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October 12, 2011
Ukranian DTT multiplex operator Zeonbud has pushed ahead with a full DTT launch in the country, at the same time becoming the first Eastern European DTT platform to make use of DVB T2. The four multiplexes launched offer 20 free-to-air channels, including the country's major stations: 1+1, TET, Pershyi Natsionalnyi and Ukraina. In total, the National Broadcasting Council awarded 28 channels with DTT licences, of which eight are allowed to broadcast in HD (although none HD channels have launched yet).
Zeonbud started test transmissions in summer 2011, gradually switching on new transmitters and extending the broadcast reach. By the end of October 2011 the operator is planning to cover 95 per cent of the country's population with its DTT network, broadcasting from 150 transmitters (of total 166 planned). The transmitters are installed mostly on towers owned by transmission company RRT. One key issue remains: although DTT transmission has already started, DVB-T2 set top boxes are not available on the market yet. The regulator is planning to launch all the specifications for set top boxes shortly. Zeonbud and the DTT channel operators are committed to launch an information campaign under terms of their licenses, although this, too, has yet to launch. Separately, the government provided UAH350m (some $45m) in the 2012 budget for set-top box subsidies for low-income families.
With set-top boxes expected to cost $35, the fund should supply around one million homes with hardware. There is one further multiplex in Ukraine operated by UDTVN. The company was awarded with a licence in 2008; however, as it didn't fulfil the conditions of the license, the regulator is intending to call a new tender for this multiplex. Analogue switch-off is planned in Ukraine for 2015.
DVB-T2 has launched in only in a few European countries, including UK and Sweden, however, the broadcasting standard is going to be widely applied. Several European countries are currently conducting DVB-T2 tests (including France, Italy, Czech Republic, and Slovakia) and by the end of 2011 DVB-T2 tests will start in more markets (Austria, Moldova). In addition, two other countries have already opted for DVB-T2 as the DTT standard: Russia (which wants to launch DVB-T2 after ASO in 2015); and Serbia, which is planning to use DVB-T2 from launch. However, as Serbia has set it's switch-off date for April 2012 and is yet to launch any service, meeting this deadline seems unlikely.
Ukraine is benefiting from its relatively late launch of DTT as it begins broadcast in a newer technology than many other CEE countries. The launch of DVB-T2 in the UK was followed by a drop in prices for DVB-T2 receivers (now prices in the UK start from about £50) a further decrease in cost of DVB-T2 set top boxes can now be expected.
Although Ukraine has a chance of meeting its 2015 switch-off target in three years, it must still be considered an ambitious one. Ukraine's multichannel penetration is around 30 per cent, meaning there are about 15m homes in Ukraine dependant on analogue terrestrial only. But a boost for digitisation may yet come from satellite. Although satellite TV hasn't yet made much progress in Ukraine (currently penetration is about 10 per cent, and pay satellite TV lower than one per cent), two satellite projects targeting the low end of the market, Xtra TV and LybidTV, are plannedbefore the end of 2011. Market development in other Central Eastern European countries shows that satellite platforms focusing on the low budget sector perform well.
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