Uruguay will turn off its analogue emissions in 2015

The public channel and the three national private channels that operate until now will maintain a frequency in the new system, through which they must broadcast in high definition.

Uruguay will begin digital terrestrial television transmissions in a maximum of twelve months, with the Uruguayan government setting the analog blackout for November 21, 2015.

The regulations reserve twenty frequencies for television broadcasts: seven for commercial channels, seven for community services and six for public entities.

The public channel and the three national private channels that operate until now will maintain a frequency in the new system, through which they must broadcast in high definition, according to the decree published by the government.

However, the licenses will no longer be for an indefinite period and will have an initial term of 15 years, with subsequent extensions of 10, he specified. Until the first five years after the blackout, they must maintain a standard definition “mirror” signal.

At the same time, Uruguay will call for those interested in providing commercial television services on three frequencies that can be distributed in more than one signal with the same or different owners, and also public and social organizations.

Uruguay had opted for the European DVB-T standard in 2007. However, in 2010, President José Mujica revoked that provision and opted for the Japanese-Brazilian ISDB-T option.