Television in Romania
Television in Romania started in August 1955. State television started to broadcast on 31 December 1956. The second television channel followed in 1968, but between 1985 and 1990, there was only one Romanian channel before the return of the second channel. Private broadcasters arrived in December 1991, with SOTI which was the first private nationwide television station in Central and Eastern Europe. Romania has the highest penetration rates for pay television in the world, with over 98% of all households watching television through cable or satellite.[1]
Television market
Romanian market is dominated by two large groups:
Terrestrial television
Romania is the only EU state that didn't end analogue broadcasting because of low interest in terrestrial television. DVB-T tests began in 2005 with two channels in Bucharest and one in Sibiu using MPEG 2 for SD Channels and MPEG 4 for HD Channels. It broadcast public channels (including one in HD) and a for a limited time a few commercial television channel (general, news and music) until September 2016. On July 23, 2013
The absence and lack of implementation of DVB-T in Romania is somehow controversial, as many people are suspecting that this delay and the adoption of DVB-T2 is forced just to sustain the interest of cable and DTH providers, also the lack of interest of the must carry broadcasters in providing channels in terrestrial is very criticized, however the main DVB-T operator in Romania is SNR, which is said to be responsible for this.[6]
In September 2016, Romania turned off DVB-T broadcasts which were experimental, and shifted on DVB-T2 technology.[7] Criticism has appeared in the press about delays, suggesting that this will be a reason for the 20% of households who were receiving free terrestrial television to migrate towards cable and satellite operators. TVR remained the only broadcaster on DVB-T2. It is sent in Free To Air, as it is a public station.
On 23 November 2022, TVR, the only broadcaster on terrestrial in Romania, removed the HD broadcasts for TVR-1 and TVR-2 on DVB-T2, leaving terrestrial broadcasting only with the SD broadcasts of TVR. TVR 1 HD and TVR 2 HD will be available solely on Satellite, Cable and IPTV. This happened mainly because of low demand of the terrestrial services, and to make room for the newly relaunched TVR Cultural.
Cable television
Romania has a high penetration rates for cable television in Europe, with over 79% of all households watching television through a CATV network in 2007. The market is extremely dynamic, and dominated by two giant companies – Romanian-based RCS&RDS (DIGI) and U.K.-based (Vodafone). Both offer internet broadband and fixed telephony (VOIP), while DIGI offer also mobile telephony services. The national CATV network is being improved, and most households are being migrated towards digital cable solutions.
The reasons for this appeal started in the early 1990s. After the fall of the communist regime, in 1989, there was only one state-owned
(in Romanian). The first two companies to provide CATV were Multicanal in Bucharest and Timiş Cablu in Timișoara, both out of business today. Many small, startup firms gradually grew, and coverage increased (coverage wars were frequent in the early period, with many cable boxes smashed, and new cable networks offering "half off for twice the channels" and immediately wiring the building for any willing persons).However, this period soon ended, with consolidation around 1995–96. Some large companies emerged: Kappa and RCS in Bucharest, Astral in Cluj, UPC in Timișoara, TourImex in Râmnicu Vâlcea. This consolidation came with gentlemen's agreements over areas of control and pricing, with claims of monopoly abounding. This process of consolidation was completed around 2005–06, when only two big suppliers of cable remained: UPC and RCS&RDS (DIGI). Internet over coaxial cable has been available since around 2000, and IP telephony (over the CATV infrastructure) since the deregulation of the market in 2003. As of 2016, cable TV is available in most of the country, including most rural areas (where nearly 50% of the population live). Satellite digital TV appeared in 2004, providing coverage for the rest of the country, with both RCS&RDS and UPC having a stake in these companies. However, beside RCS&RDS and UPC, there are many other smaller CATV providers in Romania, operating locally or regionally. In early 2010s most of them began providing Internet access, to make their offers more attractive and increase their appeal to their customers already subscribed to CATV service. Also many of them began providing digital cable television, although analogue cable TV is their basic offer.
Cable TV is very cheap for all standards, the standard or basic service, offering about 100–140 channels, is around 24–39
Satellite television
After cable, satellite subscriptions hold second place, and are mainly popular in rural areas, where cable television and optical fiber networks were not widely available in the second half of the 2000s. The main operators are:
IPTV
Internet television channel
- Antena Monden
- Bairam TV
- Comedy Play
- Cook&Play
- Dibi Tv
- Disco Mix
- Info TV România
- Mireasa (internet tv channel)
- Mireasa+
- Partymania (internet tv channel)
- Pro TV News
- Tele 7 ABC
- TSTV (România)
List of channels
The following is a list of television channels broadcast in Romania.
