZone.cz
Item added: 2nd June 2008

DVB-H tender possible
Broadband TV News reports that a tender for a DVB-H licence could be issued this summer and that both T-Mobile and Télefonica O2 have expressed interest.
T-Mobile has already undertaken several successful DVB-H mobile TV trials.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 12th May 2008



2011 Analogue switch Off confirmed
The digital switchover plan published by the CTU (Cesky Telekomunikacni) has been approved by the Czech government. Although the plan calls for switchover by November 11th 2011, two regions, Zlínska and Jesenicka will continue analogue transmissions until June 2012. Commercial broadcast licences are still valid until 2016/17 and for the switchover is voluntary. To make an earlier switchover more attractive broadcasters will be offered a DTT broadcasting licence in compensation.
Source: CTU website
Item added: 6th May 2008

Update on DTT in the Czech Republic
The digital terrestrial television platform in the Czech Republic recently received a boost following the new amendments, which have been added to the existing media legislative framework, according to a recent Web letter from Digitag.
The February 2008 Web Letter’s main feature is a comprehensive review of the current situation with DTT, in Czech Republic and the full letter can be accessed by clicking on the following source link.
Source: Digitag Feb08 Web Letter
Item added: 19th February 2008



DVB-H trial to use OMA BCAST Smart Card Profile
T-Mobile CZ, has selected Nagravision’s OMA BCAST Smart Card Profile system for its forthcoming DVB-H trial. The trial will evaluate and certify the end-to-end performance of handsets, SIM cards and the headend in a close to real life environment before the full commercial service launch.
The OMA BCAST Smart Card Profile, was developed by the Open Mobile Alliance (OMA) as a protection scheme for mobile television.
Source: Nagravision
Item added: 19th February 2008

Digital decision expected shortly
TV Barrandov is expected to be the first digital TV channel in the Czech Republic to have its licence confirmed by the RRTV, reports Broadband TV News. The web log cites local reports as saying that RRTV (Radio and TV council) was given 60 days to make a decision after receiving applications for ‘compensatory’ licences from Barrandov and five other companies. If the decision is positive they will have 360 days to launch a service.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 5th February 2008.



Only 85% coverage at Switch-over
Jane Hannahovou, head of network operator CRa, has warned that DTT coverage will only be 85% at the proposed analogue switch-off date in October 2010. Hannahovou went on to say that up to 1.5 million people, many in five or six large towns including Karlovy, Vary, Most and Liberec, might not have coverage by then.
Coverage is expected to reach 95% of the population in 2011, with full coverage by 2012.
Cra, the Czech Digital Group (CDG) and Telefónica O2 are the designated multiplex operators in the Czech republic.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 5th February 2008

CDG to expand DTT coverage
The Czech Digital Group (CDG) has announced plans to extend the coverage of its multiplex, designated B, beyond Prague to Brno and Ostrava. The CDG also said that Pay-TV channels on the DTT platform are likely to be introduced on DTT no sooner than 2011.
The Czech Republic has two other multiplexes, one multiplex (A) operated by Radiokomunikace and the other multiplex (C) (still in the experimental phase), operated by Telefónica O2.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: January 8th, 2008



Media Law amendments approved
Czech president Vaclav Klaus has approved amendments to the media law, which will pave the way for the countries transition from analogue to digital television.
The amendments which come into effect at the beginning of 2008 see that all parties currently holding an analogue licence will be awarded with one allowing digital transmission. The award is dependant on them meeting specific criteria. The six companies, which had their digital licences withdrawn last year, will be issued with ‘compensatory’ licences.
The analogue switch off, target date, is now set as October the 10th, 2010.
Main source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 27th November 2007

TV Nova on DTT platform in North Bohemia
TV Nova has begun DTT broadcasts from Buková hora in North Bohemia.
Its signals are being carried on the Radiokomunikace multiplex, which is also distributing the public broadcaster CT’s four channels (CT1, CT2, CT24 and CT4 Sport), along with several radio stations.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 7th November 2007

Analogue Switch Off date may be delayed
Broadband TV News reports that the Czech Republic may delay its Analogue Switch Off date until November 2011. Pavel Dvorak, the head of the Czech Telecom Office (CTU), is understood to be in favour of the delay, believing that the existing 2010 deadline is unrealistic.
Despite the proposed delay the digital transition is continuing and most recently with Doamazlice, near the German border, which made the change to digital only during the summer.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 23rd October 2007


Licence restoration brings launch date worry
Jiri Balvin, the head of the Asociace Digitalnich Televizi (ADT), has told the Czech press that he has no idea when the association’s six members will launch digital TV channels. The six operators, Ocko, Febio TV, RTA, Z1, TV Pohoda and TV Barrandov, found out earlier this week that the digital TV licences they were first awarded last year and then withdrawn, will be restored. A condition of the licences is that services must begin within a year once the existing legislation comes into effect on 1st January 2008.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 9th October 2007

DTT coverage grows
Broadband TV News reports that data produced by Mediaresearch indicates that 12.8% of Czech TV homes were able to receive DTT signals by the end of Q2, up from 10% at the end of the previous quarter. The transition to digital broadcasting ramped up last month with analogue transmitters being switched of in the Domazlice region. The switch off will continue in other parts of the country until completed in 2010.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 25th September 2007

Analogue Switch Off begins in Domazlice
On 31st August 2007 analogue television was switched off in Domazlice, located in the south-western part of the Czech Republic.
The two Czech Television analogue channels previously broadcast are now only available on the DTT network.
Analogue switch off for the whole country is planned to take place by 10th October 2010.
Source: Digitag
Czech Television strategy for switch-over to terrestrial digital broadcasting can be downloaded by clicking on: Strategy
Item added: 3rd September 2007

TV Nova helps digital switchover
Leading Czech station TV Nova has announced that it will contribute CZK1.5 million (€53,542) towards the cost of set-top-boxes. The money will help the transition from analogue to digital broadcasting in Domazlice located next to the German border. Domazlice will be the first part of the Czech Republic to go all-digital when it switches of its analogue transmitters at the end of August.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 8th August 2007

Telefónica O2 to launch HD channel
The first HD channel in the Czech republic was planned for launch on July 2nd by Telefónica O2.
The service will be offered to the Telco’s 36,000 IPTV subscribers as well as being made available on its DTT multiplex.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 3rd July 2007


TV Nova extends coverage
TV Nova has announced that it will extend its DTT coverage beyond Prague, Brno, Ostrava and Domazlice on July 1st. The changes will increase the coverage to 48% of the population.
TV Nova is carried on the multiplex operated by transmission company Radiokomunikace, which also has additional, plans for new digital channels some of which will be HD.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 3rd July 2007



Withdrawal of DTT licences cancelled
The Czech High Court has overturned the previous ruling by the Prague Court to withdraw digital TV licences awarded to six companies in April 2006. TV Nova and Prima TV contested the previous award of the licences.The six TV companies, TV Barrandov, Febio TV, TV Poihoda, Z1, Ocko and RTA still have to wait until the existing broadcasting law is amended before their licences are finally restored.
Source: broadbandtvnews
Item added: 21st June 2007

New date for analogue switch off
Domazlice is still set to be the first area to switch of its analogue TV transmitters and begin broadcasting only in the DVB-T digital format. The original date for this to happen has now been changed from the 30th June to the 31st August.
Broadband TV News reports that the Czech Telecom Office (CTU) has agreed the new date.
The complete transition to digital, in the Czech Republic, should be completed by 2010.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 21st May 2007



ADT appeals to the owner of CME
Broadband TV News report that the Czech television Association (ADT) are said to have written an open letter to Ronald Lauder, founder and owner of US investments company CME, asking for support for the digitisation of TV services in the Czech Republic.
CME own TV Nova, which last year successfully campaigned for the withdrawal of digital licenses already awarded to the six members of ADT-TV.
ADT believes that the Czech Republic could have up to 20 digital TV stations by 2009.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 15th May 2007

Analogue switch off in the country is planned for completion by October 10th, 2010.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 19th April 2007


Czech monitoring group for DTT transition
Key organisations in the Czech TV industry have joined forces to create a new association known as Digi Monitor.
Brought together by an initiative involving the Czech Telecom Office (CTU) and Czech Association of Competitive Communications (CACC), they include UPC, O2, the Czech Digital Group (CDG), Rohde & Schwarz and country’s three leading broadcasters CT, TV Nova and Prima TV and will monitor the transition from analogue to digital broadcasting. This is being undertaken on a region-by-region basis in the Czech Republic and is due to be completed in 2010.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 13th March 2007

