Four companies have lodged bids to operate what will be Poland’s eighth DTT multiplex (MUX-8).
According to the Office of Electronic Communication (UKE), they are the public broadcaster TVP; EmiTel, which currently operates the three main multiplexes already up and running in the country; Polski Operator Telewizyjny (POT), a joint venture between Polsat and TVN, Poland’s leading commercial broadcasters; and Time.
The latter is owned by ZPR Media, which already operates the DTT channels Eska TV, Fokus TV and Polo TV.
Significantly, the winner of the 15-year licence will have no say in the channels carried by the multiplex. It was initially going to be allocated entirely to TVP but will now see the public broadcaster provided with only three slots, the remaining four going to commercial stations.
The national Broadcasting Council (KRRiT) will organise a separate tender for the latter, with the winners being allowed to distribute their services in SD.
TVP, on the other hand, will have the option of offering three SD, or one SD and one HD, channels on the multiplex.
