Digital terrestrial television in Sweden
Digital terrestrial television was launched in Sweden in 1999. The shutdown of the analogue equivalent started on September 19, 2005, and was finalized on October 15, 2007.[1]
The network uses the DVB-T-standard and broadcasts several free-to-air and encrypted channels on a number of multiplexes. The majority of the channels are encrypted and viewing them requires a decoding card.
History
On April 9, 1997, the
Two companies were created to handle the encryption services, as all channels would be encrypted: Senda i Sverige who managed the system and decoding cards and Boxer who rented out set-top-boxes.
The digital terrestrial television network was launched on April 1, 1999,[2] making Sweden the second country in Europe to launch digital terrestrial television. It then contained only SVT1, SVT2 and SVT24. Five regional SVT channels launched some months later.
Private companies didn't launch until the autumn when TV3, TV4, Kanal 5, TV8, K World, Canal+ and eTV launched. Canal+ were granted two extra licenses to broadcast Canal+ Gul and Canal+ Blå. Boxer started their business in the autumn.
The take-up was slow at first. When the network had been running for six months, only about 500 households had rented the necessary set-top-boxes.
New licenses were granted in January 2000. A fourth multiplex was launched in the spring. After this, the DTT network looked like this:
- MUX A: SVT1, SVT2, SVT24 and five regional channels.
- MUX B: TV4, an extra stream from TV4, eTVand regional channels (Stockholm 1, NollEttan, DTU7 and Skånekanalen)
- MUX C: Canal+, Canal+ Gul, Canal+ Blå, Kanal 5, K World
- MUX D: Viasat Sport
MTG said they weren't allowed to use commercial breaks in the terrestrial network. The commercial break were replaced by captions. Kanal 5 did however continue broadcasting their commercial breaks as they did on satellite. In January 2001, MTG introduced an extra fee of 115 SEK for TV3, ZTV and TV8 to cover the losses made as they didn't broadcast advertising.
In June 2001, MTG decided to cease their terrestrial broadcasts in August, which they did. As they didn't broadcast anything at all, the license was taken back, making MTG claim that they were thrown out of the DTT network.
The five MTG were replaced by other channels during the autumn of 2001:
During 2002, both eTV and K World went bankrupt. The SVT regional channels were closed down and replaced by an event channel called SVT Extra. NonStop Television started broadcasting a channel called E! in the autumn. Senda and Boxer merged on October 1, 2002, to form the new Boxer TV Access.
In December 2002, SVT launched the children's channel
During 2003 and 2004 the sale of set-top-boxes increased after several years of financial difficulties.
The shutdown of the analogue network was decided on in the spring of 2003.
In 2004 the launch of a fifth multiplex and more efficient compression made it possible to allow more channels to launch:
- MUX 1: Barnkanalen/Kunskapskanalen (and SVT Extra)
- MUX 2: and regional channels.
- MUX 3: Canal+, Canal+ Film 1, Canal+ Film 2 Weekend Sport, Disney Channel/Canal 7
- MUX 4: Discovery Channel, Animal Planet, ZTV
- MUX 5: TV8.
In early 2005, TV8 was moved to MUX 3 which had higher coverage than MUX 5, which at start only covered 50 percent of the households. Several changes were made to the local programmes during 2005. TV4 started making their local stations available in the digital network (previously
On September 19, 2005, the island of Gotland became the first region to have its analogue transmitters turned off. This continued during the autumn when the Gävle and Motala transmitters were shut down.
The fact that only the SVT channels, TV4 and the local channels were available free-to-air was a problem during the switch-off as those affected didn't feel they got enough in return for the trouble of having to buy set-top-boxes and in some cases a new antenna.
When new licenses for 2006 were pending, the Minister of Education and Culture Leif Pagrotsky stated that those broadcasters who were going to broadcast free-to-air would be more likely to receive a new license. New licenses were awarded in February 2006. This meant that:
- TV6round-the-clock in MUX 2
- The newspaper Aftonbladet TV7 on Weekdays while Axess TVwas broadcast in the weekend.
