The modern DVB-T2 format for terrestrial television broadcasting has already covered the entire territory of the Czech Republic, and now comes the second part of the whole process - shutting down the older DVB-T signal. This, just like the initial coverage, will be done gradually and the transition should be completed in the first half of 2020. What does it mean for end users like you? When will analogue DVB-T transmissions stop in your region? Is it necessary to buy a new TV or a set-top box? Read the article below to find out the answers.
Since the older DVB-T standard has not yet been turned off, you can now tune both standards with a compatible device. However, this situation is only temporary and DVB-T will be gradually shut down. The phase out will be performed in several stages, with Multiplex 1 (MUX 1) transmitting the Czech Television (public television broadcaster) channels being switched off first, and MUX 2 and MUX 3, transmitting the rest of TV channels, to follow.
The phase out will begin with the Prague-Žižkov and Cukrák transmitters, which will be switched off on November 27, 2019. In other words, Praguers without a DVB-T2 TV or DVB-T2 set-top box will not be able to watch the traditional ČT Christmas programming this year. After the New Year, DVB-T broadcasting in Prague will be terminated completely and at the same time MUX 1 will be shut down in the Central Bohemia and Hradec Králové regions.
In late January and early February, the Ústecký, Plzeňský, and Karlovarský regions will stop broadcasting in DVB-T; the Liberec region will follow at the end of February, and finally the Jihočeský region in March. The DVB-T phase out will then continue in the eastern part of the country. If everything goes as intended, the transition to DVB-T2 will be completed in June 2020.
| Transmitter / Service Termination Date | Multiplex 1 (ČT) |
Multiplex 2 (Nova, Prima, ...) |
Multiplex 3 (Óčko, Šlágr, ...) |
Multiplex 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Praha-Žižkov | 27. 11. 2019 | 8. 1. 2020 | 8. 1. 2020 | More info |
| Praha-Cukrák | 27. 11. 2019 | 15. 1. 2020 | 15. 1. 2020 | More info |
| Transmitter / Service Termination Date |
Multiplex 1 | Multiplex 2 | Multiplex 3 | Multiplex 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January 2020 |
|
|
|
|
| Votice-Mezivrata | 7. 1. | 22. 1. | 22. 1. | – |
| Trutnov – Černá hora | 7. 1. | 12. 2. | 28. 4. | – |
| Ústí nad Labem – Buková hora | 30. 1. | 23. 3. | 20. 4. | – |
| Chomutov-Jedlák | 30. 1. | 23. 3. | 20. 4. | – |
| February 2020 |
|
|
|
|
| Plzeň-Krašov | 4. 2. | 2. 3. | 1. 4. | – |
| Domažlice – Vraní vrch | 4. 2. | 2. 3. | 5. 4. | during February |
| Cheb – Zelená hora | 12. 2. | 16. 3. | – | – |
| Jáchymov-Klínovec | 12. 2. | 16. 3. | – | 19. 2. |
| České Budějovice – Kleť | 19. 3. | 13. 2. | 19. 2. | during February |
| Vimperk – Mařský vrch | 19. 3. | 13. 2. | 19. 2. | – |
| Sušice-Svatobor | 26. 2. | 30. 3. | 5. 4. | 27. 2. |
| Liberec-Ještěd | 26. 2. | 30. 3. | 26. 4. | 26. 2. |
| March 2020 |
|
|
|
|
| Brno-Kojál | 31. 3. | 4. 5. | 4. 5. | – |
| Brno-Hády | 31. 3. | 6. 5. | 6. 5. | – |
| Brno-Barvičova | 31. 3. | 11. 5. | 11. 5. | 4. 5. |
| Mikulov-Děvín | 31. 3. | 18. 5. | 4. 5. | – |
| April 2020 |
|
|
|
|
| Pardubice-Krásné | 30. 4. | 25. 5. | 25. 5. | – |
| Jihlava-Javořice | 30. 4. | 25. 5. | 25. 5. | – |
| Jeseník-Praděd | 30. 4. | 1. 6. | 4. 6. | – |
| Ostrava-Hošťálkovice | 30. 4. | 1. 6. | 8. 6. | – |
| Ostrava-Hladnov | 30. 4. | 1. 6. | 8. 6. | – |
