The Ukrainian regulator National Council has announced two competitions for digital TV licences.
The first is for local (regional) broadcasters employing the MX-5 DVB-T2 (MPEG-4) multiplex and the second a radio frequency resource in the DVB-T2 standard for local companies. In the former case, it will be for the broadcasting 58 FTA channels covering 43 population centres, with one member of the National Council describing it as “probably the last big competition for digital channels”. In future, the regulator will announce competitions only when it is approached by licensees with a desire to operate in specific localities/
Meanwhile, the second competition will feature 27 digital local channels in 25 population centres in 14 regions of Ukraine.
The National Council notes that the competitions set the following requirements for applicants: TV and radio companies that intend to broadcast without retransmitting the programmes of other broadcasters can participate in it. They must be able to broadcast information-based, analytical and journalistic programs on local topics for at least two hours a day. The volume of programmes in the Ukrainian language must meet the requirements of current legislation.
Information about the announcement of competitions and their start will soon be published in the newspaper “Voice of Ukraine”. The list of channels and competition conditions will be made available in the decisions of the National Council.
