Digital terrestrial television in Bulgaria
Digital terrestrial television in Bulgaria began in November 2004 in Sofia, Bulgaria with the launch of a free-to-air platform. Ever since then the Digital terrestrial tv network has grown to have networks all over Bulgaria.
History
Bulgaria launched a free-to-air platform on Sofia region, starting in November 2004. The Communications Regulatory Commission (CRC) has said that it received 6 bids for the licence to build and operate Bulgaria's two nationwide DTT networks. A second licence tender for the operation of 3 DTT multiplexes was open until 27 May 2009.[1][2] Following the closing of this process, Hannu Pro, part of Silicon Group, and with Baltic Operations has secured the license to operate three DTT multiplexes in Bulgaria by the country's Communications Regulatory Commission (CRC) Bulgaria completed the transition to digital broadcasting in September 2013.[3]
The transition from analogue to digital terrestrial television (digitalization) in Bulgaria (initially with a deadline of December 31, 2012, as well as in other EU countries) was postponed initially to September 1, 2013, and then to September 30, 2013.
At the end of 2012, an information campaign on digitalization was launched
Simulcast
First regular digital broadcast started on 1 March 2013. Analog broadcasting will be definitely terminated at 1 September 2013. The Simulcast period (time between digital broadcast switch-on and analog broadcast switch-off) will allow people time to buy new integrated Digital TVs or set-top boxes. On 30 September 2013 the simulcast period was officially put to an end.[4]
Television and radio programmes broadcast through multiplexes
| Multiplex | TV Channels | Broadcast period | Format | Language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MUX 1
(2013-2016) |
Bulgaria On Air | March 1, 2013 - April 1, 2015 | 16x9 | Bulgarian |
| Evropa TV | July 7, 2016 - November 1, 2016 | 16x9 | Bulgarian | |
| Folklor TV | June 9, 2016 - November 1, 2016 | 16x9 | Bulgarian | |
| MUX 2
(2013-Present) |
BNT 1 | December 10, 2016 - present | 16x9 | Bulgarian |
| BNT 2 | 16x9 | Bulgarian | ||
| BNT 3 | 16x9 | Bulgarian | ||
| bTV | March 1, 2013 - present | 16x9 | Bulgarian | |
| NOVA | 16x9 | Bulgarian | ||
| Bulgaria On Air | April 1, 2015 - present | 16x9 | Bulgarian | |
| TV7 | March 1, 2013 - December 11, 2015 | 16x9 | Bulgarian | |
| NEWS7 | March 7, 2013 - December 11, 2015 | 16x9 | Bulgarian | |
| bTV Lady +1* | September 30, 2013 - May 27, 2014 | 16x9 | Bulgarian | |
| RING.BG +1* | 16x9 | Bulgarian | ||
| Diema Family +1* | September 30, 2013 - September 30, 2014 | 4x3 | Bulgarian | |
| MUX 3 (2013-2016) | BNT 1 | March 1, 2013 - December 10, 2016 | 16x9 | Bulgarian |
| BNT 1 HD | 16x9 | Bulgarian | ||
| BNT 2 | 4x3 | Bulgarian | ||
| BNT HD | February 7, 2014 - December 10, 2016 | 16x9 | Bulgarian | |
| BNT World | March 1, 2013 - March 2, 2013 | 4x3 | Bulgarian | |
| MUX 12 Sofia (2013-Present) | BNT 1 | March 1, 2013 - December 10, 2016 | 16x9 | Bulgarian |
| The Voice | March 1, 2013 - December 2023 | 16x9 | Bulgarian,
English | |
| VTV (Vest TV) | March 1, 2013 - November 1, 2016 | 4x3 | Bulgarian | |
| Alfa TV | April 1, 2014 - May 2016;
April 2018 - November 2020 |
4x3 | Bulgarian | |
| Bulgaria On Air | April 1, 2015 - present | 16x9 | Bulgarian | |
| Fen Folk TV | December 2016 - 2017 | 16x9 | Bulgarian | |
| Euronews Bulgaria
(Formerly: TV Evropa) |
March 1, 2013 - July 7, 2016
November 1, 2016 - present |
16x9 | Bulgarian | |
| Folklor TV | December 2016 - present | 16x9 | Bulgarian | |
| NOVA News
(Formerly: Kanal 3) |
16x9 | Bulgarian |
Radio Channels
| Multiplex | Radio Channels | Broadcast Period | Language |
|---|---|---|---|
| MUX 12 Sofia (2013-Present) | BNR Horizon | March 6th, 2013 - December 2016 | Bulgarian |
| BNT Hristo Botev | March 6th, 2013 - December 2016 | Bulgarian |
* The program of the channels is broadcast on air with 1 hour delay (+1)
Technical information
Standards chosen are DVB-T and MPEG4 AVC/H.264 compression format. DVB-T2 will not be used for now.
