Czechia - Current situation - History
18.02.2019
Czech Radio has one regular multiplex in Prague. Currently there is one transmitter and Czech Radio has permission to operate this multiplex (issued by Czech Telecommunication Bureau directly to Czech Radio) until 2021 and Czech Radio has a technical operation agreement with České Radiomunikace.
Three other multiplexes are on air in the Czech Republic and are operated by TELEKO, Ceske Radiokomunikace and RTI.
Czech Radio plans to add more transmitters (in the scope of 4-6 months) for Brno (12D, 5kW), Ostrava (12D, 10 kW) and Pilsen (12C, 10 kW) areas. The targeted coverage (including those sites) is about 35-40% of the Czech population.
Network operator TELEKO operates one regular local DAB/DAB+ multiplex using band III and L- Band, which reaches 5.8 million inhabitants of the Czech Republic. The signal broadcasts in Prague and the surrounding area, in Příbram, Brno and the surrounding region, the Moravia-Silesian region, the Usti nad Labem region and Hradec Kralove region. 15 radio stations are being broadcast on the TELEKO multiplex.
Network operator RTI CZ operates 60 radio transmitters in the FM band, predominantly in Western Bohemia. In 2011 RTI CZ obtained a license for Digital Radio DAB (L Band) in the Pilsenregion, Carlsbad region, South Bohemian region and inPrague city. RTI cz provides DAB broadcasting in West and South Bohemia.
A pdf summary of DAB+ in the Czech Republic (produced by multiplex operator RTI.cz) is availabe here (English) (German)
25.06.2018
Czech Radio has one regular multiplex in Prague. Currently there is one transmitter and Czech Radio has permission to operate this multiplex (issued by Czech Telecommunication Bureau directly to Czech Radio) until 2021 and Czech Radio has a technical operation agreement with České Radiomunikace.
Three other multiplexes are on air in the Czech Republic and are operated by TELEKO, Ceske Radiokomunikace and RTI.
Czech Radio plans to add more transmitters (in the scope of 4-6 months) for Brno (12D, 5kW), Ostrava (12D, 10 kW) and Pilsen (12C, 10 kW) areas. The targeted coverage (including those sites) is about 35-40% of the Czech population.
Network operator TELEKO operates one regular local DAB/DAB+ multiplex using band III and L- Band, which reaches 5.8 million inhabitants of the Czech Republic. The signal broadcasts in Prague and the surrounding area, in Příbram, Brno and the surrounding region, the Moravia-Silesian region, the Usti nad Labem region and Hradec Kralove region. 15 radio stations are being broadcast on the TELEKO multiplex.
Network operator RTI CZ operates 60 radio transmitters in the FM band, predominantly in Western Bohemia. In 2011 RTI CZ obtained a license for Digital Radio DAB (L Band) in the Pilsenregion, Carlsbad region, South Bohemian region and inPrague city. RTI cz provides DAB broadcasting in West and South Bohemia.
A pdf summary of DAB+ in the Czech Republic (produced by multiplex operator RTI.cz) is availabe here (English) (German)
19.01.2018
Download a pdf on DAB+ in the Czech Republic produced by multiplex operator RTI.cz (English) (German)
Czech Radio has one regular multiplex on channel 12C (Prague). Currently there is one transmitter (Prague-Mahlerovy Sady-12C-20 kW ERP). Czech Radio has permission to operate this multiplex (issued by Czech Telecommunication Bureau directly to Czech Radio) until 2021 and Czech Radio has a technical operation agreement with České Radiomunikace.
Czech Radio plans to add more transmitters (in the scope of 4-6 months) for Brno (12D, 5kW), Ostrava (12D, 10 kW) and Pilsen (12C, 10 kW) areas. The targeted coverage (including those sites) is about 35-40% of the Czech population.