- SBS Broadcasting received one stream in MUX 4 that would be shared by The Voice TV and a channel called "C 5". The Voice TV would broadcast free-to-air from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. while "C 5", renamed ONE Televisionat launch, would broadcast 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.
- NonStop Television had to replace Showtime with a new channel called "NonStop Filmfestival". It launched in May as Silver.
- BBC Prime would broadcast one pay channel in MUX 5.
- Star! got its hours cut and would now broadcast in the Nickelodeon downtime from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.
- VH1, which was previously broadcast in the Nickelodeon downtime, would now broadcast "if space was available". Initially it did broadcast round-the-clock, but when this space was taken over by The Voice/ONE the channel disappeared. VH1 returned in June 2006, broadcasting overnight on the MTV's space.
In June 2006, SVT and TV4 did broadcast the 2006 FIFA World Cup in high-definition on temporary frequencies from a few transmitters. Those frequencies were taken back when the World Cup ended.
In December 2006, the new right-wing government decided that a sixth multiplex would be taken into regular use, initially only to secure that the broadcasts of TV Finland would be secured when the transmitter of the capital region was turned off.
The Boxer monopoly on pay television was criticized by the European Commission and on October 17, 2006, it announced would be taking Sweden to the European Court of Justice as the country had failed to abolish the monopoly.
SBS Broadcasting decided to replace ONE Television with a new channel called Kanal 9 in February 2007. With the launch of Kanal 9, they were allowed to adjust the Kanal 9/The Voice TV timeshare.
On May 26, 2007, SVT HD was launched on the remaining capacity of the multiplex that broadcast TV Finland, broadcasting HDTV programmes from four transmitters around the capital using MPEG-4 AVC compression.
On March 27, 2008, new broadcasts licenses were announced by the
Out of the new channels, Discovery Science, National Geographic Channel, Showtime, Jetix, TV1000 and Viasat Sport 1 would be put in the new sixth national multiplex. I addition,
Some channels got new broadcasting hours.
The new licenses also stipulated that TV7, The Voice TV and Star! would have to move to the sixth multiplex on January 1, 2009. This makes TV7, Canal 7, Kanal 9, The Voice TV and Star! to become 24-hour channels and also provides the space where Comedy Central will broadcast.[3]
As of 2010 the following line up is as follow:
- MUX 1: SR P3
- MUX 2: TV400
- MUX 3: TV8 and VH1
- MUX 4: ZTV
- MUX 5: Kanal 12 and TV Finland
- MUX 6: Kanal 5 HD and Silver HD
- MUX 7: TV4 HD
Channels
As of May 2016:
LCN |
Channel |
Parent |
Conglomerate |
Availability |
Stream time |
MUX |
Compr. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | SVT1 | SVT | Free-to-air | 24 hours, regional variations. | 1 | MPEG-2 | |