DVB-H and DVB-T news from the Czech Republic
The recent T-Mobile DVB-H trial in Czech Republic produced similar results to trials in other European countries. News and music were the most popular content with CT4 and then Ocko the most watched. Viewers accessed services for an average of 20 minutes each day.
Two hundred and fifty users took part in the Prague trial between the 23rd October and the 5th December.
The Czech Broadcasting Council (RRTV) has also announced that Prima TV is to be allowed to undertake DTT transmissions in other parts of the country. Prima TV already distributes digitally on The Czech Digital Group (CDG) multiplex in Prague.
Source: T-Mobile press release   and Broadband TV News
Item added: 13th February 2007

CTU issues DTT deployment plan
Cesky Telekomunikacni Urad (CTU), the Czech communications regulator, has released its plans for DTT deployment in the Czech republic, so that the public consultation process can take place. As well as general details the plan also lists transmission powers for each DTT station as well as the technical parameters to be used. The overall analogue switch-off date is given as 2010.
To see the full details click on the following link: CTU website
Item added: 5th December 2006

Six-week public test of “TV in your pocket”
T-Mobile together with Radiokomunikace has launched a six-week public test of its “TV in your pocket” project, which involves DVB-H technology.
The pilot will take place in the Prague area during a six-week period form October to November 2006 and involve 250 participants. The main object of the pilot is to test the individual elements of the service as well as customers preferences and behaviour prior to the services commercial launch. The signal will be broadcast from Strahov transmitter and received mainly on Motorola phones. Altogether ten programmes will be transmitted, six of which will be free to air and the remaining four are encrypted. To view the encrypted programmes a special T-mobile SIM card will be needed which will allow users access to the programme services, which they have pre-ordered.
Source: T-Mobile
Item added: 26th October 2006

T-Mobile Czech Republic selects Gemalto for DVB-H rollout
Gemalto, a digital security firm, announced today (24th October) that it had been selected by T-Mobile (Czech Republic) to participate in its DVB-H pilot programme. Gemalto provides the operator with secure personal devices in the form of digital rights management card.
The technology will be tested during a two-month trial phase of the project, when T-Mobile subscribers will experiment with mobile TV and associated interactive services. The commercial launch of the DVB-H service is scheduled for 2007 and the exact date will depend on the success of the two-month trial. In the next phase of the pilot programme subscribers will be able to purchase the right to view sporting events and concerts.
Earlier this year T-Mobile Czech Republic participated in a DVB-H roaming project at the Winter Olympics in Torino. Together with Italian operator TIM the service enabled Czech visitors to watch Czech TV on their mobile phones whilst away from home.
Source: Gemalto press release and T-Mobile
Item added: 24th October 2006

Possible delay to DTT launch
The long awaited launch of DTT is likely to be postponed following a ruling by the Prague Municipal Court cancelling the first six DTT licences awarded in April by the Radio and Television Broadcasting Council (RRTV).
The ruling is based on a complaint filed by commercial broadcaster TV Nova which failed to  receive a DTT licence in April. It claimed that RRTV unlawfully changed the license criteria during the tender process.
The dispute may delay the launch of DTT previously  planned for the end of 2006.
Source: Prague Post
Item added: 18th September 2006

Analogue Switch-Off date to be decided in September
The Czech Telecommunications Office (CTU) will make a final decision on the date for analogue switch-off in September.
The broadcasters Czech TV and TV Nova as well as the network operator Radiokomunikace are calling for analogue switch-off to take place on 11 November 2011.
Quoted source: Radio Netherlands Media Network Weblog
Actual source: Digitag
Item added: 25th July 2006

New association formed to promote DTT
Six new digital TV stations, which gained broadcasting licences from the Council for Radio and TV Broadcasting in early April have formed a new association. The association called ADT aim’s to support the launch of digital broadcasting and to protect the rights and interests of its members. The association would also like to accelerate the switch from analogue to digital TV broadcasting.
As a condition of the licence the six new stations have 360 days to start activities. The Czech Republic will stop analogue broadcasting in 2012 in line with other EU countries.
Source: Prague Daily Monitor
Item added: 4th July 2006

More DTT licences allocated
The Council for Radio and Television Broadcasting (RRTV) has allocated six DTT licences to commercial broadcasters. The licences have been awarded to Z1, TV Pohoda, Regionální televizni agentura (RTA), Febio TV, TV Barrandov and Óaka. Over 30 applicants with 40 projects had applied for the licences.

