Romanian Govt Plans To Award Six Digital Tv Licenses

Romania's Government wants to award six digital terrestrial television licenses, including one required to ensure 60% population coverage and 50% land coverage by March 31, 2012, says an act drafted by the Communications Ministry.

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The first multiplex licensee will be required to carry public national free-to-air TV channels, and meet certain land and population coverage targets: 60% of population and 50% of land, by March 31, 2012; 80% and 70%, respectively, by January 1, 2013; 90% and 80%, respectively, by December 31, 2014. This multiplex will run concurrently with analog terrestrial television services during the period of transition, due to end on January 1, 2013, says the draft government decision for the adoption of the Strategy on the transition to digital television.

The other five licenses will be awarded through a selection process organized by telecom regulator ANCOM, as follows: one license before January 1, 2013; three more after January 1, 2013; the last one after June 17, 2015, once analog TV broadcasting has ceased.

The multiplexes will allow the broadcasting/rebroadcasting of at least seven television stations in standard definition (SD), or a combination of SD and high definition (HD) stations, as well as multimedia services. Should regional/local multiplexes remain available following the transition, they will be licensed through an ANCOM procedure.

According to the document, the government will begin a campaign to raise awareness on the transition to digital TV on January 1, 2012.

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