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.