Digital terrestrial television in Bulgaria
History
Bulgaria launched a free-to-air platform on Sofia region, starting in November 2004. The Communications Regulatory Commission (CRC) has said that it received 6 bids for the licence to build and operate Bulgaria's two nationwide DTT networks. A second licence tender for the operation of 3 DTT multiplexes was open until 27 May 2009.[1][2] Following the closing of this process, Hannu Pro, part of Silicon Group, and with Baltic Operations has secured the license to operate three DTT multiplexes in Bulgaria by the country's Communications Regulatory Commission (CRC) Bulgaria is aiming to complete the transition to digital broadcasting in September 2013.[3]
Simulcast
First regular digital broadcast started on 1 March 2013. Analog broadcasting will be definitely terminated at 1 September 2013. The Simulcast period (time between digital broadcast switch-on and analog broadcast switch-off) will allow people time to buy new integrated Digital TVs or set-top boxes. On 30 September 2013 the simulcast period was officially put to an end.[4]
Technical information
Standards chosen are DVB-T and MPEG4 AVC/H.264 compression format. DVB-T2 will not be used for now.
Assignment of channels in multiplexes
Multiplex | License to operate | Channel | Owner | Type | Launch period | Aspect ratio | Audio language | TXT | EPG | Online | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
National Free-to-air Television Network | |||||||||||
MUX 1 | "NURTS Digital” EAD | Bulgaria On Air | Bulgaria Air, M-Sat Cable etc. |
News Documentary |
1 March 2013 — at present | 16:9* | Bulgarian | ||||
MUX 2 | bTV | Central European Media Enterprises (bTV Media Group) |
General | 1 March 2013 — at present | 16:9 | Bulgarian | |||||
Nova television | Modern Times Group (Nova Broadcasting Group) |
General | 1 March 2013 — at present | 16:9 | Bulgarian | ||||||
Diema Family(+1)** | Modern Times Group (Nova Broadcasting Group) |
series/films Female-oriented |
30 September 2013 — at present | 4:3 | Bulgarian | ||||||
TV7 | Alegro Capital (7 Media Group) |
General | 1 March 2013 — at present | 4:3/16:9* | Bulgarian | ||||||
News7 | Alegro Capital (7 Media Group) |
News Documentary Sport |
7 March 2013 — at present until 7 March 2013 as BBT (Balkan Bulgarian Television) |
16:9 | Bulgarian | ||||||
bTV Lady(+1)** | Central European Media Enterprises (bTV Media Group) |
series/films Female-oriented |
30 September 2013 — 27 May 2014 | 4:3/16:9* | Bulgarian | ||||||
RING.BG(+1)** | Central European Media Enterprises (bTV Media Group) |
Sport | 30 September 2013 — 27 May 2014 | 16:9 | Bulgarian | ||||||
MUX 3 (national public channels) |
"First Digital” EAD | BNT 1 | Bulgarian National Television | General | 1 March 2013 — at present | 16:9 | Bulgarian | Only for Bulgaria | |||
BNT 1 HD | Bulgarian National Television | Sport | 1 March 2013 — at present | 16:9 | Bulgarian | ||||||
BNT 2 | Bulgarian National Television | General Regional |
1 March 2013 — at present | 4:3/16:9 | Bulgarian | Only for Bulgaria | |||||
BNT HD | Bulgarian National Television | Sport | 6 February 2014 — at present | 16:9 | Bulgarian | ||||||
BNT World | Bulgarian National Television | General Diaspora |
1 March 2013 — 2 March 2013 | 4:3/16:9* | Bulgarian | ||||||
Regional Free-to-air Television Network | |||||||||||
MUX BUL12-1 (Regional for Sofia-grad) test phase from 2006 |
"NURTS Bulgaria” AD | BNT 1 | Bulgarian National Television | General | 1 March 2013 — at present | 4:3/16:9* | Bulgarian | Only for Bulgaria | |||
Europa TV | Televizia Evropa AD | News | 1 March 2013 — at present | 4:3 | Bulgarian | ||||||
The Voice | A.E. Best Success Services Bulgaria | Music | 1 March 2013 — at present | 16:9* | (music) English Bulgarian |
||||||
VTV | Vesta Holding EAD | Ecology Documentary |
1 March 2013 — at present | 4:3 | Bulgarian | ||||||
News7 | Alegro Capital (7 Media Group) |
News Documentary Sport |
7 March 2013 — at present until 7 March 2013 as BBT (Balkan Bulgarian Television) |
16:9* | Bulgarian | ||||||
— Free-to-air Channels | — Switched-off Channels | — SDTV | — HDTV |
* On these channels, the aspect ratio is constantly signaled as 4:3. The viewer has to set it to 16:9 manually - most widescreen programs include a special "16:9" watermark in one of the screen corners. BNT 2 is the only channel that changes aspect ratios automatically.
