Television in Poland was introduced on an experimental basis in 1937. It was state owned, and was interrupted by the Second World War in 1939. Television returned to Poland in 1952 and for several decades was controlled by the communist government. Colour television was introduced in Poland in 1971. Private television stations in Poland appeared around the time of the fall of communism, with PTV Echo (once a member of the local channels of Polonia 1) becoming the first private station in Poland (and in the former Eastern Bloc).

Terrestrial

Terrestrial television in Poland broadcasts using a digital DVB-T system. First test DVB-T emission was carried out in Warsaw on 9 November 2001. In April 2004, first DVB-T transmitter near Rzeszów started operation and local TVP division started to market set-top boxes allowing to receive it. As of July 2016, there are about 250 DVB-T transmitters operating in Poland, broadcasting up to three multiplexes (except local stations), all using MPEG-4 AVC compression. Majority of channels are available in HD across all the Poland after DVB-T2/HEVC switchover has finished in June 2022, while channels from MUX8 (Metro, Zoom TV, Nowa TV, WP, ViDoc TV, Republika and wPolsce24) are available only in SD, although Nowa TV and Republika broadcast in HD in some local multiplexes. Analog terrestrial transmissions were terminated in 2013. First efforts to introduce DVB-T in Poland was made in 1997 in Gdańsk on initiative of TVP (Polish public television broadcaster). In the spring of 2022, the terrestrial TV broadcasting standard was changed across the country to the newer and more effective DVB-T2/HEVC standard, where HEVC (or H.265) is a new standard for TV signal compression. Switching to the new DVB-T2/HEVC terrestrial TV broadcasting standard was carried out in the period from March to June 2022. However, the changes did not cover MUX3, which belongs as a whole to TVP. Decision by Urząd Komunikacji Elektronicznej requested by the Minister of Interior Affairs and Administration, argumented by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, allowed to delay the switch until the end of 2023.

Allocation

At 2006 conference in Geneva known as GE06 Poland received eight DVB-T multiplexes—seven at UHF frequencies 470–862 MHz (channels 21–69) and one at VHF frequency 174–230 MHz (channels 6–12). Since some of these frequencies are currently used for analog PAL terrestrial television broadcasting, it is possible to run only two nationwide multiplexes (MUX1, MUX2) and one (MUX3) which covers part of country (58% of population). Introduction of all multiplexes will be possible after switching off analog broadcasting. A government document entitled "Country digitalization schedule", dated January 2009, set out plan for the digital broadcast switch-on to be made in three steps and analog broadcast switch-off in six steps. First regular digital broadcast started on 30 September 2010. Analog broadcast switch-off started on 7 November 2012 and the transition to digital broadcasting finished on 23 July 2013. The period of time between digital broadcast switch-on and analog broadcast switch-off will allow people time to buy new integrated Digital TVs or set-top boxes.

Current status

Analog shutdown

The shutdown of analog broadcast took place in 7 steps between 7 November 2012 and 23 July 2013. Most operators of analog cable TV are planning to continue providing analog service in their networks for an unspecified period of time.

Additional government actions

The Polish government created Informative campaigns regarding analog broadcast switch-off in mass media. The government also requires electronic equipment sellers to inform buyers that MPEG-2 TVs and STBs are not compatible with the national standard which is currently DVB-T2 HEVC QAM256. The Polish government provides financial help for poor families and seniors to buy a TV - 250 PLN or STB – 100 PLN per household, totaling 475 million PLN.

Technical information

Polish digital terrestrial television broadcast uses the basic parameters of a digital receiver defined in ETSI TS 101 154 for level 4.1 HDTV: 50 Hz HEVC HDTV 8-bit (resolutions 1920 x 1080 p50, 1280 x 720 p50) MPEG-2 Audio Layer 2 and E-AC -3 audios. In the case of a TV receiver capable of displaying UHD, the DVB-T2 receiver also supports the format specified in ETSI TS 101 154 in point 5.14 HEVC HDR UHDTV IRD using HLG10 and HEVC HDR UHDTV IRD using PQ10, Main 10 Profile, Main Tier for UHDTV with resolution 3840 x 2160 and AC-4 audio.

Assignment of channels in multiplexes

Plan from January 2009 included three nationwide multiplexes with seven SDTV channels in each: In January 2010 new plan on introducing DVB-T was presented. Assignment of multiplexes was changed: In June 2010 the final decision on the allocation of multiplexes was made:

MUX1

MUX2

MUX3

MUX6

MUX8 (DVB-T, MPEG-4)

MUX4 Polsat Box "Sport i informacje" ("Sports & information" Pay TV package)

MUX-L1 (Lubań/Jelenia Góra/Bolesławiec/Chojnów)

MUX-L2 (Ornontowice/Rybnik)

MUX-L3 (Częstochowa/Kamieńsk/Tomaszów Mazowiecki)

MUX-L4 (Świdnica/Wrocław) (DVB-T, MPEG-4)

MUX-L7 (Lubin/Głogów) (DVB-T, MPEG-4)

LRT local multiplex (Suwałki) (DVB-T, MPEG-4)

Satellite

In 1998, two DVB-S providers, Cyfra+ and Wizja TV started operation. In 2001, Wizja TV was merged into Cyfra+. 1999 saw the introduction of another platform, Polsat 2 Cyfrowy (later renamed to Polsat Cyfrowy, Cyfrowy Polsat and finally Polsat Box), owned by Polsat, a major Polish commercial TV network. These platforms become very popular, and today, there are no Polish channels available on analogue satellite (the last one, TVN, was switched off in 2008). However, most of the satellite broadcasts in Poland are in SDTV resolution. On 12 October 2006, ITI launched the n platform with a few HD channels available, as well as—also new to Poland—video on demand functionality. Later, in December 2006, Cyfra+ also started HD broadcasts. Cyfrowy Polsat started HD broadcasts in second half of 2007. On 21 March 2013, as part of deeper cooperation between Canal+ Group and ITI, Cyfra+ and N were merged into NC+. On 3 September 2019 NC+ has changed name to Platforma Canal+.

Other technologies

Several TV channels, as well as video on demand, are available in Polish mobile telephony networks. There are no currently operating dedicated mobile TV transmitters. There are also OTT TV service providers.

Digital platforms in Poland

Television rating system in Poland

Viewing shares

Top 20 Polish TV channels by Nielsen Media Research (in gray channels, which were in a given year out of the Top 20): Top 10 most watched TV broadcasts in Poland from 1998 according to Nielsen Media Research:

[Audience ratings of TV channels above 2% in Poland since 1997 by Nielsen Media Research

(TVP Info in 1994-2007 as TVP3 Regionalna, TV4 in 1998-2000 as Nasza TV, TVN7 in 1996-2002 as RTL7) | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/af/PL///TV///5-9.png]

Research and development

Advanced Digital Broadcast, with the R&D headquarters based in Zielona Gora, is a Polish company, which introduced many innovations and world's first solutions in the area of Digital TV. One of the co-founders was local professor Janusz C. Szajna.