Activity

Ukraine's transition to digital broadcasting is a very important project for the state, viewers and the television industry.

Digital broadcasting or shutdown of analogue broadcasting is a project of the state transition to digital terrestrial television broadcasting, the refusal from the old analogue broadcasting format. After packing television channels in multiplexes (8-10 programs per multiplex), the number of frequencies used will reduce significantly. According to the Geneva 2006 plan, eight multiplexes are envisaged in Ukraine.

Ukrainian radio frequency space has no free frequencies for simultaneous digital and analogue broadcasting, so in sync with the introduction of digital broadcasting the analogue broadcasting should be shutdown.

For effective and successful project implementation, almost all government agencies, broadcasters, administrative resources and public organizations should be involved for cooperation.

The main purpose of government agencies is the fulfilment of international obligations of Ukraine, while TV channels are interested in maximum break-even switching to a new broadcasting format, required by the conditions of exclusively digital broadcasting established by the state.

The viewer, in turn, must remain secure and not lose access to television.

Also, it is the state's responsibility to provide citizens with timely reliable information, monitor the implementation of the project by the stakeholders, and ensure sustainable and effective implementation of digital broadcasting. In the absence of a unified source of information on the status of the project, the Television Industry Committee took the initiative to structure the facts and recommendations on the project in one document.

The main purpose of this brochure is an attempt to identify new steps for the television industry and the state as a whole which should be scheduled today.
 To view from the outside and analyze objectively the current situation, we have analyzed the information as of June 2009.

The information has been structured in six areas:

1. Regulation of digital broadcasting in Ukraine.
2. Technical aspects.
3. Business initiatives and industry events.
4. International relations and Ukraine's participation in international events.
5. International experience and the situation in neighbouring countries.
6. Next steps.