SFN Allotments in Bulgaria
_Allotments_in_Bulgaria.png)
| Allotment | Cities | Multiplex | Channel |
|---|---|---|---|
| BUL01 - Vidin | Belogradchik, Berkovitsa, Vidin, Vratsa, Lom | MUX 1 | 32 |
| MUX 2 | 49 | ||
| MUX 3 | 53 | ||
| BUL02 - Pleven | Belene, Etropole, Lovech, Mezdra, Pleven, Pravets, Teteven, Troyan, Cherven bryag | MUX 1 | 51 |
| MUX 2 | 57 | ||
| MUX 3 | 41 | ||
| BUL03 - Ruse | Veliko Tarnovo, Gabrovo, Dryanovo, Elena, Rousse, Svishtov, Sevlievo, Tryavna | MUX 1 | 26 |
| MUX 2 | 49 | ||
| MUX 3 | 58 | ||
| BUL04 - Shumen | Veliki Preslav, Kaspichan, Kotel, Novi Pazar, Popovo, Razgrad, Silistra, Targovishte, Shumen | MUX 1 | 28 |
| MUX 2 | 40 | ||
| MUX 3 | 51 | ||
| BUL05 - Varna | Beloslav, Byala, Varna, Dobrich, Obzor, Provadia, Tervel, Shabla | MUX 1 | 22 |
| MUX 2 | 29 | ||
| MUX 3 | 27 | ||
| BUL06 - Burgas | Aytos, Ahtopol, Bourgas, Malko Tarnovo, Nesebar, Primorsko, Tsarevo | MUX 1 | 42 |
| MUX 2 | 47 | ||
| MUX 3 | 55 | ||
| BUL07 - Stara Zagora | Elhovo, Karnobat, Nova Zagora, Sliven, Stara Zagora | MUX 1 | 22 |
| MUX 2 | 37 | ||
| MUX 3 | 64 | ||
| BUL08 - Kardzhali | Dimitrovgrad, Ivailovgrad, Kardzhali, Svilengrad, Harmanli, Haskovo | MUX 1 | 26 |
| MUX 2 | 42 | ||
| MUX 3 | 45 | ||
| BUL09 - Plovdiv | Kazanlak, Kostenets, Panagyurishte, Plovdiv | MUX 1 | 25 |
| MUX 2 | 35 | ||
| MUX 3 | 41 | ||
| BUL10 - Smolyan | Batak, Velingrad, Dospat, Zlatograd, Smolyan | MUX 1 | 34 |
| MUX 2 | 49 | ||
| MUX 3 | 58 | ||
| BUL11 - Sofia | Breznik, Dupnitsa, Zemen, Kyustendil, Samokov, Svoge, Sofia, Tran | MUX 1 | 23 |
| MUX 2 | 40 | ||
| MUX 3 | 52 | ||
| BUL12 - Sofia-grad | Sofia | MUX 1 | 23 |
| MUX 2 | 40 | ||
| MUX 3 | 52 | ||
| MUX BUL12-1 | 64 | ||
| BUL13 - Blagoevgrad | Blagoevgrad, Gotse Delchev, Melnik, Razlog, Rila, Yakoruda | MUX 1 | 31 |
| MUX 2 | 29 | ||
| MUX 3 | 33 | ||
| BUL14 - Varna-grad | Varna | MUX 1 | 22 |
| MUX 2 | 29 | ||
| MUX 3 | 27 | ||
| BUL15 - Strandzha | /// | MUX 1 | 42 |
| MUX 2 | 47 | ||
| MUX 3 | 55 | ||
Technical parameters of digital terrestrial television in Bulgaria
• Standard: DVB-T
• Frequency range: Decimeter (UHF)
• Polarization: vertical
• Channel width: 8 MHz
• Guard interval: 1/4
• Code ratio (FEC): 2/3
• Modulation: 64QAM
• Transport rate: 19.91 Mbit/s
• Video encoding: MPEG-4
• Audio encoding SD programs: MPEG-1 Layer II
• Audio encoding HD programs: HE AAC
Sources
- ↑ "Комисия За Регулиране На Съобщенията". Crc.bg. Archived from the original on 2009-08-27. Retrieved 2009-08-12.
- ↑ Webfactory www.webfactory.ie. "Digital Video Broadcasting — Bulgaria". DVB. Retrieved 2009-08-12.
- ↑ "Bulgarian DTT woes continue". Broadband TV News. 2012-07-12. Retrieved 2012-09-05.
- ↑ "Аналоговият ТВ сигнал спрян окончателно, 100 000 са без телевизия".