12C Multiplex contents: 14 programs/services
4 main national programs : Radiozurnal, Dvojka, Vltava, Plus - simulcast on national FM network
5 regional programs : Regina DAB (Prague), Region (Central Bohemia), Brno, Ostrava, Pilsen. Regional programmes are simulcast on regional FM networks (belonging to regional studios in those cítíes), REGINA DAB is digital only (no analogue transmitter for that station)
4 special digital only programs – Radio Wave (young people), Radio Junior (children), D-dur (classical music), Jazz (jazz music).
1 special digital only ad-hoc program – Radio Retro – thematics archive offers, plan for specific period (actually there will be "Summer Holiday Radio Retro" for July and August). Czech Radio will keep the programme position permanent.
All programs are encoded with DAB+ AACv1 (80kbit/s) or AACv2 (48 kbit/s), stereo, with SLS and DLS on-line data services.
Three other multiplexes are on air in the Czech Republic and are operated by TELEKO, Ceske Radiokomunikace and RTI.
Full-fledged experimental digital broadcasting of Czech Radio and surroundings began on 6 August 2015. Czech radio broadcasts for Czech Radiocommunications provide the main Prague Zizkov transmitter on channel 12C with full power of 20 kW. The entire multiplex is occupied by public radio programs, both stations existing nationwide, as well as special digital-only programs.
On 9 June 2015 the new digital radio station DAB PLUS TOP 40 began broadcasting. The station is designed for young students 15-35 years of focus on the latest hits Czech and foreign production. The station broadcasts in multiplexes RTI cz DAB and DAB TELEKO.
On March 5th 2015 Czech Radio introduced a detailed seven-step plan for its transition to digital radio. The broadcaster will showcase its commitment to going digital by launching a new experimental digital radio service for Prague, reaching 10-15% of the national population.
Network operator TELEKO operates one regular local DAB/DAB+ multiplex using band III and L- Band, which reaches 5.8 million inhabitants of the Czech Republic. The signal broadcasts in Prague and the surrounding area, in Příbram, Brno and the surrounding region, the Moravia-Silesian region, the Usti nad Labem region and Hradec Kralove region. 15 radio stations are being broadcast on the TELEKO multiplex.
Network operator RTI CZ operates 60 radio transmitters in the FM band, predominantly in Western Bohemia. In 2011 RTI CZ obtained a license for Digital Radio DAB (L Band) in the Pilsenregion, Carlsbad region, South Bohemian region and inPrague city. RTI cz provides DAB broadcasting in West and South Bohemia.
From 1 March 2013, the selection of digital audio broadcasting (DAB) was expanded to include new projects of public broadcaster Czech Radio. Owners of digital audio devices are now able to listen to three new stations, two of which have been up until now limited to online broadcasting: Czech Radio – Radio Junior, Czech Radio Jazz and Czech Radio Plus.
The digital audio signal is currently available to approximately 58% of Czech inhabitants. Digital networks are powered by three operators which have obtained the appropriate permission from the Czech Telecommunication Office. Up to 18 stations are available to audiences in many Czech regions.
The Czech Parliament published four key requirements for successful implementation of digital broadcasting:
- The government should announce a schedule for the development of terrestrial digital radio broadcasting including a specific deadline for the completion of the transfer from analog to digital broadcasting.
- Czech Radio should permanently obtain frequencies for digital broadcasting and should become, like Czech Television, the operator of its own public service multiplex.
- Digital TV broadcasting has proven that it would be appropriate to use a national body which would be able to efficiently coordinate the steps taken by all individual entities. Following this example, the parties involved should establish the National Association for Digital Audio Broadcasting (NA DAB) comprising - in addition to the representatives of Czech Radio - ministries and governmental offices, licence holders, car producers, operators, electronic appliance dealers, etc.
- The state has to motivate private operators. An amendment to the law on broadcasting could, for example, loosen the rules regarding the ownership of digital stations.
In addition to Czech Radio, other commercial entities also expressed their support of digital broadcasting during the seminar: Lagardére Active CR (holder of the first historical digital licence) and the dance music radio station, SeeJay Radio. A unilateral resolution in favour of DAB was also adopted by the Council for Radio and Television Broadcasting.