Antenna Hungária (AH) would still like to launch a DVB-H service, though only with the co-operation of Hungary’s mobile operators. However, there is only a low chance of doing so in the near future, according to András Tóth, the company’s director of communication.
AH currently operates a DVB-H trial on one of its three multiplexes (B), the other two (A and C) being allocated for the FTA DTT service MinDigTV and pre-pay offer Terra+. It covers 15% of the population of Budapest and offers four public TV channels and the news-based stations Hir TV and ATV.
Vodafone, T-Mobile and Pannon have so far shown little interest in launching a DVB-H service with AH, implying that any decision to do so would be part of a wider strategy covering many markets, not just one.
For its part, AH, which is backed by France’s TDF, regards itself first and foremost as an infrastructure company.
As a result, it does not want to become the sole operator, providing all the necessary services, including distribution and marketing, of a DVB-H platform.
