From 2013, the only one in force in Poland the terrestrial television standard is the digital DVB-T standard. It was then that the transmission of the analog signal ended, which for many people meant the necessity to replace the TV set or purchase a set-top box to receive the digital signal.
After 9 years, the situation seems to repeat itself again. According to the schedule drawn up by the Office of Electronic Communications, in the second quarter of 2022, a new standard of digital terrestrial television will come into force in Poland – DVB-T2/HEVC. So it will be another television revolution, albeit on a smaller scale – the transition from one digital standard to another is a simpler process than the transition from analog to digital.
It does not change the fact that – as the analysis of the National Media Institute shows – even in a few months 2 million households may lose access to digital terrestrial television because their receivers are not prepared to receive the signal in the DVBT-2 standard.
Interestingly, as shown by the data collected by KIM, the inhabitants of the Lubuskie Voivodeship are the least prepared to “adopt” DVBT-2, and it is this region that will be the first to switch from DVB-T to DVB-T2 / HEVC – it will become March 28, 2022.
DVB-T2 – stages of switching Emitel
The full implementation schedule for the new standard is as follows:
- Etap 1. – from March 28, 2022: the Sudetes and Lower Silesia region, Lubuskie voivodship;
- Etap 2. – from 25/04/2022: the Pomeranian Belt from Szczecin to the Tri-City, a large part of Greater Poland, Kujawy, the western part of Mazovia;
- Etap 3. – from May 23, 2022: the southern part of Greater Poland, the Lodz Region, Kielce region, Subcarpathia, Lesser Poland, Upper Silesia, Opole region;
- Etap 4. – from June 27, 2022: Mazowsze, Eastern Poland (from the Suwałki region, through Podlasie, to the Lublin region and Zamość region), around the Lagoon.
Why do we need DVBT-2?
DVBT-2 will replace DVB-T for two reasons. First it will offer better sound and picture quality. After the changes, all channels available as part of terrestrial television will be broadcast in HD quality, and it will also be possible to broadcast a signal in 4K resolution. DVB-T2 is also a few other amenities, e.g. HbbTV hybrid TV, which enriches the TV signal with interactive elements, or inincreases resistance to network disturbances.
Secondly, the launch of this standard is somehow forced by the decision of the European Commission, according to which part of the band currently used by terrestrial television must be allocated to the development of 5G mobile telephony.
Do I need to replace the TV?
While almost all new TV sets sold in our country have been offering DVB-T2 support for several years, a large part it can only read the image encoded with the older video coding standard, i.e. AVC. Such receivers, after the changes come into force, will not be able to “recognize” the content being broadcast. Put simply – their owners will lose access to digital terrestrial television.
Terrestrial television will be encoded in accordance with a newer standard HEVCwhich is also known as H.265. When choosing a new TV set in the store, make sure that it supports:
- a) Standard DVB-T2
- b) HEVC Image Compression (H.265)
- d) E-AC3 audio compression (Dolby Digital Plus)
How can I check if my TV receives DVBT-2 / HEVC signal?
There are two ways to check if the receiver is ready for the arrival of a new terrestrial television. First of all, we can look at the device’s manual or its product card on the manufacturer’s website or the store where we made the purchase.
UKE informs about the second method: “Test programs have been launched, broadcasted in a new standard – thanks to this you can check whether your receiver can receive them. Scan the receiver and add new programs to the list” – we read in the office’s announcement. It is worth noting that the test emissions are currently limited only to selected areas of the country
What if my TV does not support the new standard?
If the TV set does not support the DVB-T2 standard or does not support HEVC encoding, then we will have to replace the receiver with a new one (more expensive option) or buy a terrestrial TV tuner. The cost of such a device can range from PLN 60 to PLN 300-400 – depending on the brand and offered functions.
DVB-T2 (Coverage map) Emitel
Can I watch terrestrial TV in DVB-T2 / HEVC standard?
The largest TV broadcasters in Poland have already started a test signal broadcast in the DVB-T2 standard. So far, it only takes place in a limited area. The coverage map can be found, among others, on.
The list of channels available for the test is as follows.
Polish Television
- TVP Dokument HD HEVC
- TVP Female HD HEVC TVP
- Kultura HD HEVC
- TVP Polonia HD HEVC
- TVP Entertainment SD HEVC
THE T.V
- TVN HD HEVC
- TVN 7 HD HEVC
- TTV HD HEVC
- Metro HD HEV
Polsat TV
- Polsat HD
- TV Deals
- TV Republika TV Regionalna (Wrocław only)
- Nowa TV HD
- Stars. HD TV (Warsaw only)
Source: Gazeta
Ricardo is a renowned author and journalist, known for his exceptional writing on top-news stories. He currently works as a writer at the 247 News Agency, where he is known for his ability to deliver breaking news and insightful analysis on the most pressing issues of the day.