2. | SVT2 | SVT | Free-to-air | 24 hours, regional variations. | 1 | MPEG-2 | |
3. | TV3
|
Viaplay Group | Encrypted | 24 hours | 2 | MPEG-2 | |
4. | TV4
|
TV4-Gruppen | Telia Company | Free-to-air | 24 hours, regional variations. | 2 | MPEG-2 |
5. | Kanal 5
|
Warner Bros. Discovery EMEA | Warner Bros. Discovery | Encrypted | 24 hours | 2 | MPEG-2 |
6. | TV6
|
Viaplay Group | Encrypted | 24 hours | 2 | MPEG-2 | |
7. | Sjuan | TV4-Gruppen | Telia Company | Encrypted | 24 hours | 2 | MPEG-2 |
8. | TV8
|
Viaplay Group | Encrypted | 24 hours | 3 | MPEG-2 | |
9. | Kanal 9 | Warner Bros. Discovery EMEA | Warner Bros. Discovery | Encrypted | 24 hours | 2 | MPEG-2 |
10. | TV10
|
Viaplay Group | Encrypted | 24 hours | 4 | MPEG-2 | |
11. | Kanal 11
|
Warner Bros. Discovery EMEA | Warner Bros. Discovery | Encrypted | 24 hours | 2 | MPEG-2 |
12. | TV12 | TV4-Gruppen | Telia Company | Encrypted | 24 hours | 3 | MPEG-2 |
13. | Fox
|
Fox Networks Group | The Walt Disney Company | Encrypted | 24 hours | 5 | MPEG-4 |
14. | MTV | Paramount Networks EMEAA | National Amusements | Encrypted | 24 hours | 3 | MPEG-4 |
15. | V Series | Viaplay Group | Encrypted | 24 hours | 5 | MPEG-4 | |
16. | Comedy Central
|
Paramount Networks EMEAA | National Amusements | Encrypted | 19:00–03:00 | 3 | MPEG-2 |
17. | TLC
|
Warner Bros. Discovery EMEA | Warner Bros. Discovery | Encrypted | 24 hours | 3 | MPEG-2 |
18. | BBC Brit | BBC Studios | BBC | Encrypted | 24 hours | 7 | MPEG-4 |
19. | National Geographic Channel HD
|
National Geographic | The Walt Disney Company | Encrypted | 24 hours | 7 | MPEG-4 |
20. | Animal Planet HD | Warner Bros. Discovery EMEA | Warner Bros. Discovery | Encrypted | 06:00–23:45 | 6 | MPEG-4 |
21. | Discovery Channel
|
Warner Bros. Discovery EMEA | Warner Bros. Discovery | Encrypted | 24 hours | 3 | MPEG-2 |
22. | Investigation Discovery | Warner Bros. Discovery EMEA | Warner Bros. Discovery | Encrypted | 24 hours | 5 | MPEG-4 |
23. | BBC Earth | BBC Studios | BBC | Encrypted | 18:00–06:00 | 5 | MPEG-4 |
24. | TV4 Fakta | TV4-Gruppen | Telia Company | Encrypted | 24 hours | 2 | MPEG-2 |
25. | Axess TV | Axess Publishing | Nordstjernan | Encrypted | 24 hours | 5 | MPEG-4 |
26. | CNN International | CNN | Warner Bros. Discovery | Encrypted | 24 hours | 5 | MPEG-4 |
27. | BBC World News
|
BBC News | BBC | Encrypted | 24 hours | 5 | MPEG-4 |
28. | Al Jazeera | Al Jazeera Media Network | Encrypted | 24 hours | 7 | MPEG-4 | |
29. | Viasat Explore | MTG | Encrypted | 24 hours | 7 | MPEG-4 | |
30. | History | A+E Networks | Hearst | Encrypted | 24 hours | 5 | MPEG-4 |
31. | Horse & Country TV | H&C TV | Encrypted | 24 hours | 5 | MPEG-4 | |
32. | Travel Channel | Warner Bros. Discovery EMEA | Warner Bros. Discovery | Encrypted | 24 hours | 7 | MPEG-4 |
34. | Nickelodeon
|
Paramount Networks EMEAA | National Amusements | Encrypted | 05:00–19:00 | 3 | MPEG-2 |
35. | Nick Jr
|
Paramount Networks EMEAA | National Amusements | Encrypted | 06:00–18:00 | 7 | MPEG-4 |
