Delay for a multiplex

Delay for a multiplex
release of the second multiplex of digital TV it can be at full capacity postponed for three years


The second package of TV channels in a digital format can be started over all country not next year, but only in 2018. It is good news to TV channels: in that case they will strongly save on distribution of a signal.

The exit of the second multiplex of digital TV can be at full capacity postponed for three years, two officials and heads of two TV companies told "Sheets". It was confirmed by a source in Roskomnadzor. According to interlocutors of "Sheets", transfer of terms is discussed by the governmental commission on TV and radio broadcasting, the decision can be made during few months. The deputy minister of communication and mass communications Alexey Volin told that does not make comments on hearings about unaccepted decisions.

Transition to digital TV began in Russia in 2009. The broadcasting in figure allows to extend channels in higher quality more effectively – at one frequency 10 channels instead of one find room. Two multiplexes are already created: the broadcasting from the first package from 10 channels finances the state, and participants of the second have to pay about 1 billion rubles a year for a broadcasting in figure over all country.

Both multiplexes had to earn over all country next year, the first multiplex already broadcasts in the most part of regions. And in 2018 when the overwhelming part of the population would pass to watching TV through digital prefixes, the analog broadcasting was planned to stop. But expansion of multiplexes slips, and recently governmental commission about a request of regional TV companies already postponed the time of shutdown of an analog broadcasting in the country for 2018. It means that TV channels of the second multiplex if they do not want to lose the audience, should pay at the same time both for a multiplex, and for an analog signal at least three years in a row. According to the top manager of one of TV companies, in an analog network one channel spends 100-150 million rubles a year for maintenance of a broadcasting.

Therefore TV channels achieve that the second multiplex started broadcasting over all country along with shutdown of an analog signal. Besides, in the second multiplex yet it was not succeeded to resolve an issue with insert in a signal of regional advertizing, the head of one of channels reminds, as a result of TV company can lose essential part of the income. One of officials objects: the decision on regional insert is ready and will earn until the end of the year.

Now channels pay Federal State Unitary Enterprise Rossiyskaya televizionnaya i radioveshchatelnaya set (to RTRS, the operator of a multiplex) only for raising of a signal on the satellite (5 million rubles a month). It was supposed that this year after start of a multiplex regarding regions each channel will list RTRS already of 0,5 billion rubles. Now the option is discussed – when the second multiplex till 2018 will work only in the large cities, and in other territory of Russia the analog signal will continue to extend. It will cost to channels 140 million rubles a year, told the source familiar with calculations of RTRS.

Nevertheless the federal state unitary enterprise insists that the part of payments of future periods was made by channels this year in the advance payment, the interlocutor of "Sheets" that RTRS paid off with contractors for the performed works on construction of a multiplex knows.

The delay of start of a multiplex will facilitate financial loading, representatives of TV channels are happy. Besides, the network broadcasting (distribution of federal channels regional television networks) will not be lost, the representative of one regional company rejoices.

For example, the CTC Media holding specified in the reporting for the I quarter that payments for a multiplex significantly influence profitability of the company on OIBDA. If the holding pays this year RTRS of 25 mln. dollars for a digital broadcasting of channels of STS and "House", profitability will make 28-30% that is much lower than an indicator of last year (32,5%).

Two lagging behind

Two channels from those 10 that won a place in the second multiplex, RTRS even still do not pay for the satellite. It is the "Star" financed by the Ministry of Defence, and "Saviour" which Russian Orthodox Church on donations contains. The orthodox channel still at all did not sign the contract with RTRS, the general director of "Saviour" Boris Kostenko speaks: in a multiplex "Saviour" has no money for distribution. The representative of "Star" did not answer questions of "Sheets".