German transmitter network operator Media Broadcast is the only applicant for the operation of the future digital terrestrial TV platform in DVB-T2/HEVC in Germany.
The media authorities’ tender ended on January 30, 2015.
The media authorities’ licensing commission ZAK now wants to examine whether the framework conditions set in the tender have been met and the capacities can be allocated to Media Broadcast. The decision on this is scheduled to be made at the ZAK assembly on March 17, 2015.
The transition from the current DVB-T standard to successor system DVB-T2 will commence in the first half of 2016 in the first urban areas with nationwide switchover to be completed in 2019.
With DVB-T2, HD channels will be distributed on digital terrestrial airwaves in Germany for the first time. While the two large commercial TV groups RTL and ProSiebenSat.1 want to transmit their channels encrypted and charge viewers a reception fee, public broadcaster ARD and ZDF will offer their channels free-to-air.
