Russia takes DTT development plans forward

Russia is on course to complete digital switchover by 2017, according to broadcast infrastructure provider RTRS’s chief Viktor Pinchuk.

Local press reported Pinchuk as saying that the country’s first digital multiplex would include the new public TV channel set to launch next year as well as a channel for regional services, while a competition for participation in a second multiplex would be held in the middle of December. The second mux will comprise 10 channels initially.

Pinchuk said that a decision of switching off DVB-T transmssions during the first quarter of 2013 would be taken after the situation was analysed. However, it was likely the switch would be delayed slightly, he said.

Pinchuk said there were currently 96 models of DVB-T2 set-top available on the Russian market.