| Frýdek-Místek – Lysá hora | 30. 4. | 1. 6. | 8. 6. | – |
| May 2020 |
|
|
|
|
| Zlín – Tlustá hora | 31. 5. | 23. 6. | 23. 6. | – |
| Valašské Klobouky – Ploštiny | 31. 5. | 23. 6. | 28. 6. | – |
| Transmitter / Service Termination Date |
Multiplex 4 |
|---|---|
| January 2020 |
|
| Praha – Ládví | 8. 1. |
| Praha – Novodvorská | 8. 1. |
| Praha – Olšanská | 8. 1. |
| Benešov – Kozmice | 9. 1. |
| Rakovník – Louštín | 9. 1. |
| February 2020 |
|
| Děčín – Chlum | 7. 2. |
| Teplice – Vodárna | 7. 2. |
| Ústí nad Labem – Krušnohorská | 7. 2. |
| Jáchymov – Klínovec | 19. 2. |
| Mariánské Lázně – Dyleň | 19. 2. |
| Česká Lípa – Špičák | 26. 2. |
| Jablonec nad Nisou – Černá Studnice | 26. 2. |
| Liberec – Ještěd | 26. 2. |
| Domažlice – Čerchov | 27. 2. |
| Plzeň – Vodárna | 27. 2. |
| Sušice – Svatobor | 27. 2. |
| České Budějovice – Kleť | during February |
| April 2020 |
|
| Hradec Králové – Chlum | 29. 4. |
| Pardubice – Slatiňany | 30. 4. |
| Svitavy – Hřebečov | 30. 4. |
| Ústí nad Orlicí – Andrlův Chlum | 30. 4. |
| May 2020 |
|
| Brno – Barvičova | 4. 5. |
| Brno – Jihlavská | 4. 5. |
| Hodonín – Kapánsko | 4. 5. |
| Znojmo – Deblínek | 4. 5. |
| Olomouc – Slavonín | 5. 5. |
| Opava – Hlubočec | 27. 5. |
| Ostrava – Lanová | 27. 5. |
| Frenštát pod Řadhoštěm | 28. 5. |
| Zlín – Segment | 28. 5. |
| Jihlava – Jeníkov | during May |
| Třebíč – Vartemberk | during May |
| Uherské Hradiště – Rovnina | during May |
DVB-T2 (Digital Video Broadcasting - Terrestrial) is a new standard of terrestrial television broadcasting, which already covers almost the entire territory of the Czech Republic and which will soon be the only way to tune in television broadcasting. DVB-T2 is based on the original DVB-T standard. It uses different methods of compression, i.e. algorithms that reduce the necessary bit rate. While DVB-T uses MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 (in Czechia, all stations broadcast in MPEG-2), DVB-T2 uses either MPEG-4 or HEVC (with H.265 codec). Czech Republic, represented by Czech Radiocommunications, has opted for the second, more modern option. We will explain the reasons later in the article.
If you want to receive DVB-T2 HEVC / H.265 broadcasting, you need a TV or a set-top box that supports this standard. You can find out whether your TV or set-top box supports the new standard if you check the product details or the device manual.
The DVB-T2 TV tuning process is fairly simple. On the TV or set-top box, you can either run an automatic network scan (all DVB-T2 networks whose signal is available in your location will be loaded into the receiver's memory), or select manual tuning to specify the broadcast channels you want to add. Common antennas on family houses won’t need any modifications; in case of common TV antennas (STA), you may need to call a service company to ensure proper compatibility.
One of the main advantages of digital broadcasting is the higher number of channels. This is possible thanks to the so-called multiplexes, i.e. broadcasting networks that contain several TV stations, radio stations, and associated services concurrently. Both DVB-T and DVB-T2 (once the switchover is complete) will feature 4 nationwide multiplexes and several regional multiplexes. Viewers across the Czech Republic thus have access to more than thirty Czech television programs free of charge. There are only 3 multiplexes in the transition network mode, with Czech Radiocommunications and Czech Digital Group sharing the Transition Network 12.
