Digital terrestrial television in Portugal (, or TDT) launched on 29 April 2009 with (as of December 2016) 7 free-to-air (FTA) channels. In the Azores and Madeira Islands, regional channels (RTP Açores or RTP Madeira) are available."A TDT, em Portugal, disponibiliza de forma gratuita os canais generalistas nacionais RTP 1, RTP 2, SIC, TVI, RTP Açores e RTP Madeira (nas respectivas Regiões Autónomas). Um dos canais poderá ser emitido simultaneamente em Alta Definição", http://tdt.telecom.pt/o_que_e/Default.aspx?code=XzX622 By June 2010 TDT coverage reached 83% of the population and was expected to reach 100% by the end of 2010. The analog to digital conversion finished on 26 April 2012. The four existing analog FTA channels simulcasted in DVB-T, MPEG-4/H.264 (digital), and PAL (analog).
History The Portuguese government first began considering digital terrestrial television in 1998, at a time when the first services in Europe were being tested. The tentative launch of the platform was set to be in 2000; the first phase was supposed to end in 2002.Introdução em Portugal da Televisão Digital Terrestre (DVB-T)
On April 2, 2001, Ferro Rodrigues announced the first tender for a digital terrestrial television network in Portugal, with a second tender to grant the channels in the second half of the year. The goal was to start in the second half of 2002, achieving a 90% reach, and shutting down the analog signals in 2007.Ferro Rodrigues marca data de início de concurso para DVB-T On August 20, the PTDP consortium won the license.Consórcio PTDP ganha licença de Televisão Digital Terrestre
PTDP's service was scheduled to start on August 31, 2002, but due to recommendations from ANACOM, it was suggested that the launch was to be delayed to 2003.Ministro da Economia aprova adiamento da Televisão Digital Terrestre para Fevereiro de 2003 After the delay, ANACOM suggested the dismantling of the PTDP consortium.Anacom propõe revogação da licença de Televisão Digital Terrestre da PTDP
In April 2008, there were two companies bidding for the exploitation of subscription channels on digital terrestrial, PT using MEO and the Swedish company AirPlus TV. Following the commercial launch of MEO's IPTV service, there were plans for a MEO DT service, which was set to be the cheapest subscription television offer in the market.
The TDT process was broken into two licenses: one for management of the FTA network and frequencies, and one for the management and distribution of pay TV channels and content. Both licenses were won by Portugal Telecom (PT). PT also acquired the transmitter network of Televisão Independente (TVI), thus becoming the sole broadcaster of analog television signals. ANACOM's objective was to have 5 TDT FTA channels (including a new 5th FTA channel) and a paid TV offer of around 40 channels. The plan for a paid TV offer was abandoned when PT announced that they were returning the paid TV license to ANACOM, which returned the million paid by PT.
The creation of the fifth TV channel was criticized by private broadcasters, TVI and Sociedade Independente de Comunicação (SIC). They argued that the television advertising market was saturated and a new broadcaster would damage existing channels.
ARTV started test broadcasts on December 27, 2012 and regular broadcasts on January 3, 2013. The channel became the first terrestrial channel to launch in nearly twenty years.
In June 2016, the government allowed four new television channels: two existing RTP channels (RTP3 and RTP Memória) under the condition that these wouldn't carry commercial advertising on terrestrial, while two private channels were open to a bidding round from the private sector.
In 2023, Media Capital CEO Pedro Morais Leitão said that the company was considering pulling out of DTT broadcasting. In November 2023, ANACOM extended the DTT license by 7 years upon MEO request. This license will be valid until 10 December 2030.
