While the CNID (Comitato Nazionale Italia Digitale - the committee responsible to co-ordinate the switchover process) approved a new calendar for analog transmissions switch-off, the Ministry for Economic Development should soon finalize the bid regulations for the handing over of additional DTT frequencies, the so-called "digital dividend beauty contest".
The new calendar approved by CNID anticipates the switch off to the end of June 2012 (i.e. six months before the end of December 2012). In particular, the remaining Italian regions will be digitalized as follows (in order of priority): second semester 2011 – Liguria, Toscana. Umbria, Viterbo province (Lazio), Marche, Abruzzo, Molise; first semester 2012 – Puglia, Basilicata, Calabria, Sicilia.
In the meantime, the Ministry for Economic Development has submitted to the European Commission's review the additional regulations for the digital dividend beauty contest. As set out in our previous posts, the participants to the beauty contest are no longer required to produce “binding” agreements with the content providers, although content to be distributed and editorial plans will remain a relevant element for the final ranking. Winners will be requested to ensure a coverage of at least 80% of the population within 5 years from the frequencies assignment.
The new switch off deadline remains a great challenge, also in light of the fact that there are technical difficulties that may be faced in some regions as well as claims from local broadcasters that are not yet solved. That said, a closer switch off with at prompt digital dividend allocation will no doubt be a significant step in the right direction.
Please contact me, Giangiacomo Olivi (giangiacomo.olivi@dlapiper.com), if you want to discuss this topic.
