This version of the report includes the right to distribute to multiple users within a single company.
Poland’s television market is widely acknowledged as one of the most dynamic in Central and Eastern Europe. It includes the region’s second largest cable industry after Russia and no fewer than three DTH platforms. Taken together, they already provide digital services to almost two-thirds of all TV homes.
Change in the market has until recently been driven by the new generation DTH platform n, which was the first in Poland, and indeed the region, to introduce HD channels. However, almost all the leading non-terrestrial players now offer HD and additional services such as VOD and PVR.
Adoption of digital cable, in particular, is growing rapidly, with the number of homes receiving services set to double in 2008 to 400,000. This will be largely thanks to UPC, which finally launched its digital service in May 2008, as well as the activities of its closest rivals Vectra, Multimedia Polska and Aster.
While the introduction of DTT has left much to be desired, 2009 is likely to see the launch of up to three multiplexes. And separately, following much debate, a commercial DVB-H operation should finally make its debut in the first half of the year.
In contrast, the IPTV platform operated by the incumbent telco TPSA has yet to make an impression on the marketplace. Leading alternative carriers may nevertheless provide a boost to the sector should they decide to launch their own services.
This report is part of the Broadband TV News Briefing Series and the second on Poland. Totally updated and completely rewritten, it offers a comprehensive and yet at the same time concise overview of developments in the country’s TV industry, and in particular its digital sector.
- Examine the role of the three leading broadcasters TVP, Polsat and TVN in the provision of digital services
- Evaluate the future of the three existing DTH platforms, plus prospective market entrants TVP and TPSA
- Consider the strategy of cable operators in an increasingly competitive digital marketplace
- Assess the potential for DTT, IPTV and DVB-H
- Understand the legislation underpinning digital broadcasting and the many issues that still need to be resolved
Author: Chris Dziadul
