Working Group on Digital Terrestrial Television in EPRA Countries Coordinated by AGCOM (Italy) Final Report June 2nd, 2004 Table of contents Introduction.............................................................................................................................................3 DTT Working Group......................................................................................................................3 The mission of the group................................................................................................................3 Executive summary.................................................................................................................................5 Purpose and methodology of DTT WG........................................................................................5 Classification of the countries according to the penetration of DTT..........................................5 Features of broadcasting environment and their influence on DTT development.....................6 Role of Public Service Broadcasters (PSB)..................................................................................7 Role of terrestrial commercial broadcasters..................................................................................7 Regulatory models for allocation of digital capacity and access to DTT networks...................8 Policy measures introduced to support the penetration of DTT..................................................9 Role of Regulators in the digital switchover.................................................................................9 Analysis of the development and features of DTT in some EPRA countries.....................................10 1. Parameters to evaluate the state of the art of DTT transition in EPRA countries................10 Tab. 1.1 – DTT development in EPRA countries..........................................................10 Tab. 1.2 - Status of transition to DTT in EPRA countries.............................................11 Tab. 1.3 – Penetration of DTT in total TV households and terrestrial households......12 Tab. 1.4 – Classification of A group countries according to DTT penetration............13 Tab. 1.5 – Different DTT penetration rates....................................................................13 Tab. 1.6 – Lowest prices for DTT receivers...................................................................14 Tab. 1.7 – DTT in EPRA countries (map of Europe)....................................................15 Tab. 1.8 - DTT start-up dates..........................................................................................16 Tab. 1.9 - DTT supposed start-up dates in different German Länder...........................16 2. Basic features of broadcasting environment in EPRA countries...........................................17 Tab. 2.1 - Main features of terrestrial television in some EPRA countries..................18 Tab. 2.2 - Main features of DTH television in some EPRA countries.........................19 Tab. 2.3 - Main features of cable television in some EPRA countries ........................20 Tab. 2.4 - Penetration of DTH in some EPRA countries...............................................21 Tab. 2.5 - Penetration of cable TV in EPRA countries..................................................21 Tab. 2.6 - ADSL and broadband development in some EPRA countries.....................22 3. Reception patterns and penetration of digital TV: the impact of inter-platform competition on DTT development....................................................................................................................23 Tab. 3.1 - Penetration of multichannel television (analogue + digital)........................24 Tab. 3.2 – Classification of countries according to penetration of multichannel television...........................................................................................................................25 Tab. 3.3 - Penetration of digital television in EPRA countries.....................................25 Tab. 3.4 – Classification of countries based on digital television penetration.............26 4. Role of terrestrial analogue broadcasters in the transition.....................................................27 Public Service Broadcasters.....................................................................................................27 Financial resources of PSBs................................................................................................27 Tab. 4.1 - PSB’s economic resources and finances granted for development of DTT or digital activities................................................................................................................28 PSB’s role in DTT platform: content creation, capacity assigned by law or regulator and channels aired on DTT platform..........................................................................................29 1 Tab. 4.2 - Content creation, digital capacity assigned and channels aired on DTT platform.............................................................................................................................30 Tab. 4.3 – Classification of countries in relation to technical and financial resources assigned to PSBs for the development of DTT..............................................................32 PSB’s obligation in developing DTT..................................................................................32 Tab. 4.4 - PSB’s obligation in developing DTT............................................................33 Terrestrial commercial broadcasters.......................................................................................34 Tab. 4.5 - Economic resources and specific financial resources assigned for development of DTT and digital activities (2002).........................................................34 Terrestrial commercial broadcasters’ activities on DTT platforms: content creation capability, capacity assigned and channels aired on DTT platform..................................35 Tab. 4.6 - Terrestrial broadcasters on DTT....................................................................36 Terrestrial commercial broadcasters – obligations in the development of DTT..............37 Tab. 4.7 – Obligation in the development of DTT platforms........................................37 5. Regulatory framework and public policies.............................................................................39 Policies in planning of frequency and digital capacity allocation.....................................39 Tab. 5.1 - Frequency planning and capacity allocation.................................................39 Digital capacity allocation – allocation procedure.............................................................40 Tab. 5.2 – Digital capacity allocation procedures..........................................................41 Public policy measures adopted for protecting pluralism, diversity and fair access to network..................................................................................................................................42 Tab. 5.3 – Policy measures for the protection of pluralism and access to network.....43 Obligations imposed to network operators.........................................................................44 Tab. 5.4 – Obligations imposed to network/platform operators...................................45 Switch off regulation............................................................................................................45 Tab. 5.5 – Switch off policies and regulation.................................................................46 Tab. 5.6 - Switch off dates...............................................................................................47 Policy measures in favour of network and content providers for the development of DTT or other digital platforms.....................................................................................................47 Tab. 5.7 – Support measures for network operators and content providers.................48 Support measures for the diffusion of the receivers...........................................................49 Tab. 5.8 – Support measures for the diffusion of the receivers.....................................49 6. DTT line-up and interactive services......................................................................................50 Tab. 6.1 - DTT channels line-up and interactive services.............................................51 7. Role of NRA’s in the digital transition...................................................................................52 Tab. 7.1 – Role of regulators...........................................................................................53 Tab. 7.2 – Distribution of competencies between NRAs and Government.................54 Final remarks........................................................................................................................................55 Annexes..................................................................................................................................................57 Annex 1 – List of participants......................................................................................................58 Annex 2 – The Questionnaire......................................................................................................59 Annex 3 – The Working group