Trade body Broadcast Networks Europe (BNE) has welcomed the key commitments in favour of terrestrial broadcasting from the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission.
The political agreement announced ahead of the final UHF Band decision, states that the sub-700 MHz band will remain available for broadcasting until at least 2030.
The agreement includes the following provisions: TV broadcasting will retain priority in the sub-700 MHz band for the foreseeable future, i.e. at least until 2030.
A realistic calendar for migrating existing users from the 700 MHz is adopted, targeting 2020, but acknowledging some Member States may need until 30 June 2022.
Measures to support the transition for the sector and for consumers, including the possibility for Member States to compensate migration costs related to the reallocation of the spectrum.
“The 250 million DTT viewers who appreciate free-to-air television expect that the leading television distribution platform in Europe will continue to compete and innovate,” commented BNE chairman Olivier Huart.
“We are now confident that the final legislation will provide the regulatory certainty to make that happen. Policy makers have recognised the popularity of digital terrestrial television and its value to the European audiovisual market, and have acted accordingly.”
BNE is a trade organisation for terrestrial broadcast network operators for Radio and TV in Europe based in Brussels.
The 19 BNE members are operating in 22 European countries. Members are Antenna Hungaria (Hungary), Arqiva (UK), Cellnex (Spain), ?eské Radiokomunikace (Czech Republic), Digea (Greece), Digita (Finland), ETV (Serbia), Elettronica Industriale (Italy), Emitel (Poland), Media Broadcast (Germany), Norkring (Norway), OiV (Croatia), ORS (Austria), Swisscom Broadcast (Switzerland), Radiocom (Romania), Rai Way (Italy), RTENL (Ireland), TDF (France) and Teracom (Sweden). In addition Terrestrial Network Operators in Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, and Monaco are represented by their respective parent (and BNE member) company.
