Ukraine is considering giving over part of its upcoming DTT platform to pay-TV and possibly also HD channels.
The news was given by Oksana Elmanova, a member of the National Council for TV and Radio Broadcasting in Ukraine (NTVCU), quoted by AKTR and Kommentarii.
The cost of a national digital licence in Ukraine will be around UAH600,000 (€52,673).
It is felt that the free-to-air (FTA) model currently being considered for DTT in Ukraine may not be sustainable, given the relatively small size of the country’s ad market – estimated to be worth up to $400 million (€284.4 million) this year – which already has to be shared by 17 TV channels with national coverage.
Zeonbud, which is developing the DTT network, is expected to offer at least 28 FTA national channels.
Separately, NTVCU member Oksana Elmanova is quoted by ProIT as saying that the Council is developing a programme to provide 8 million households with digital receivers.
These households will be able to buy receivers at a discounted price of around UAH300, with the total number likely to be sold – given that some have more than one TV set – up to 12 million.
Some 1.5 million of the most needy viewers will meanwhile be given receivers free of charge.
The provider of set-top boxes for the Ukrainian market is expected to make a net profit of up to $60 million.
