Digital terrestrial television in Portugal

Digital terrestrial television in Portugal (Portuguese: Televisão Digital Terrestre, or TDT) started on 29 April 2009 with currently 5 free-to-air (FTA) channels, including a High-Definition test channel. In the Azores and Madeira Islands, the respective regional channels (RTP Açores or RTP Madeira) are also available.^[1][2] In June 2010 TDT coverage reached 83% of the population and was expected to reach 100% by the end of 2010. The analog switch-off occurred on 26 April 2012.^[3] The four existing analog FTA channels are currently simulcasting in DVB-T, MPEG4 (digital),^[4] and PAL (analog).

The TDT process was broken into two different licenses: one for the management of the FTA network and frequencies, and one for the management and distribution of pay TV channels and content. Both licenses were won by Portugal Telecom (PT). PT acquired also the transmitter network of Televisão Independente (TVI), thus becoming the sole broadcaster of analog television signals.^[5] ANACOM's objective was to have 5 TDT FTA channels (including a new 5th FTA channel) and a paid TV offer of around 40 channels. The plan for a paid TV offer was abandoned when PT announced that they were returning the paid TV license to ANACOM, which returned the €2.5 million paid by PT for the license.^[6]

The creation of the 5th TV channel has been criticized by the main private broadcasters, TVI and Sociedade Independente de Comunicação (SIC). They argued that the television advertising market is already saturated and a new broadcaster would be detrimental to the existing channels.^[7]

References

1. "A TDT, em Portugal, disponibiliza de forma gratuita os canais generalistas nacionais RTP 1, RTP 2, SIC, TVI, RTP Açores e RTP Madeira (nas respectivas Regiões Autónomas). Um dos canais poderá ser emitido simultaneamente em Alta Definição", http://tdt.telecom.pt/o_que_e/Default.aspx?code=XzX622
2. "Canal Parlamento estreia hoje em sinal aberto" (in Portuguese). TeK Sapo.
3. ANACOM - DTT switch-off, "Homes located in the more inland municipalities of mainland Portugal started receiving television transmissions in digital format only on April 26, 2012", http://www.anacom.pt/render.jsp?categoryId=336981&languageId=1#.VX3VbFLrwdU
4. ANACOM. "FAQ: Do I need to change my television set to receive DTT?".
5. "PT concorre sozinha à TDT e compra rede analógica à dona da TVI" (in Portuguese). Jornal de Notícias.
6. "PT revoga licença para TDT e recupera caução" (in Portuguese). TeK Sapo.
7. Económico. "Quem ganha e perde com o novo canal de TV" (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2010-07-10.