More than 10% of the vulnerable social groups of Ukraine can loose free access to the national TV channels due to transiting to the digital broadcasting, according to the 1+1 Media TV holding.
“The 1+1 Media Group has been always taking the lead in cutting off analog broadcasting. However, the state regulatory authority’s plans threaten the availability of signal for a large part of the population. Despite the situation with the digital coverage area of the country, we estimate that the transition to the digital in July 2017 is risky and jeopardises not only the information security of the country, but also a free access to information for Ukrainian residents”, as the holding press office’s statement said.
Under license terms, the digital terrestrial provider “Zeonbud” shall cover at least 95% of the population. According to the 1+1 Media’s expert opinion, the T2 signal coverage area of the population is 10-15% lower, being within 80-85%.
“Even now, we are aware that a lot of people, especially in small localities, will remain with dark screens. This concerns not only the 1+1, but also the Inter Group’s channels and the channel UA: Pershyi, which have the largest analog coverage. For sure, transiting to the digital is inevitable and very helpful for the TV industry development, but the plans to move fully to the digital broadcasting in 2017 can deprive of access to the national channels a large number of people. We are ready to assist the government in working out a flexible and painless transition plan that will not be so risky”, as commented on by Andriy Malchevskyi, Head of Broadcasting Network Distribution and Development Department at 1+1 Media.
The analog broadcasting cut-off in 2017 will result in digitally uncovered households’ moving to free satellite broadcasting, where there are represented some Russian-language TV products in the form of international versions of the Russian TV channels. This will allow for these channels’ penetrating to Ukraine. And a part of the population will have no access to the national channels at all.
At that, the 1+1 Media’s statement does not specify exactly when Ukraine should transit from the analog terrestrial TV broadcasting to the digital one.
Let us recall that earlier, the Chairman of the National Council informed about the request of the TV holdings “1+1 Media” and “Inter Media Group” to postpone the analog broadcasting cut-off in Ukraine until 2019.