As their name suggests, DVB-T2 transition networks, are only there as a temporary solution. At the turn of 2019 and 2020, they will begin to transform into the final network. The channels are divided as follows:
The transition to DVB-T2 broadcasting will mean a qualitative change for viewers. The new networks will offer higher transmission capacity, allowing television stations to have more space to broadcast in higher quality. Today's DVB-T terrestrial digital TV broadcasts allow you to distribute up to eight standard definition (SD) television channels on one broadcast network. In DVB-T2 networks, up to 18 channels can be distributed in this resolution, or alternatively six to seven high-definition (HD) channels. It will even be possible to broadcast in Ultra HD, also called 4K. However, if you are interested in 4K resolution, Netflix is streaming 4k content right now.
H.265 or HEVC (High Efficiency Video Coding) is a so-called "codec", which is a portmanteau of "coder-decoder". A codec is therefore a generic term for systems that provide signal coding (and decoding), both for sending and receiving. As its full English name suggests, HEVC is intended for video encoding. New devices use HEVC (H.265) because it is about twice as efficient as the older H.264, meaning it can transfer video in two times better quality without any change in data volume.
HEVC is something you have to keep in mind, because if you are receiving DVB-T2 signal encoded with HEVC and your device cannot decode it, you will only see a black screen instead of proper TV content. To prevent this from happening, make sure that the devices you have at home or planning to buy support not only DVB-T2, but also DVB-T2 HEVC / H.265. For TVs purchased before 2018, it is quite likely that they lack integrated HEVC support.
i
Check your devices
Are you wondering whether your devices (TV, set-top box) can receive DVB-T2 broadcasts with the HEVC (H.265) codec? You can check it yourself in just a few seconds at www.dvbt2overeno.cz/overeni.
To put it simply, the switchover to DVB-T2 concerns all people who receive TV broadcasting free of charge and don’t use a paid TV service provider (with the exception of annual fees paid to the national public service broadcaster, which are mandatory). So if your household receives a TV signal from a common, outdoor, or classic indoor antenna, you will be most likely affected by the transition to the new broadcasting standard.
To receive DVB-T2 broadcasts with the HEVC (H.265) codec, you need a compatible TV or set-top box. Generally, you will recognise such devices by the round gold sticker saying DVB-T2 ověřeno (DVB-T2 Ready), indicating the device is certified by Czech Radiocommunications. At Alza, we have made your job easier - you can find DVB-T2 TVs with HEVC (H.265) in the DVB-T2 TV category, and the set-top boxes in the DVB-T2 set top boxes category.
If your TV does not support DVB-T2 with HEVC (H.265), you don’t have to purchase a new TV. All you need is to buy a suitable set-top box with the gold DVB-T2 sticker. On Alza, you can find these set-top boxes in the DVB-T2 set top boxes category.
Unfortunately, every TV in your home requires its own receiver for DVB-T2 broadcasting. In other words, if you own multiple TVs that do not support DVB-T2 / HEVC, you will need to purchase a separate set-top box with the DVB-T2 ověřeno gold sticker for each TV.
If you have any problems with your DVB-T2 device, you can contact us using the contact form. There is also a wide range of professional service companies who can help you with the tuning or troubleshoot any of your TV reception problems.
The phase out begins in autumn 2019 in Central Bohemia. It will then gradually continue in other regions of the Czech Republic until approximately mid-2020, when the transition to the new DVB-T2 broadcasting standard will be completed.
The transition to the DVB-T2 broadcasting standard is a matter imposed by external circumstances - television broadcasters did not come up with the idea, but they have to respond to the changing situation. Part of the broadcasting spectrum used for TV broadcasting has been released to mobile operators, necessitating a switch to the more efficient DVB-T2 standard in order to maintain the current coverage.
DVB-T2 is the new format of terrestrial television broadcasting, which will become the standard for TV broadcasting in Czechia over the next few years.
