Portugal begins analog shutdown

Since this week, Portugal has launched the first phase of switching on Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) throughout the country.

The definitive disappearance of the analogue system began this week with the blackout of the Palmela broadcasting center, south of Lisbon. The Palmela transmitter will be followed by the centers that cover the Algarve, Alentejo, and north of Lisbon. At the end of March, the analogue transmitters on the Azores and Madeira islands will be turned off.

The blackout process is scheduled to end on April 26.

For now, viewers will be able to receive four channels on DTT: two from public television RTP and the private ones SIC and TVI, with simulcast programming. In addition, the new digital service has a high definition channel in testing. The regional public channels RTP Açores and Madeira will also be broadcast digitally on the islands.

The Portuguese Government intended to have a paid offer for around 40 channels. A plan that was abandoned when Portugal Telecom announced its intention to return the pay-TV license to ANACOM for which it had paid 2.5 million euros.

Regarding the creation of a fifth free-to-air channel on DTT, there is controversy since both TVI and SIC have shown the Portuguese Government on numerous occasions their concern about this possibility since they maintain that the advertising market is already saturated.

90% of homes with DTT

The National Communications Authority (ANACOM) has launched an information campaign for city councils and users to facilitate migration.

ANACOM estimates that around 1.3 million homes will need to purchase a decoder to receive DTT and estimates that around 90% of Portuguese homes with reception of analog signals are prepared to migrate to digital services.

Portugal follows in the footsteps of Spain, France and Germany, which have already carried out the analogue switch-off, and is ahead of Italy, which will be turning off centers throughout this year.

The DTT service is structured with two different licenses: one for the management of the network and frequencies, and another for the management and distribution of pay television channels and content. Portugal Telecom has obtained both licenses.