Montenegro invites DVB-T2 channel bids
March 11, 2015
From Branislav Pekic in Rome
Montenegro’s Agency for Electronic Media has announced a tender for awarding capacity on the first national DVB-T2 multiplex (MUX 1).
The multiplex will cover four allotted areas – Bjelasica (channel 43), Lovcen (35), Podgorica (24) and Tvrdas (49). DTT network operator Radio-difuzni Centar will be responsible for providing 85 per cent coverage of the population of Montenegro.
Commercial broadcasters as well as non-profit organisations will be able to compete for the six free-to-air licences.
The Agency has also adopted the criteria and methodology for scoring applications, with 60 per cent of the points being awarded for programme content. A deposit in the amount of €5,000 will be required from commercial bidders
The text of the public tender has been published in the Official Gazette of Montenegro in the daily newspaper Pobjeda. Applications for the contest may be submitted until April 14th. Ten days after this deadline, the Agency will publish the list of bidders and in 60 days will announce the winners of the licences.
The digital switchover in Montenegro is due to take place on June 17th.