A&E Networks UK Channels operated by
- Crime & Investigation
- History
- AMC
- CBS Studios International)
- Extreme Sports
- Film Cafe
- Film Mania
- JimJam
- Minimax
- TV Paprika
- AXN
- AXN Black
- AXN Spin
- AXN White
- Epic Drama
- Kiss TV
- Magic TV
- Rock TV
- TV1000
- Viasat Explore
- Viasat History
- Viasat Nature
Central European Media Enterprises
- Acasă
- Acasă Gold
- Pro Arena
- Pro Cinema
- Pro TV
- Pro TV Internațional
Centrul Naţional Media
- Favorit TV
- Național 24 Plus
- Național TV
Clever Media Broadcasting
- Agro TV
- Cinemaraton
- Medika TV
- Prima 4K
- Prima Comedy
- Prima News
- Prima History
- Prima Food & Travel
- Profit News
- Prima Sport 1
- Prima Sport 2
- Prima Sport 3
- Prima Sport 4
- Prima Sport 5
- Prima TV
- Digi24
- Digi 4K
- Digi Animal World
- Digi Life
- Digi Sport 1
- Digi Sport 2
- Digi Sport 3
- Digi Sport 4
- Digi World
- Film Now
- HIT Music Channel (50%)
- Hora TV
- Music Channel(50%)
- UTV
- Animal Planet
- Cinemax
- Cinemax 2
- Discovery Channel
- Eurosport 1
- Eurosport 2
- Eurosport 4K
- Food Network (joint-venture with Tribune Media)
- HBO
- HBO 2
- HBO 3
- HGTV
- Investigation Discovery
- TLC
- Travel Channel
- Baby TV
- Disney Channel
- Disney Junior
- Nat Geo People
- National Geographic
- National Geographic Wild
- Antena 1
- Antena 3 CNN
- Antena Stars
- Antena Internațional
- Happy Channel
- ZU TV
ISG Media
- Bollywood Classic
- Bollywood Film
- Bollywood TV
Kino Polska
- 360 TuneBox
- DocuBox
- Erox
- Eroxxx
- FashionBox
- Fast&FunBox
- Filmbox
- Filmbox Arthouse
- Filmbox Extra (HD)
- Filmbox Family
- Filmbox Plus
- Filmbox Premium
- FightBox
- FunBox UHD
- GameToon
- Timeless Drama Channel
Mooz TV
- Mooz Dance
- Mooz Hits
- Mooz RO
- Sport Extra
NBCUniversal International Networks
- CNBC
- Diva
- E!
Tematic Media
- Duck TV
- The Fishing & Hunting Channel
- Shorts TV
- Cartoonito
- Cartoon Network
- CNN International
- Euronews (25%) (in English)
- Warner TV
- Comedy Central
Channels operated by Nickelodeon UK, a joint venture with
- Nickelodeon
- Nick Jr.
- Nicktoons
Channels wholly operated by
Main single-channel broadcasters
Other channels
- Aleph Business
- Aleph News
- Alfa Omega TV
- Credo TV
- Da Vinci
- Etno TV (HD)
- Inedit TV
- Speranța TV
- Smart TV
- Sens TV
- Taraf TV (HD)
- Telestar
- Top Shop TV
- Trinitas TV
- Travel Mix
- Maria TV
- Nasul TV
- Zoom TV
International channels
- Arte
- Al Jazeera
- Auto Motor & Sport
- Balkanika TV
- Bloomberg
- CGTN
- Deutsche Welle
- Duna TV
- Fashion TV
- France 24
- KBS World
- Mezzo
- Motorvision
- Myzen.tv
- Nautical Channel
- ProSieben
- Rai 1
- Rai 3
- Russia Today
- RTL
- Sat.1
- Sky News
- Super RTL
- TV5Monde (partially with subtitles)
- TVE Internacional
- Trace Urban
- Trace Sport Stars
- Trace Tropical
Most viewed channels
Most viewed channels for 2023 are:[9]
Position | Channel | Share of total viewing (%) |
---|---|---|
1 | Pro TV | 18.7 |
2 | Antena 1 | 13.3 |
3 | Kanal D | 11.3 |
4 | Romania TV |
6.8 |
5 | Antena 3 CNN | 5.0 |
6 | Happy Channel | 2.7 |
7 | Antena Stars | 2.5 |
8 | Digi Sport 1 |
1.9 |
9 | Film Cafe | 1.9 |
10 | Digi 24 |
1.9 |
11 | Realitatea Plus | 1.8 |
12 | Pro Cinema | 1.3 |
13 | Prima TV | 1.4 |
14 | TVR 1 | 1.3 |
15 | National TV | 1.2 |
16 | TVR 2 | 1.0 |
17 | Diva | 1.0 |
18 | AMC | 1.0 |
19 | Acasa |
1.0 |
20 | Cartoon Network | 0.8 |
Given Romania's extensive cable coverage, many channels receive considerable viewing shares. Pro TV is the most viewed channel. Ratings data is measured by TNS-AGB International (2005–2007) and GfK Romania (2008–2011) on behalf of ARMADATA S.R.L.[10]
Channel | 2014[11] | 2015[11] | 2016[12] | 2017[12] | 2018[13] | 2019[13] | 2020[14] | 2021[15] | 2022[16] | 2023[17] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pro TV | 3.7 | 3.3 | 3.8 | 4.1 | 3.9 | 3.9 | 3.9 | 3.8 | 3.6 | 3.5 |
Antena 1 | 3.0 | 2.9 | 3.2 | 2.7 | 2.6 | 2.6 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 2.5 | 2.5 |
Kanal D | 1.7 | 2.0 | 2.3 | 2.1 | 2.2 | 2.2 | 2.4 | 2.5 | 2.0 | 2.1 |
România TV | 1.0 | 1.1 | 1.2 | 1.4 | 1.4 | 1.6 | 1.6 | 1.6 | 1.4 | 1.3 |
Antena 3 CNN
|
1.6 | 1.4 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 0.9 |
National TV | 0.7 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.2 |
TVR 1 | 0.9 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.3 |
Prima TV | 0.7 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.3 |
Antena Stars
|
0.4 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.5 |
Acasă / Pro 2
|
0.6 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 |
B1 TV | 0.6 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.1 |
Digi Sport 1
|
0.1 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.4 | |
Realitatea Plus | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.3 |
TVR 2 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.2 |
Cartoon Network | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 |
Etno | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.1 |
Digi24 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.4 |
Pro Cinema | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 |
Cartoonito / Boomerang
|
0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.1 |
Happy Channel
|
0.1 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.5 |
See also
- Media of Romania
- List of Romanian language television channels
- List of television stations in Romania
- List of Romanian television series
References
- ^ "Piața serviciilor de comunicații electronice din România" (in Romanian). Retrieved 2018-03-07.
- ^ "Pro TV, Intact și Kanal D iau 80% din banii TV, adică aproape 200 de milioane de euro. Rămân 30 de milioane la celelalte 50 de posturi" (in Romanian). Pagina de Media. Retrieved 2018-03-07.
- ^ "LOVITURĂ ȘOC dată de PRO TV. Nu se va mai vedea gratis! Ce se va întâmpla" (in Romanian). DCNews. Retrieved 2018-03-07.
- ^ "EXCLUSIV De ce s-a blocat tranzitia la televiziunea digitala terestra in 2011. Explicatiile Finantelor" (in Romanian). Retrieved 2018-03-07.
- ^ "Receptionarea din eter a programelor TV analogice printr-o simpla antena nu va mai fi posibila de la 17 iunie 2015" (in Romanian). Retrieved 2018-03-07.
- ^ "AUDIO Protest in SNR: Sindicalistii se plang de disponibilizari mascate, posibila falimentare a societatii si cer oprirea licitatiilor de trecere la televiziunea digitala terestra" (in Romanian). HotNews. Retrieved 2018-03-07.
- ^ "Guvernul amână din nou trecerea la televiziunea digitală şi vrea să subvenționeze achiziția de set-top box-uri pentru populație" (in Romanian). Pagina de Media. Retrieved 2018-03-07.
- ^ "Romtelecom a cumpărat şi televiziunea prin satelit de la AKTA" (in Romanian). Retrieved 2018-03-07.
- ^ https://www.paginademedia.ro/audiente-tv/audiente-anuale/audiente-tv-anul-2023-media-pe-zi-21450801
- ^ "Audiente". ARMA. Archived from the original on 2010-01-05.
- ^ a b "Posturile TV în 2014 și 2015 după media pe zi. Pro TV, primul loc. Ușoară creștere la Kanal D. România TV, mai aproape de Antena 3". paginademeria.ro. 2016-01-06.
- ^ a b "AUDIENȚE TV 2017. Posturile TV după media pe zi. Pro TV, în creștere. Antena 1, fără Mireasă pentru fiul meu, în scădere". paginademeria.ro. 2018-01-04.
- ^ a b "AUDIENȚE după MEDIA pe ZI 2019. Pro TV, Antena 1 și Kanal D, cifre în scădere față de 2018. România TV, unul dintre singurele posturi în creștere". paginademeria.ro. 2020-01-06.
- ^ "AUDIENŢE ZI 2020. Audienţă în carantină. Plusuri pentru Pro TV, Antena 1, Kanal D. Cum au crescut posturile de ştiri. Surpriza DIVA".
- ^ "AUDIENŢE ZI | 2021. Fără surprize. Pro TV, Antena 1 şi Kanal D rămân cele mai urmărite staţii TV şi în 2021. România TV, primul la ştiri".
- ^ https://www.paginademedia.ro/audiente-tv/audiente-anuale/audiente-tv-anul-2023-media-pe-zi-21450801
- ^ https://www.paginademedia.ro/audiente-tv/audiente-anuale/audiente-tv-anul-2023-media-pe-zi-21450801