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Czechia

Last update: 08.08.2024 - older versions

The ČTÚ announced on 5 January 2024 that the Authority successfully completed the auction procedure for the sale of individual auction blocks offered for the purpose of developing commercial nationwide (Blocks B, C) and regional networks (Blocks R1 - R27) for the distribution of terrestrial digital radio broadcasting (DAB). The auctioned frequency blocks were divided among all eight participants of the tender.

The total auction price for all Auction Blocks was CZK 79,325,000 (c. €3.2m).

"I am glad that we managed to complete the auction successfully, having satisfied all the participating bidders and managed to distribute all the blocks offered. Thus, nothing stands in the way of the further development of terrestrial digital radio broadcasting." said Marek Ebert, Chairman of the CTU Council.

The tender sets out development criteria that should ensure not only the successful development of DAB broadcasting but also the efficient use of the allocated radio frequencies. The nationwide networks are to cover 50% of the population and motorways within 18 months and 80% of the population and motorways within a further 12 months. Regional broadcasts are to cover 40% of the population of the region concerned within 24 months and 70% of the population of the region thereafter.

Radioprojekt data released in August 2024 shows that 18 per cent of listeners who said that their reception is provided by a conventional receiver or car radio use DAB+, an increase from 17% in 2023, and 11% in 2021.

An amendment to the Electronic Communications Act was passed by the Czech Parliament's Chamber of Deputies on 15 September 2021, granting Czech Radio the right to operate its own digital radio network in Band III and reservation of frequencies/spectrum by the Czech Telecommunication Bureau.

Czech Radio has one regular multiplex, available for 95% of the population of the Czech Republic, divided for Czechia and Moravia segment (12C and 12D). Four other multiplexes are on air in the Czech Republic and are operated by TELEKO, Ceske Radiokomunikace, RTI cz and JOE Media.

In 2021 Czech Radio launched two new DAB+ only stations – "Radiožurnál Sport” (CRo-RZ-SPORT) and "Pohoda” (CRo-POHODA), targeted to the 'sports lovers' audience and senior audiences.

In September 2020, Czech Radio launched 10 new DAB + transmitters, increasing population coverage from 85% to 95%.

A brochure highlighting the 15-year history of DAB+ digital radio in the Czech Republic is available in Czech here.

Last update: 13.09.2023 - older versions

Population coverage currently stands at 96%.

Detailed and up-to-date maps of DAB+ coverage can be found at www.DAB-plus.cz.

Czech Radio has one regular multiplex in the Czech Republic divided into CZECH and MORAVIA. Currently, 16 Czech Radio stations are broadcasting.

There are four other multiplexes in the Czech Republic operated by TELEKO Digital, České Radiokomunikace, RTI cz and JOE Media.

The network operator TELEKO DAB operates one regular local DAB+ multiplex using band III, which reaches 5.8 million inhabitants in the Czech Republic. The signal broadcasts in and around Prague, Příbram, Brno and surroundings, Moravian-Silesian Region, Ústí nad Labem Region and Hradec Kralove Region. The TELEKO DAB multiplex broadcasts 6 radio stations.

The operator of the RTI cz network operates 60 radio transmitters in the FM band, mostly in western Bohemia. In 2011, RTI CZ obtained a licence for digital radio DAB (L-band, later III band) in the Pilsen Region, Karlovy Vary Region, South Bohemia Region and Prague. RTI cz currently operates 10 DAB+ transmitters and broadcasts 6 radio stations in the RTI cz DAB multiplex.

České Radiokomunikace operates a CRA DAB+ multiplex (four transmitters) in Prague, Pilsen and Ostava where 14 radio stations are broadcast.

From the end of 2020, JOE Media operates the COLOR DAB+ multiplex (two transmitters in Prague), which broadcasts 8 radio stations.

Last update: 03.03.2021 - older versions

In this country there are

Regional multiplexes: 2 Regular
Local multiplexes: 4 Regular

on air.

Please note:

(a) These web pages are updated regularly to reflect current services on air, however they may not be exactly up to date.

(b) The logos shown on these pages are for illustrative purposes only – manufacturers and broadcasters are directed here for information on implementing station logos.

A comprehensive listing of DAB+ services on air in the Czech Republic is available at the website http://www.digitalradiodab.cz/ by choosing the DAB v ČR option.

Slideshow services are offered by all network operators in Czech Republic. TELEKO uses the latest Rapid software in their DAB CLOUD MULTIPLEXOR. TELEKO transforms the news from RSS feeds into JPEGs and also sends pictures from webcams in studios or weathercams.

