Eastern Europe makes slow switchover progress

摘要

Central and eastern Europe is making slow progress towards digital switchover, with the majority of countries in the region yet to launch digital-terrestrial television. Broadcasters and policy makers have warned that high costs to consumers, protracted licensing processes and an unrealistic target date set by the European Commission will contribute to switchover being unlikely in all countries by 2012. Digital terrestrial-television has commercially launched in Estonia, the Czech Republic, Lithuania and Slovenia - with trials taking place in many other markets. Estonia, Slovenia and Croatia have set 2010 deadlines for switch-off, while the Czech Republic, Latvia and Hungary plan to go all-digital in 2011. The remaining central and eastern European markets have set 2012 switch-off dates, with the exception of the Russian Federation and Ukraine, which plan to switch off in 2015.