As of 2024, RTP pays €8 million for the national carriage of four of its channels on the platform, at a cost of €2 million per channel.RTP paga 8 milhões para estar na TDT, Correio da Manhã, 24 November 2024
Transmitters There are in total 262 DTT transmitters available in Portugal. DTT transmittersChannelFrequenciesAbrantes35582-590 MHzÁgueda44654-662 MHzÁgueda Industrial44654-662 MHzAlbufeira43646-654 MHzAlcácer do Sal37598-606 MHzAlcobaça35582-590 MHzAlcoutim47678-686 MHzAldeia de Juso35582-590 MHzAlenquer35582-590 MHzAlgueirão35582-590 MHzAlmada37598-606 MHzAlmodôvar43646-654 MHzAlter do Chão43646-654 MHzAlto de São Bento, Évora30542-550 MHzAlto do Galeão33566-574 MHzAlvaiázere44654-662 MHzAlverca35582-590 MHzAlvite, Moimenta da Beira42638-646 MHzAlvôco das Várzeas44654-662 MHzAmarante36590-598 MHzArcos de Valdevez33566-574 MHzArganil44654-662 MHzArouca36590-598 MHzArronches43646-654 MHzArruda dos Vinhos35582-590 MHzAveiro Centro36590-598 MHzAvessadas36590-598 MHzAvis43646-654 MHzAzoia - Sintra35582-590 MHzBaião36590-598 MHzBarcarena35582-590 MHzBarrancos30542-550 MHzBarroca Grande44654-662 MHzBarrosa48686-694 MHzBatalha35582-590 MHzBeja30542-550 MHzBenfica, Lisboa35582-590 MHzBezerra35582-590 MHzBoa Viagem46670-678 MHzBoa Viagem 244654-662 MHzBonfim36590-598 MHzBorba30542-550 MHzBornes46670-678 MHzBraga - Santa Marta33566-574 MHzBraga Centro33566-574 MHzBragança46670-678 MHzBragança - São Bartolomeu46670-678 MHzBufão43646-654 MHzCabaços, Moimenta da Beira48686-694 MHzCacém35582-590 MHzCaldas da Rainha35582-590 MHzCaldas de Vizela36590-598 MHzCamarinhas47678-686 MHzCampo Maior43646-654 MHzCandeeiros35582-590 MHzCaparica37598-606 MHzCaramulo44654-662 MHzCarpinteira - Covilhã34574-582 MHzCascais35582-590 MHzCastanheira de Pêra44654-662 MHzCastelete - Pico46670-678 MHzCastelo de Paiva42638-646 MHzCastelo de Vide43646-654 MHzCastro Verde43646-654 MHzCeira44654-662 MHzCelorico de Basto36590-598 MHzCerdeira33566-574 MHzCerro da Águia43646-654 MHzCheleiros35582-590 MHzCoimbra Centro44654-662 MHzCoimbra Observatório44654-662 MHzCoruche35582-590 MHzCouço35582-590 MHzCovas33566-574 MHzCruz de Pau37598-606 MHzElvas43646-654 MHzEncumeada47678-686 MHzEspalamaca - Faial47678-686 MHzEspinhal44654-662 MHzEstoril35582-590 MHzEstremoz43646-654 MHzEstremoz - Quinta da Esperança43646-654 MHzÉvora - Entrevinhas30542-550 MHzÉvora Centro30542-550 MHzFaro47678-686 MHzFátima35582-590 MHzFerreira do Alentejo30542-550 MHzFóia 143646-654 MHzFóia 228526-534 MHzFornos de Algodres41630-638 MHzFoz36590-598 MHzFunchal, Madeira47678-686 MHzGaia36590-598 MHzGaia Centro36590-598 MHzGardunha34574-582 MHzGavião43646-654 MHzGerês33566-574 MHzGraça35582-590 MHzGrândola37598-606 MHzGuarda41630-638 MHzGuimarães Centro33566-574 MHzGuimarães Penha33566-574 MHzJanas35582-590 MHzJunqueira36590-598 MHzLagos Centro43646-654 MHzLagos Norte43646-654 MHzLamego36590-598 MHzLeça36590-598 MHzLeiranco33566-574 MHzLeiria44654-662 MHzLisboa - Castelo35582-590 MHzLisboa - Estrela35582-590 MHzLisboa - Restelo35582-590 MHzLisboa - Trindade35582-590 MHzLisboa - Xabregas35582-590 MHzLogo de Deus - Coimbra44654-662 MHzLoulé47678-686 MHzLourosa36590-598 MHzLousã46670-678 MHzLousa - Torre de Moncorvo46670-678 MHzMação43646-654 MHzMachialinho44654-662 MHzMalveira35582-590 MHzMangualde36590-598 MHzManteigas41630-638 