Photo: Glowimages
Currently, 4.5 million Poles are solely using digital television, but on March 19, analogue transmitters will be switched off in Warsaw, Szczecin, Rzeszow, Elblag and Wisla.
“After the analogue transmitters are turned off in March, [digital television] will reach another 5.7 million Poles,” Minister Michal Boni said at a press conference on Monday, as cited by the Polish Press Agency (PAP).
Boni noted that 31.5 million zloty (7.5 million euro) have been allocated to cover the transition process.
Some households affected by the 19 March switch-over will have a short period in which television programmes will be inaccessible.
About 3 million viewers are expected to receive digital signals immediately, but those living in the vicinity of the south eastern town of Sanok, for example, may be without signals for up to forty hours.
Cyfrowy Polsat reaps surprise rise in revenue
Meanwhile, the revenues of private telecommunications group Cyfrowy Polsat (Digital Polsat) rose by 4 percent in the last quarter of 2012, contrary to market analysts' forecasts.
Cyfrowe Polsat (Digital Polsat), which encompasses television channels, mobile phones and internet services, saw a 4 percent rise in its revenue to 753 million zloty (181.3 million euro), with an operating profit that increased to 175 million zloty (42.1 million euro) .
Analysts quizzed by PAP had forecast that revenues would be 733.3 million zloty (176.5 million euro).
Nevertheless, Polsat's television channels have recorded a 3 percent fall in revenue from advertisements and sponsoring by percent throughout 2012.
In this, the figures compare favourably with the national television advertising market for 2012, which fell by 5.6 percent.
However, Polsat predicts a further fall of between 4-6 percent in revenues from television advertising in 2013. (nh)