Viewers will be able to access a news services (Z1), a regional service (RTA), a children's service (TV Pohoda), a music service (Óaka) and two generalist services (Febio TV and TV Barrandov).
The DTT licence holders are expected to begin broadcasting services within the next 360 days and it is likely that services will begin by the end of the year. The licences are valid for a period of 12 years.
Multiplex B, operated by the Czech Digital Group, will run the services of Z1, TV Pohoda and RTA while Multiplex C, operated by Ceský Telecom, will run the services of Febio TV, TV Barrandov and Óaka.
Source: Digitag
Item added: 12th April 2006

ČESKÝ TELECOM Acquires another license for DTT
ČESKÝ TELECOM, a.s., has acquired a license for the short-term experimental transmission of digital television (DVB-T) through its subsidiary company OMNICOM Praha, spol. s.r.o. In the scope of the pilot transmission, the operator will offer programs from the Óčko music station and TOP TV, it will also enable viewers to tune into Brno television station TVb 1.

“We received a 60-day license for experimental transmitting, which will begin as of today, March 6, 2006. This will last until the launch of regular digital broadcasting on the basis of a license regulation in multiplex C,” stated Miroslav Hořejší, Deputy Executive Manager, OMNICOM.

Michal Žilka, Executive Director of Content Services and Business Development for ČESKÝ TELECOM, added: “While we are waiting for the license for regular commercial broadcasting in the DVB-T system we would like to be active by means of the pilot transmission. We would also like to test the quality of the transmission of the digital signal and of interactive applications, including those that have been newly prepared.”
Source: Cesky telecom press release
Item added: 13th March 2006

Czech Republic - DTT coverage extended
The coverage of DTT services in the Czech Republic has been extended to 35% of the population since the 9th February and DTT services are now available in the cities of Brno and Ostrava.
DTT services were first launched in Prague on 21 October 2005. Viewers can access three television programme services made available by Czech Television which include the generalist services CT1 and CT2 as well as its continuous news service CT24.
To coincide with the start of the Winter Olympic Games, Czech Television has launched a new digital service, CT4 SPORT, dedicated to sports coverage. This service is available on the DTT platform as of 10 February
Source: Digitag and Czech TV
Item added: 13th February 2006

Olympics could be a boon to Digital Television
Despite DTT services being launched in October the Chamber of Deputies again failed to agree on the new media law that should provide a firm basis for digital programming in Czechoslovakia.
The meeting was held on January the 26th and further meetings are to be held in February. Despite the lack of a firm commitment it is estimated that 20,000 set top boxes equipped to receive the new services have already been sold. Retailers are also experiencing increased interest from customers who are looking for better pictures of the Winter Olympics. This is no doubt helped by the launch of the new Czech sports channel CT4 on February 9th, the eve of the Olympics.
At present a date for the full launch of nation-wide DTT has not been decided.
Source: The Prague Post
Item added: 7th February 2006

Czech DTT might use MPEG-4 for its new service
According to a recent web article in Broadband TV News (Central and East Europe) Czech Telecom is considering the use of MPEG-4 on its soon to be launched DTT service.
In Prague and the surrounding area it is reported that 8 DTT channels are already available on a trial service using MPEG-2. These channels are provided in two multiplexes, one from the Czech Digital Group (CDG) and the other from Ceska Radiokomunikace (CRa).
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 23rd January 2006

Digital Broadcasting Launched
Digital TV broadcasting was launched in the Czech Republic on the 21st October 2005.
Up to 2 million people in the Prague area can now receive the digital TV signals of Czech Television (CTV) channels CT1, CT2 and CT24, as well as that of TV Nova, which was invited by CTV to be the first commercial digital network in the country.
The service coverage will be extended to Brno and then to Ostrava next spring according to the CTV technical director Rudolf Pop.
Eventually six digital television multiplexes, providing more than 24 channels, will cover the whole country. Analogue transmissions are expected to be switched-off by or before the end of 2012.
Market analysts estimate that 20,000 set-top boxes have already been sold this year.
Source: The Prague Post
Item added: 21st November 2005.


