In the second quarter of this year. There will be a change in the level of digital terrestrial television. It will not apply to customers using cable networks and satellite platforms. However, more than two million households receiving television through terrestrial means have to purchase a new TV set or tuner. For the latter, you will be able to take advantage of PLN 100.
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How will you be able to obtain financing?
– A change in the frequency distribution means significant revenue for the state budget – at the level of 1,242 million PLN – 1,624 million PLN. We want to donate some of this money to support families,” said Minister Janusz Czyczynski, Minister of State for Digital in the Prime Minister’s Office. – Every family needing support to adapt to a change of standard will receive – in the form of a benefit of up to PLN 100 for the purchase of a set-top box – Cieszyński has been added.
According to the provisions of the law, one person is entitled to the advantage of purchasing a set-top box within the family. The co-financing will cover the purchase of a set-top box that complies with the provisions of the Regulation on Technical and Operational Requirements for Digital Receivers, that is, which allows the correct reception of the television signal in the new standard.
The Prime Minister’s Chancellery reports that applying for a new feature will be very simple. There are several options to choose from: an electronic form, a traditional application, the possibility of applying through an agent – a family member or a family member. After submitting the application – the eligible person will receive a document confirming that the advantage of purchasing a set-top box has been granted. She will be able to carry it out in one of the RTV stores that apply to participate in the program. Co-financing will be one-time, up to PLN 100. The feature will be available until the end of 2022.
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30 thousand people were involved in the production of television sets.
Recently, the Communications Institute noted that only the oldest TVs, over 25 years old, need replacing. – CRT receivers and receivers without a SCART connector will not be suitable for receiving DVB-T2 TV. In practice, these are TVs that are more than 25 years old. There are setup boxes available on the market that support such a connector – the Communications Institute reported.
The Digital Poland Association has a completely different position. TV producers such as Samsung, LG, Panasonic or Sony (all with Asian capital). According to this organization, the funding should also cover, perhaps above all, new televisions. Why should the government subsidize televisions too? The arguments in favor of supporting the purchase of televisions can generally be divided into those related to the economy and consumer issues. From an economic point of view, subsidizing television sets will support the domestic television production sector, which is the largest in Europe and employs more than 30,000 people. people and contributes significantly to building our GDP. Interest related only to the purchase of set-top boxes, in turn, means that the capital is directed to the Asian markets, where these devices are manufactured. We do not produce decoders in Poland. It will be easy for the domestic sector to respond to the sudden jump in demand, while the market for decoders may not live up to market expectations, because we have to wait weeks for the containers with these devices to reach the country,” Michał Kanownik, President of the Digital Poland Association, Tell Wirtualnemedia.pl.
Receivers rarely allow you to use HbbTV
DVB-T2 / HEVC tuners rarely allow access to HbbTV. They are usually much more expensive than equipment that costs 100 PLN. A terrestrial hybrid TV allows you to enjoy additional video-on-demand content, listen to the radio, or watch a more detailed TV program when the receiver is connected to the network. And Emitel has recently introduced the last two functions into its applications.
Read also: A new standard for TV and additional fees. The key is the TV, not the set-top box.
– From the point of view of the consumer, the decoder is not a complete solution. It does not provide access to the better picture and sound quality offered by the new signal standard, or additional features such as HbbTV hybrid TV. Thus the potential of technology can be wasted. Unfortunately, it must be remembered that the domestic sales segment of receivers still suffers from unfair offers. Consumers risk buying a device that does not meet the requirements of the new standard, despite the fact that the bill provides for penalties for fraudulent sellers. After all, limiting the co-financing mechanism to decoders only means restricting consumers’ free choice. For this reason both types of devices were also financed in France and Great Britain. It should be noted that the market for set-top boxes is characterized by a much lower entry limit than the TV sales segment, so the implementation of the service in the proposed form may include fraudulent entities extorting funds allocated under the project for co-financing the purchase of receivers – notes the head of the Digital Poland Association.
See also: New TV with DVB-T2 / HEVC? Suggestions for the elderly and thrifty
“Replacing the decoder only prefers the digital exclusion”
Kanownik points out that choosing a TV doesn’t have to be expensive, and when it comes to functionality, the recipient benefits. – The bill refers to a “document confirming the granting of benefits”, that is, an electronic document, meaning a voucher. The chosen form of co-financing should be as fraud-resistant as possible and ensure consumer safety, especially when it is used to purchase a set-top box. Televisions are available in different price segments that adapt to the capabilities and needs of different users. It is possible to buy a TV for a few hundred zlotys. It is useful to inform consumers about the interest/spend ratio. Spending on a set-top box is negligible compared to investing in a receiver with a screen (TV), when we compare its capabilities and the added value of the receiver – explains the president of the Digital Poland Association.
See also: New TV with DVB-T2 / HEVC? Offers for young broadcast fans
What is the advantage of TVs with DVB-T2 / HEVC tuners? Is it about accessing HbbTV, the most sensitive TV tuners? Televisions ensure access to the benefits of the new NTC signal standard. The tuner connected to the old TV does not provide better picture and sound reception, does not provide access to hybrid TV. In other words, Replacing the decoder only results in the digital exclusion of the farm and keeping it in the era of the previous technology. And buying the tuner puts the consumer at greater risk – says Kanownik.
shift schedule
In the first stage, which is scheduled for On March 28, 2022, the switch to the DVB-T2 / HEVC standard will take place in the Dolnośląskie and Lubuskie regions and in the western part of the Wielkopolskie region.
The National Information Institute estimates that precisely in the Lubuskie region, the least number of families are ready for change.
On April 25, 2022, they will cover most of Greater Poland, as well as the following counties: Zachodniopomorskie, Kujawsko-Pomorskie, almost all of Pomorsky and the northwestern part of Mazowieckie.
On May 23, 2022, changes will occur in the following districts: Malopolsky, سwitokrzyskie, ódzki, Podkarpacki, Opolsky, Olsky and in the southern part of Wilkopolsky District and in southern Mazovia. The final stage is set for 27 June 2022. It will cover the central and northern part of Mazowieckie County, Podlaskie, Warmińsko-Mazurskie and Lubelskie Voivodeship.
The changes will apply to all multipliers except for MUX-8. There, it will move to DVB-T2/HEVC at a later date. The schedule of changes is shown in the graph below, by Emitel.
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