	Simulcast on AM / FM	Exclusive on digital	Total of services
DAB+ programmes	47	25	72

Last update: 16.02.2022 - older versions

In the Czech Republic, 93% of new cars sold in 2021 have DAB+ as standard (Source: JATO Dynamics 2022).

Last update: 17.05.2021 - older versions

DAB radio is using L-band and Band III in the Czech Republic and it is important to check if the receiver is ready for use in both bands.

A wide range of receivers are available to buy online:

www.pureradio.cz

www.radiodab.cz

www.omko.cz/digitalni-radia/

www.gogen.cz/dab-radia/

Stores:

Electroworld (www.electroworld.cz)

LIDL (www.lidl.cz) (Sale)

TESCO (www.itesco.cz)

DATART (www.datart.cz/dab-radia.html)

Last update: 30.09.2013 - older versions

In August 2007 a trial was launched by TELEKO in cooperation with the public broadcaster Český Rozhlas with three DAB programmes and two DAB+ programmes. This trial used both Band III and L-Band and covered almost 130,000 people. A further trial began in June 2008, again as a joint project between the TELEKO company in cooperation with the public broadcaster Czech Radio. A 2.5Kw transmitter provided coverage of the capital city, Prague, to a population of around 1.3 million. The goal of this noncommercial trial was the promotion of digital radio to the Czech public and Government administrators. In early 2009 a further trial was launched in the second largest city Brno covering approximately 0.5 million people.

Trials have been completed in the Czech Republic and all network operators have been awarded with licenses. Technical trials e.g. for checking signal parameters are operated using the licensed frequencies as a part of the regular transmission implementation. For example, the company Ceske Radiokomunikace is using its L-band licensed frequency for such a test with two programs using the Prague-Zizkov transmitter since early 2013.

Last update: 03.12.2021 - older versions

Key features of regulation for digital radio in Czech Republic

Band III only used
Five network operators operate one nationwide multiplex (public service Czech Radio) and four regional multiplexes with public and commercial programmes all on DAB+
Licences are granted for different periods, up to a maximum of 10 years, some to be granted or renewed in 2022, all in III Band only
No analogue radio switch-off date
Analogue radio licences will be prolonged without a clear time limit

Spectrum and content regulation is divided between the Council for Radio and Television Broadcasting (content) and the Czech Telecommunication Office (spectrum).

Analogue radio licenses will be prolonged for all analogue licence holders, at this point in time, for an unspecified time. Czech Radio as the public radio broadcaster operates its own DAB+ network with national coverage. Some private broadcasters use DAB+ networks by private operators to broadcast their stations via DAB+. Therefore, the transition to digital radio in the Czech Republic has successfully started and digital radio is being rolled out by both the public and private radio sectors. There are no obstacles to the deployment of digital radio from the Council for Radio and Television Broadcasting and from the Czech Telecommunication Office.

The Radio Spectrum Utilisation Plan (RSUP, or PVRS in Czech language) for particular bands sets out detailed regulation for the use of frequencies. The current RSUP dedicates all III Band (frequencies from 174 to 230 MHz) to DAB (the Czech Telecommunication Office refers to DAB+ as T-DAB). Further information about the RSUP is available at https://www.ctu.cz/plan-vyuziti-radioveho-spektra

For a detailed overview on 174 - 380 MHz spectrum see here: https://www.ctu.cz/sites/default/files/obsah/ctu/sdeleni-o-vydani-opatreni-obecne-povahy-casti-planu-vyuziti-radioveho-spektra-c.pv-p/21/01.2018-2-pro-kmitoctove-pasmo-174-380-mhz/obrazky/pv-p210120182.pdf

Allocation of additional DAB+ multiplexes for private network operators is planned by the Czech Telecommunication Office for 2022 and beyond.

The switchover to DVB-T2 digital TV was finished in 2020, and digital TV frequencies are allocated exclusively outside III Band, which is intended for DAB+ radio only. L Band is no longer used for DAB+ radio.

At the time of writing there are five DAB+ network operators:

Czech Radio, Ceske Radiokomunikace, TELEKO digital, RTIcz and JOE Media.

The principal document for electronic communication regulation is the Act. No. 127/2005 Coll. on Electronic Communications, was amended in 2021 by the Act. No. 374/2021 Coll. This document explains spectrum regulation in the Czech Republic represented by the National Table of Frequency Allocation (NTFA) which allocates the frequency bands to particular radio communication services and describes the general conditions for frequency use. Detailed information about NTFA is available here: https://www.ctu.cz/narodni-kmitoctova-tabulka

Last update: 29.04.2019 - older versions

A marketing campaign is due to be launched, in collaboration with the automotive industry - primarily Skoda - and the main retailers in the country

Broadcasters are investing inmultimedia, with each of the 14 channels in a mux equipped with full multimedia services - headlines, artists information and images

The company RTI cz also promotes DAB+ open days in the Czech Radio, as per the images below taken in Prague, Pilsen and Ceske Budejovice.

The company RTI cz operates its own e-shop with a DAB+ receiver (www.radiodab.cz)

The company RTI cz operates a Web portal about digital radio in the Czech Republic on www.digitalradiodab.cz. You will find here:

Current information
What is digital radio
History of digital radio
DAB in the Czech Republic (operators / list of radio stations / channel list / map coverage)
DAB in the world
Links to websites about digital radio

1) Day with digital radio (Exhibition of DAB radio receivers and lectures on digital radio in cooperation with Czech Radio)

www.densdigitalnimradiem.cz (only in Czech) Promo video here: https://youtu.be/WvDdK3xqEMI

2) Digital radio in schools (lectures on digital radio at vocational schools)

3) DAB radio for the blind (RTI have prepared a Czech version of the audio files for the NOXON dRadio1 radio with voice output)

Last update: 09.01.2014

DAB radio is used for emergency warning distribution by distributing programs of the public broadcaster.
For example, during the floods in June 2013 the actual emergency information was included in the DAB radiotext transmission of two public broadcaster programs.

Digimedia 2024: Network operators preparing to start DAB+ broadcasts

14.06.2024 - Czechia

At Digimedia 2024, Karel Zýka, technical director of the CRo introduced Jacqueline Bierhorst, president of the international organisation WorldDAB, as a guest at the conference, who presented the current situation of DAB+ in Europe and the world. Václav Ježek, the future operator of the nationwide digital radio network RTI cz, informed about the operator's readiness to start broadcasting. "We have purchased all the broadcasting technology and are waiting for the coordination of frequencies. We will be the first to retune our existing transmitters," Ježek said. Broadcast Services, which tested digital radio broadcasting in Brno until the end of May, is counting on sharing broadcast sites and masts with other operators, according to its CEO Jakub Juhas. "But in terms of clients and providing content for these networks, we will normally compete," he added.

(Televizníweb.cz) Read more

Digimedia 2024: Impuls heading to DAB+

14.06.2024 - Czechia

Up to three new stations are to be prepared for digital radio broadcasting by the nationwide commercial radio Impuls, said Jiří Hrabák, CEO of Impuls and chairman of the Association of Private Broadcasters, in the third session of the DIGIMEDIA 2024 conference. "It could be one, but it could also be two or three. It depends on the conditions the network operators give us," Hrabák said. Of the eight winners of the auction of frequencies for networks dedicated to digital broadcasting of commercial radio, representatives of five of them attended the conference. Jan John from Play.cz announced the conclusion of a three-month exclusivity agreement with Czech Radio Communications for the design and construction of their network for digital radio. Play.cz plans to create a platform that will combine DAB+ terrestrial digital broadcasting with online streaming of the existing Play.cz service.

(Televizníweb.cz) Read more

Digimedia: Some operators want quality over quantity in DAB+, interested in sharing transmitters

14.06.2024 - Czechia

The highly anticipated final session of Thursday's Digimedia 2024 conference was extended from the planned hour and a half by more than an hour, but it outlined several important facts that will influence the future development of DAB+ technology in the Czech Republic. Several representatives of operators confirmed that they would like to share some of the broadcasting quotas with other entities and share any costs.

(Český rozhlas) Read more

CRA launches full DAB+ network from Zizkov

13.06.2024 - Ceske Radiokomunikace a.s. WorldDAB Member - Czechia

The first final DAB network for commercial radio was launched on 12 June from the Prague-Zizkov transmitter. The R15 regional network was built following a licensing auction. The signal of this network, which broadcasts 14 radio stations, will cover more than 1.5 million inhabitants of Prague and Central Bohemia. While until the end of May it was possible to tune in to the CRA DAB+ multiplex from the Žižkov transmitter on channel 7A, it is now broadcasting on channel 6B, which was auctioned by the Czech Digital Group (a subsidiary of CRA) as Regional Network 15 in a frequency auction organised by the Czech Telecommunications Office.

(Televizníweb.cz) Read more

Brno gets test of PD DAB+ multiplex

27.05.2024 - Czechia

Broadcast Services, which is one of the future operators of commercial multiplexes in Czechia, has extended the tests of its experimental network from the Benesov and Buchovo regions to the South Moravian Region, specifically to the metropolis of Brno. Unlike in Central Bohemia, the experiment in Brno is being carried out from a single transmitter, namely the Hády tower. The company Broadcast Services, which holds an individual authorisation, has been allocated 10 kW of power in vertical polarisation.

(Český rozhlas) Read more

ČTÚ rejects comments on DAB+, spectrum review remains unchanged

23.05.2024 - Czechia

None of the comments sent by DAB+ network operators on the proposed update of the Radio Spectrum Utilisation Plan (RUP) for the frequency band 174-380 MHz passed the Czech Telecommunications Office (CTU). The draft revision of the part of the broadcasting spectrum related to terrestrial digital radio broadcasting DAB+ remains unchanged. In a public consultation announced in mid-March, the telecoms authority did not accept any of the arguments from operators of DAB+ networks for commercial radio.

(Televizníweb.cz) Read more

Czech Digital Group's nationwide DAB+ multiplex to launch in September, large regions first

22.05.2024 - Czechia

Czech Digital Group wants to copy the multiplex of Czech Radio, whose multiplex is technologically provided by Czech Radiokomunikace. In June, the operator will launch its regional network for Prague on channel 6B and switch off the programme offer on channel 7A. Plans for the construction of DAB+ multiplexes were presented by representatives of Czech Radio at today's Innovation Day conference. Czech Radiokomunikace, or its subsidiary Czech Digital Group, expects to start construction of its national multiplex B in July. Broadcasting from the first sites will start this September. Marcel Procházka, director of the operator's legal and regulatory department, made the announcement at the Innovation Day conference. By the end of this year, namely in December, the operator wants to reach 50% coverage of the population, and by March 2025 it will reach more than 80%.

(Český rozhlas) Read more

Karel Zýka, Czech Radio: We want commercial radio to be successful in digitalisation

22.05.2024 - Czech Radio WorldDAB Member - Ceske Radiokomunikace a.s. WorldDAB Member - Czechia

Czech Radio wants commercial radio to successfully start radio digitalisation and DAB+ broadcasting to become widely known to the general public, Karel Zýka, Director of Technology and Administration of the public broadcaster, said at the Innovation Day conference on Tuesday, which was organised by the operator České Radiokomunikace. The actual development of DAB+ digital radio broadcasting will necessarily require the participation of private radio stations, which will be able to fully enter the process in the months following the launch of the new multiplexes. "We are keeping our fingers crossed for the commercial radio stations, because the more successful they are, the better it will be for us," Zýka said. It will be essential that listeners know when they buy a receiver that it will work without any problems. This is what the DAB+ verified certification is intended to do.

(Český rozhlas) Read more

WorldDAB Automotive 2024: Driving broadcast digital radio

17.05.2024 -

- Czechia

WorldDAB Automotive 2024 – the essential event bringing together the broadcast and automotive sectors – has unveiled its first group of expert keynote speakers. The conference takes place in Prague and online on 13 June. It offers a unique opportunity for industry professionals to gain valuable insights into the latest developments in DAB+ broadcast digital radio technology for the automotive sector. The annual event is organised by WorldDAB, the global industry forum for DAB digital radio. WorldDAB Automotive 2024 will be opened by the organisation’s President, Jacqueline Bierhorst, who will also speak later at the 19th annual Digimedia 2024 conference for Czech media and advertisers, taking place in Prague on the same day. The night before the event, attendees can join an exclusive networking dinner at the Miminoo Garden Restaurant, at the foot of Prague’s iconic Žižkov broadcast tower.

(WorldDAB) Read more

Budejovicko has a third DAB+ multiplex: Color DAB+ network launched

17.05.2024 - Czechia

Listeners in České Budějovice and its surroundings can tune in to the third digital radio network from Thursday evening. Miroslav Pýcha launched his COLOR DAB+ network in the regional city. So far, the public network ČRo DAB+ and the commercial RTI cz have been broadcasting here. The test broadcast of COLOR DAB+ started on channel 9C from the location České Budějovice - Němcová shortly after 16:00. The transmitter had been installed here for some time, the operator was just waiting for the Czech Telecommunications Office (CTU) to issue the licence. This is the first transmission site acquired in the auction of frequencies for digital broadcasting networks for commercial radios to start live broadcasting.

(Televizníweb.cz) Read more