Romania prepares for DTT tender

The Romanian regulatory authority ANCOM has submitted the terms of reference for the granting of licences for the country’s first two DTT multiplexes to public consultation.

According to the authority, the first multiplex will have to carry at least the public channels TVR1 and TVR2. Furthermore, applicants for licences for the two multiplexes will have to satisfy a number of criteria, one being having an average turnover of at least €50 million for the last three years.

The selection process will be undertaken on a points-based system, with maximum awarded in the commercial category to applicants who intend to launch within 90 days of securing a licence. Furthermore, those who guarantee a number of set-top boxes in addition to the 60,000 already set by ANCOM will be exclusively granted 20 of the 25 points available in the “supporting the switchover” category.

The winner of the licence for the first multiplex will be announced on September 20 and the second 10 days later, with each licence being valid for 10 years.

The transition to digital broadcasting in Romania will be undertaken in four stages. At least 60% of the population and 50% of the territory should be covered by June 30, 2011, with the former figure rising to at least 95% by June 17, 2015.