Telewizja Polska S.A. and Emitel S.A. have entered into an agreement on broadening the range of test broadcasts in terrestrial digital television in the new DVB-T2/HEVC broadcasting standard. Thus, the test broadcasting range is gradually increased – from the previous 5 to the target 49 locations. As of May 1^st, 2021, 90% of Polish population will be covered by the full range of the tests.

Channels: TVP Kobieta, TVP Polonia, TVP Dokument, TVP Kultura and TVP Rozrywka, so far available as part of tests broadcasts, will be accessible until the end of June, 2022, when it is planned to deactivate the currently valid DVB-T standard and to launch DVB-T2/HEVC.

Moreover, during 2020 UEFA European Football Championship, Telewizja Polska will launch, on all 49 transmitters, UHD quality TV broadcast in DVB-T2/HEVC standard. TVP 4K channel will broadcast all games played during the championship, and the use of HDR (High Dynamic Range) technology and Dolby Atmos surround sound will make the broadcasts truly enjoyable for owners of UHD/4K receivers accommodating the DVB-T2/HEVC standard.

“Preparing the viewers for the upcoming change in broadcasting standard in the terrestrial digital television is an even more important task than a change in technology itself. Nationwide expansion of the new technology tests will let the recipients verify right now whether they have the receivers adapted to receive the new signal. We also want to present the full scope of possibilities of the new standard. As part of the tests, NTC viewers will, for the first time, for free, have an opportunity to watch Euro2020 games on a specially prepared TVP 4K channel, which places Telewizja Polska among top broadcasters providing wider audience in UHD/4K broadcasting standard,” says Marcin Klepacki, Head of TVP Distribution Department.

“For many years, terrestrial television has been the most popular platform to receive a TV signal in Poland. In 2022, we will witness a migration to a new broadcasting standard – DVB-T2/HEVC. Thanks to the new standard, terrestrial television viewers will gain a new, better sound and vision quality, and the broadcasters will be able to expand their offer. We are glad to be able to cooperate with Telewizja Polska on this endeavour and present the viewers with the advantages of a new broadcasting standard. I am convinced that Euro2020 broadcast in 4K standard will gain huge interest among TVP viewers,” said Andrzej Kozłowski, President of the Board of Emitel S.A.

We would like to remind you that the new NTC DVB-T2/HEVC broadcasting standard will become valid as of July 1^st, 2022 throughout Poland. The advantages of this change include, among others, the possibility to increase the number of channels in terrestrial offer and broadcasting them in HD quality, the ability to broadcast in UHD/4K standard, increased resistance against disturbances, higher sound quality and a broad range of additional services, using a hybrid television standard (HbbTV).

Tests conducted in liaison are to prepare both the broadcaster and the viewers for the upcoming change in broadcasting method. In order to receive the terrestrial television signal in new technology, viewers need to make sure that their TV sets have proper parameters and accommodate the new standard, and if they do not, they will have enough time to conveniently plan a purchase of a new TV set or an additional decoder/tuner.

List of broadcasting facilities used for test broadcasts: