Mediaset stops HD broadcasts, awaiting DTT auction
July 12, 2011
From Branislav Pekic in Rome
Italian commercial broadcaster Mediaset has completed tests of the High Definition versions of its three terrestrial TV channels, following the announcement of the auction for the allocation of TV frequencies, vacated with the switchover to DTT.
Italy’s Ministry for Economic Development published on its website the announcement for the free allocation of six digital multiplexes to both existing and new players on the market, including Sky Italia.
As a result, two multiplexes, temporarily assigned to Mediaset and Telecom Italia Media Broadcasting (TIMB) for experimental broadcasting, have been switched off in the ASO areas of the country. With Multiplex 58 off the air, the transmissions of Canale 5 HD, Italia 1 HD and Rete 4 +1 are not available, while the Canale 5+1 and Italia 1 +1 channels have been instead transferred to the Mediaset 5 multiplex.
At the same time, the TIMB HD channels are no longer transmitted on TIMB 4 (multiplex 54 and 55), but continue to broadcast on multiplex TIMB 2, which remained empty after the closure of pay-TV platform Dahlia. The HD package includes La7 HD, La7d HD, and MTV HD, while MTV Music HD has stopped broadcasting.