The rollout of DVB-T2 broadcasting officially started on March 1, 2017 with Prague's Žižkov and Cukrák transmitters. Other transmitters have gradually joined them:
Year 2017:
Year 2018:
People from Prague and its metropolitan area, as well as from Brno, Ostrava, Western, Central, Eastern and Northern Bohemia, Vysočina, the Moravian-Silesian region, Southern Moravia and most of South Bohemia can already receive DVB-T2 broadcasting. All these transmitters broadcast on Channel 31. In Brno, Ostrava, Pardubice, and the transmitters on Černá hora, Lysá hora and Děvín, use Channel 28, while Ploštiny and Tlustá hora use Channel 22.
The coverage of the whole country with the new DVB-T2 standard should be complete in the first quarter of 2018. Since 2017, the number of transmitters has been growing rapidly, as has the range of TV channels. As of April 2018, 97.9% of households are covered and can receive 21 channels.
Transition Network 12:
Transition Network 11:
The amendment to the Electronic Communications Act, signed on July 31, 2017, allows all public television channels to switch to DVB-T2. Concurrently with the transition to the new standard, ČT will launch all its channels in HD resolution. Previously, only ČT 1, ČT 2 and ČT Sport could be watched in HD quality. ČT 24 broadcasts in high definition only via satellite. In January 2018, Czech Radiocommunications added into the nationwide DVB-T2 broadcasting the first Czech Television channels, namely ČT:D and ČT Art. ČT launched the full range of its DVB-T2 channels at the end of March 2018. With 22 transmitters, the ČT DVB-T2 broadcasting now covers 98.7% of the population, and by May it will switch on another 4 transmitters, giving it an almost 100% coverage. It will broadcast on Channel 26 (except for the South Bohemian transmitter Kleť on Channel 39 and the Ústí nad Labem region with Channel 33).
Your TV or set-top box has to support the new DVB-T2 HEVC / H.265 standard. If you are not sure, you can find it in the device manual or you can try to find the product directly on our website. A TV or set-top box supporting the new broadcast standard has DVB-T2 - HEVC filled in the “Tuner type” parameter and is marked with the gold logo below (you can find the logo on the product page). You can also test whether your TV supports DVB-T2 HEVC using the Czech Radiocommunications website.
Be careful when choosing a new TV or set-top box. There are still many TVs and set-top boxes that support DVB-T2 without the HEVC / H.265 codec. These devices can indeed receive DVB-T2, but you will only see a black screen. You can find the list of all DVB-T2 HEVC / H.265 compatible TVs (also verified by Czech Radiocommunications) on our website in the category DVB-T2 HEVC / H.265 TV. There are currently 1,200 DVB-T2 HEVC / H.265 certified TVs on the market and their marketshare is growing rapidly. As of early September 2017, 22% of all households had a DVB-T2 receiver.
The nationwide termination of DVB-T broadcasting will probably take place in late 2020, but no later than February 1, 2021. The exact phase out plan will be part of the Technical Transition Plan to be prepared by the Ministry of Industry and Trade in the coming months. If you already know your TV does not support the new DVB-T2 standard, you should really start looking for a new TV or a set-top box. It is very likely that with the arrival of the new DVB-T2 standard and HD programming. some TV stations will terminate their DVB-T broadcasting before the official, government-mandated deadline. By 2021, only basic channels will remain in DVB-T, if any at all.
The main reason for the transition to DVB-T2 is to release the 700 MHz band to meet the needs of mobile operators and broadband Internet providers.
Compared to the older DVB-T broadcast format, the DVB-T2 H.265 / HEVC standard can transmit video and audio more efficiently. The transition to the new format of television broadcasting is expected to improve image quality of the existing TV channels and allow further expansion of the range of stations broadcasting in SD.
The transition to DVB-T2 broadcasting will mean a qualitative change for viewers. The new networks will offer higher transmission capacity, allowing television stations to have more space to broadcast in higher quality. Today's DVB-T terrestrial digital TV broadcasts allow you to distribute up to eight standard definition (SD) television channels on one broadcast network. In DVB-T2 networks, up to 18 channels can be distributed in this resolution, or alternatively six to seven high-definition (HD) channels. It will even be possible to broadcast in Ultra HD, also called 4K.
