Antenna Hungária remains the provider of national terrestrial digital television broadcasting networks

Published: 8 July 2019

Subsequent to the content-based examination – and the correction of deficiencies that constitutes an integral part thereof – on 8 July, the National Media and Infocommunications Authority (NMHH) pronounced Antenna Hungária Zrt., the sole bidder, as the winner of the tender for the operation licence of expiring national digital terrestrial television broadcasting networks. The operator and the NMHH are set to sign the public contract in September.

As of September next year, the successful bidder will be entitled to operate the two networks with the same technology (DVB-T MPEG4 AVC) as is currently used for a period of twelve years, ensuring that public service broadcasts remain available in the same quality and with current receivers free of charge, with a coverage of at least 98 per cent of the population as well as three networks using the new (DVB-T2 HEVC) technology for paid television services.

The tender for the operation licence of the networks was published by the Media Authority on its website on 10 April, to which only Antenna Hungária Zrt. applied. Following a formal examination of the bid, the NMHH registered the bidder on 14 May. The content-based review required the correction of deficiencies, which the bidder completed in full. Following the examination, on 8 July, the Media Authority announced Antenna Hungária Zrt. as the winner, who will thus continue to serve as the provider of national terrestrial digital television broadcasting networks following the expiry of the current licence in September 2020. The operator and the NMHH are set to sign the public contract on the operation licence in September.