DVB-H in the Czech republic
T-Mobile (Czech Republic) has been testing mobile television at the INVEX trade fair in Brno. The DVB-H transmission equipment was provided by Siemens communications and the mobile pocket televisions by Benq. As well as looking at television visitors to the trade show are also able to use interactive services to download songs and ringtones.
Source: DMeurope
Item added: 27th October 2005

Czech Republic - Ready for DTT launch
Official DTT services were planned for launch launch on Friday, 21 October according to Digitag.
One multiplex will provide DTT services in Prague and the surrounding area.

Czech Television will provide three television service programmes which include generalist services CT1 and CT2 as well as its continuous news service CT24. Commercial broadcaster Novy will also provide its services. It is expected that Czech Television will launch a sports service on the DTT platform next year .

Service will be available free-to-air and use the MPEG-2 video compression standard.

Coverage will be extended to Brno and Ostrava next year. It is expected that the multiplex will eventually provide services to 70% of all households in two years' time.

Source: Digitag (Czech Television)
Item added: 20th October 2005

Previous

Cesky Telecom begins experimental DTT broadcasts
Czech telco Cesky Telecom, a subsidiary of Spanish telco Telefonica, has begun an experimental broadcast of TV Ocko in its DVB-T multiplex. The broadcasts are licensed to cover the Prague and Brno areas and the objective of the trial is to find out and correct any problems that may occur with the introduction of the DVB-T digital broadcast system. The quality of the transmissions will be tested along with interactive multimedia applications.
Source: DM europe
Item added: 18th October 2005


DTT services get closer
Czech Television has asked the Broadcasting Council (RRTV) for permission to start DTT transmissions next month according to Broadband TV News, Central Europe.
If the request is granted the broadcaster  will start distributing its services CT1, CT2 and possibly, news based, CT24 in the first half of 2006.
Coverage will be provided to Prague and the surrounding area first and then increased to cover the cities of Brno and Ostrava. Coverage is expected to be 35% of the population in 2006.

Three multiplexes are expected to be deployed in the Czech Republic, one for Czech Television, operated by the television company Cra, reaching 75% of the population at launch and 97% of the population eventually. Czech Television plans to launch two more multiplexes once the DTT platform is fully operational.
Source: Broadband TV Sept. 16th 2005
Item added: 19th September 2005

Experimental DTT service running in Prague
It is reported that three DVB-T transmitters are running in the Prague area.
Free to air content which includes a 24 hour news service from Czech TV (the Public Service Broadcaster) is being broadcast. Although the service is experimental it is estimated that over 50,000 DTT receivers have been sold mostly obtained from the German and Italian markets.
The current price for an STB in Prague is said to be €100.
Source: DVB and digitv.cz
Item added: 13th September 2005


Three DTT Licences granted
The Czech Telecommunications Office (CTU) has granted three DVB-T digital television broadcasting licences, the CTU announced on its web site, according to the Interfax news agency. The licences have been awarded to state-owned Cesky Telecom, the number two firm on the telecommunications market Ceske radiokomunikace (CRa) and the Czech Digital Group company.
The companies, which have been testing the services since 2000, say they will be ready to start digital TV broadcasting in several months. In the initial phase, CRa will cover Prague, Brno and Ostrava. CT will cover Prague, Brno, Ceske Budejovice, Plzen, Karlovy Vary, Usti nad Labem. Liberec, Hradec Kralove, Pardubice and Olomouc.                                                                                                           Previously four CDG and five Cra channels where on air from two transmitters covering 50km around Prague. Radio channels and MHP applications were also tested during the trial period.
Experts estimate that traditional analogue broadcasting in the Czech Republic could wind down in 2010-2012.

In September 2004 Sophia Digital announced that it was to deliver its Multimedia Home Platform (MHP) service to Cesky Telecom. The order includes a solution for MHP Service Management and a platform for creating browser-based MHP services such as super-teletext, shopping, e-mail and voting. Additionally Sophia Digital is to deliver Cesky an electronic programme guide (EPG) platform, games and an interactive news ticker service. Source http://www.dmeurope.com

The information provided comes from many sources and whilst DVB believe it to be correct we cannot guarantee its accuracy.

If you have more up to date information or corrections please send them to  dvb@dvb.org

Last page update: 17th November 2008, Barry Tew