**On these channels, the program they air is one hour behind the actual one.
SFN Allotments in Bulgaria
Allotment | Cities | Multiplex | Channel |
---|---|---|---|
BUL01 - Vidin | Belogradchik, Berkovitsa, Vidin, Vratsa, Lom | MUX 1 | 32 |
MUX 2 | 49 | ||
MUX 3 | 53 | ||
BUL02 - Pleven | Belene, Etropole, Lovech, Mezdra, Pleven, Pravets, Teteven, Troyan, Cherven bryag | MUX 1 | 51 |
MUX 2 | 57 | ||
MUX 3 | 41 | ||
BUL03 - Ruse | Veliko Tarnovo, Gabrovo, Dryanovo, Elena, Rousse, Svishtov, Sevlievo, Tryavna | MUX 1 | 26 |
MUX 2 | 49 | ||
MUX 3 | 58 | ||
BUL04 - Shumen | Veliki Preslav, Kaspichan, Kotel, Novi Pazar, Popovo, Razgrad, Silistra, Targovishte, Shumen | MUX 1 | 28 |
MUX 2 | 40 | ||
MUX 3 | 51 | ||
BUL05 - Varna | Beloslav, Byala, Varna, Dobrich, Obzor, Provadia, Tervel, Shabla | MUX 1 | 22 |
MUX 2 | 29 | ||
MUX 3 | 27 | ||
BUL06 - Burgas | Aytos, Ahtopol, Bourgas, Malko Tarnovo, Nesebar, Primorsko, Tsarevo | MUX 1 | 42 |
MUX 2 | 47 | ||
MUX 3 | 55 | ||
BUL07 - Stara Zagora | Elhovo, Karnobat, Nova Zagora, Sliven, Stara Zagora | MUX 1 | 22 |
MUX 2 | 37 | ||
MUX 3 | 64 | ||
BUL08 - Kardzhali | Dimitrovgrad, Ivailovgrad, Kardzhali, Svilengrad, Harmanli, Haskovo | MUX 1 | 26 |
MUX 2 | 42 | ||
MUX 3 | 45 | ||
BUL09 - Plovdiv | Kazanlak, Kostenets, Panagyurishte, Plovdiv | MUX 1 | 25 |
MUX 2 | 35 | ||
MUX 3 | 41 | ||
BUL10 - Smolyan | Batak, Velingrad, Dospat, Zlatograd, Smolyan | MUX 1 | 34 |
MUX 2 | 49 | ||
MUX 3 | 58 | ||
BUL11 - Sofia | Breznik, Dupnitsa, Zemen, Kyustendil, Samokov, Svoge, Sofia, Tran | MUX 1 | 23 |
MUX 2 | 40 | ||
MUX 3 | 52 | ||
BUL12 - Sofia-grad | Sofia | MUX 1 | 23 |
MUX 2 | 40 | ||
MUX 3 | 52 | ||
MUX BUL12-1 | 64 | ||
BUL13 - Blagoevgrad | Blagoevgrad, Gotse Delchev, Melnik, Razlog, Rila, Yakoruda | MUX 1 | 31 |
MUX 2 | 29 | ||
MUX 3 | 33 | ||
BUL14 - Varna-grad | Varna | MUX 1 | 22 |
MUX 2 | 29 | ||
MUX 3 | 27 | ||
BUL15 - Strandzha | /// | MUX 1 | 42 |
MUX 2 | 47 | ||
MUX 3 | 55 | ||
- ↑ "Комисия За Регулиране На Съобщенията". Crc.bg. Retrieved 2009-08-12.
- ↑ Webfactory www.webfactory.ie. "Digital Video Broadcasting — Bulgaria". DVB. Retrieved 2009-08-12.
- ↑ "Bulgarian DTT woes continue". Broadband TV News. 2012-07-12. Retrieved 2012-09-05.
- ↑ "Аналоговият ТВ сигнал спрян окончателно, 100 000 са без телевизия".