36. | Boomerang | Warner Bros. Discovery EMEA | Warner Bros. Discovery | Encrypted | 06:00–21:00 | 5 | MPEG-4 |
37. | Cartoon Network | Warner Bros. Discovery EMEA | Warner Bros. Discovery | Encrypted | 24 hours | 5 | MPEG-4 |
38. | Disney Channel
|
Walt Disney Television | The Walt Disney Company | Encrypted | 06:00–22:00 | 3 | MPEG-4 |
39. | Disney XD
|
Walt Disney Television | The Walt Disney Company | Encrypted | 06:00–18:00 | 5 | MPEG-4 |
41. | TV4 Film | TV4-Gruppen | Telia Company | Encrypted | 18:00–06:00 | 5 | MPEG-4 |
42. | Paramount Channel
|
Paramount Networks EMEAA | National Amusements | Encrypted | 22:00–06:00 | 3 | MPEG-2 |
43. | TCM | Warner Bros. Discovery EMEA | Warner Bros. Discovery | Encrypted | 21:00–06:00 | 5 | MPEG-4 |
46. | TV4 Sport HD | TV4-Gruppen | Telia Company | Encrypted | 24 hours | 7 | MPEG-4 |
47. | Eurosport 1 | Warner Bros. Discovery EMEA | Warner Bros. Discovery | Encrypted | 24 hours | 1 | MPEG-2 |
48. | Eurosport 2 | Warner Bros. Discovery EMEA | Warner Bros. Discovery | Encrypted | 24 hours | 5 | MPEG-4 |
51. | C More First
|
C More | Telia Company | Encrypted | 24 hours | 5 | MPEG-4 |
52. | C More Series
|
C More | Telia Company | Encrypted | 24 hours | 5 | MPEG-4 |
53. | C More Sport/SF-Kanalen | C More | Telia Company | Encrypted | 24 hours | 5 | MPEG-4 |
54. | C More Fotball/Hockey/Emotion
|
C More | Telia Company | Encrypted | 24 hours | 7 | MPEG-4 |
55. | C More Hits HD
|
C More | Telia Company | Encrypted | 24 hours | 7 | MPEG-4 |
61. | SVT1 HD | SVT | Free-to-air | 24 hours | 6 | MPEG-4 | |
62. | SVT2 HD | SVT | Free-to-air | 24 hours | 6 | MPEG-4 | |
63. | TV3 HD
|
Viaplay Group | Encrypted | 24 hours | 6 | MPEG-4 | |
64. | TV4 HD
|
TV4-Gruppen | Telia Company | Encrypted | 24 hours | 6 | MPEG-4 |
65. | Kanal 5 HD
|
Warner Bros. Discovery EMEA | Warner Bros. Discovery | Encrypted | 24 hours | 6 | MPEG-4 |
82. | 24nt | Norrköpings Tidningar | NTM-koncernen | Free-to-air | Available around Norrköping | 5 | MPEG-2 |
82. | 24Corren | Östgöta Correspondenten | NTM-koncernen | Free-to-air | Available around Linköping | 5 | MPEG-2 |
82. | 24Norrbotten | Norrbottens Media | NTM-koncernen | Free-to-air | Available in Norrbotten | 5 | MPEG-2 |
82. | 24.UNT | Upsala Nya Tidning | NTM-koncernen | Free-to-air | Available around Uppsala | 5 | MPEG-2 |
84. | TV Finland | Yle | Free-to-air | 24 hours | 5 | MPEG-2 | |
91. | SVT1 Talande textremsa | SVT | Free-to-air | 24 hours (audio stream) | 1 | ||
92. | SVT2 Talande textremsa | SVT | Free-to-air | 24 hours (audio stream) | 1 | ||
96. | Extra version of SVT1. | SVT | 1 | ||||
97. | Extra version of SVT2. | SVT | 1 | ||||
98. | SVTB/SVT24
|
SVT | Free-to-air | 24 hours | 1 | MPEG-2 | |
99. | Kunskapskanalen | SVT | Free-to-air | 24 hours | 1 | MPEG-2 |
See also
References
- ^ "Sista analoga TV-nätet släckt" (in Swedish). Sydsvenskan. 15 October 2007. Retrieved 18 July 2015.
- ISBN 91-973833-2-5, archived from the original(PDF) on 2007-10-20
- ^ Tillstånd att sända TV-program, Radio and TV Authority, March 27, 2008