It is expected in the first quarter of 2018. The DVB-T2 network should be finalized by 2020. Tuning DVB-T2 TVs will not be difficult. On the TV or set-top box, the viewer either starts an automatic network scan (all the DVB-T2 networks whose signal is available in the location are loaded into the receiver's memory), or selects manual tuning to enter the broadcast channels they want add. Common antennas on family houses will not need to be changed; in the case of common TV antennas (STA), it will be necessary to call a service company to provide technical modifications to the STA equipment.
DVB-T terrestrial digital television broadcasting is the successor of analogue broadcasting, which was launched in Czechoslovakia in 1953. DVB-T stands for Digital Video Broadcasting – Terrestrial and it was rolled out in Czechia on October 21, 2005. Digital terrestrial broadcasting is distributed from fixed anchored transmitters and is received by standard antennas, as opposed to satellite or cable broadcasting. It is also the only TV broadcast that you can receive for free. Compared to analogue, digital broadcasting offers better signal reception in mountainous regions and densely populated urban areas, more television stations, higher image quality, mobility, and interactive services.
One of the main advantages of digital broadcasting is the higher number of channels. This is possible thanks to the so-called multiplexes, i.e. broadcasting networks that contain several TV stations, radio stations, and associated services concurrently. These include Electronic Program Guide (EPG), Super Teletext and other interactive services (on-line shopping, voting, e-mail, simple games). In the current and final form of digital broadcasting, we can find 4 nationwide multiplexes and several regional multiplexes. Viewers across the Czech Republic thus have access to more than thirty Czech television channels free of charge.
•ČT 1
•ČT 2
•ČT 24
•ČT sport
•Czech Radio Radiožurnál
•Czech Radio Dvojka
•Czech Radio Vltava
•Czech Radio Radio Wave
•Czech Radio in D major
•Czech Radio Radio Junior
•Czech Radio Plus
•Czech Radio Jazz
•Nova
•Nova Cinema
•Prima TV
•Prima Cool TV
•Barrandov
•Prima Love
•Prima Zoom
•Prima Max
•Óčko
•Óčko Gold
•CT: D / ČT art
•Šlágr TV
•Kino Barrandov
•Barrandov Plus
•Radio Proglas
•Telka
•Smíchov
•Fanda
•First Comedy Central
•RELAX REBEL
•Mňam TV
•Meow TV
•Seznam.cz TV (HbbTV for Stream.cz)
•TV Morava - only Olomouc transmitter
•BTV - only transmitters Brno, Hodonín, Znojmo and Blansko
•TV Slovácko - only transmitters Uherské Hradiště and Zlín
•TV Polar - only transmitters Ostrava, Hlubočec, Bruntál
•ZAK TV - only transmitters Plzeň, Sušice, Klatovy, Domažlice, Jáchymov, Mariánské Lázně
•South Bohemian Television - only transmitters České Budějovice - Kleť, Prachatice - Křeplice
•Radio Time
All 4 digital TV broadcasting networks are available pretty much everywhere in the Czech Republic (more than 99% coverage).
To receive terrestrial digital broadcasting, you need a TV with a DVB-T tuner or a DVB-T set-top box that you connect between the existing antenna and your TV. Using a DVB-T card or USB module, digital broadcasts can also be watched on a laptop or desktop computer.
Other TV reception options
•DVB-S Digital satellite broadcasting
•DVB-C Digital broadcasting via cable TV
•IPTV Digital broadcasting over a computer network
The improved DVB-T2 standard is based on the original DVB-T. It uses different methods of compression, i.e. algorithms that reduce the necessary bit rate. While DVB-T uses MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 (in Czechia, all stations broadcast in MPEG-2), DVB-T2 uses either MPEG-4 or HEVC (with H.265 codec).
Czech Radiocommunications has decided to use the second, more data-efficient H.265 / HEVC format in the Czech Republic. This allows to either fill each multiplex with more TV channels in SD or with the same number of channels broadcasting in HD or even Ultra HD resolution.
You don’t have to change the antenna system in order to receive the new DVB-T2 broadcasting, but you have to make sure the receiver is equipped with a tuner for the above-mentioned H.265 / HEVC codec.
If you don't have it yet, don't wait too long to buy a new device with DVB-T2 and HEVC support. DVB-T broadcasting will be terminated in most of the Czech Republic in 2020.
