Poland has taken a major step in its transition to digital broadcasting, with the country’s National Broadcasting Council (KRRiT) awarding licences for the final four channels on the first multiplex.
The licences have been granted to Kino Polska TV (for the movie channel Kino Polska Nostalgia), Eska TV (music channel Eska TV), ATM Grupa (entertainment-based ATM Rozrywkowa TV) and Stavka (news/current affairs U-TV).
According to the KRRiT, its decision to award the licences to the four companies was influenced by the fact that they are new entrants to the TV broadcast market and in sound financial condition.
KRRiT’s decision will now be referred to the Office of Electronic Communications (UKE) in the next few days and the multiplex will be launched following the signing of an agreement between the transmission company Emitel, public broadcaster TVP (which has already has three slots on the multiplex for its main channels TVP1, TVP2 and TVP Info) and the four companies.
Poland’s second and third multiplexes are already up and running, having made their debuts late last year.