Portugal’s RTP to start migration to HD
February 4, 2016
By Branislav Pekic in Rome
Portuguese public broadcaster RTP is planning to invest €37 million by 2018 in the areas of engineering, technology and infrastructure.
The main priorities will be the migration of all TV channels to HD, a process that should be completed by 2020, according to RTP’s budget plan to which daily Correio da Manhã had access. Flagship channel RTP 1 should be fully produced in HD by the second half of 2017.
In this context, RTP is also aiming to “promote the necessary efforts to improve the quality of the DTT distribution network and the technical quality of receptions on the part of viewers”.
RTP is aiming to add two more free-to-air TV channels on DTT (RTP 3 and RTP Memoria), although the investment that has not yet been clarified.
The draft bill, which provides for the increase of the DTT offer in Portugal, should be voted by the Parliament on 9 February. Among its provisions is the activation of another digital multiplex that could host more TV channels.