MHzMarofa48686-694 MHzMarvão43646-654 MHzMealhada44654-662 MHzMelides37598-606 MHzMendro40622-630 MHzMértola47678-686 MHzMira de Aire35582-590 MHzMirandela46670-678 MHzMogadouro46670-678 MHzMoledo33566-574 MHzMonchique43646-654 MHzMonsanto, Lisboa35582-590 MHzMontalegre33566-574 MHzMonte da Virgem, Porto42638-646 MHzMonte do Facho44654-662 MHzMonte Franqueira, Barcelos36590-598 MHzMonte Gois33566-574 MHzMontedor33566-574 MHzMontejunto48686-694 MHzMontemor-o-Novo30542-550 MHzMora30542-550 MHzMortágua44654-662 MHzMosteiro41630-638 MHzMoura30542-550 MHzNazaré Centro35582-590 MHzNisa43646-654 MHzÓbidos35582-590 MHzOdemira43646-654 MHzOdivelas35582-590 MHzOdivelas Centro35582-590 MHzOleiros34574-582 MHzOlivais35582-590 MHzOurém35582-590 MHzOurique43646-654 MHzPadrela46670-678 MHzPalmeira de Faro36590-598 MHzPalmela45662-670 MHzPalmela37598-606 MHzPampilhosa da Serra44654-662 MHzParedes de Coura33566-574 MHzPedra do Vento41630-638 MHzPedra Mole47678-686 MHzPenacova44654-662 MHzPenafiel36590-598 MHzPenamacor34574-582 MHzPenedo da Saudade, Coimbra44654-662 MHzPenedo Gordo43646-654 MHzPeniche35582-590 MHzPenouta33566-574 MHzPico Alto, Açores46670-678 MHzPico Arco da Calheta - Madeira47678-686 MHzPico Arco de São Jorge - Madeira47678-686 MHzPico Bartolomeu44654-662 MHzPico da Cruz - Madeira47678-686 MHzPico do Facho - Madeira47678-686 MHzPico do Galo, Madeira47678-686 MHzPico do Silva (Madeira)47678-686 MHzPico Geraldo, Pico48686-694 MHzPico Jardim - Açores46670-678 MHzPico Verde48686-694 MHzPicota47678-686 MHzPiódão44654-662 MHzPirocão46670-678 MHzPodame33566-574 MHzPombal44654-662 MHzPonta Delgada, Madeira47678-686 MHzPonte de Lima33566-574 MHzPortalegre43646-654 MHzPorto - Av. Brasil36590-598 MHzPorto - Fernão Lopes36590-598 MHzPorto - Pedro Escobar36590-598 MHzPorto de Mós35582-590 MHzPorto Santo (Madeira)46670-678 MHzPóvoa de Lanhoso33566-574 MHzPóvoa Santo Adrião35582-590 MHzRedondo30542-550 MHzReguengos de Monsaraz30542-550 MHzReitoria - Covilhã34574-582 MHzResende36590-598 MHzRibeira de Pena33566-574 MHzRibeira Grande44654-662 MHzRio Arda36590-598 MHzRio Maior35582-590 MHzSanta Bárbara (Açores)45662-670 MHzSanta Luzia47678-686 MHzSanta Marta de Penaguião36590-598 MHzSantarém35582-590 MHzSantiago do Cacém37598-606 MHzSanto Tirso36590-598 MHzSão Bernardo36590-598 MHzSão Domingos36590-598 MHzSão João de Ver, Santa Maria da Feira42638-646 MHzSão Mamede47678-686 MHzSão Miguel, Faro47678-686 MHzSapiãos, Boticas33566-574 MHzSátão36590-598 MHzSeixo Alvo36590-598 MHzSerpa30542-550 MHzSerra do Alvão36590-598 MHzSerra do Cume46670-678 MHzSertã44654-662 MHzSesimbra37598-606 MHzSilves43646-654 MHzSilves Centro43646-654 MHzSines43646-654 MHzSintra35582-590 MHzSítio da Nazaré35582-590 MHzSousel43646-654 MHzSurrinha41630-638 MHzTavira47678-686 MHzTermas Monfortinho34574-582 MHzTerras de Bouro33566-574 MHzTocha44654-662 MHzTomar35582-590 MHzTorres Vedras35582-590 MHzTrancão - Torres Novas35582-590 MHzTrancoso41630-638 MHzVale de Cambra36590-598 MHzVale de Mira46670-678 MHzValença33566-574 MHzValongo36590-598 MHzVelas44654-662 MHzViana do Castelo33566-574 MHzVieira do Minho33566-574 MHzVila da Ponte, Sernancelhe48686-694 MHzVila de Rei44654-662 MHzVila Franca de Xira35582-590 MHzVila Franca de Xira - Montegordo35582-590 MHzVila Nova de São Bento30542-550 MHzVila Praia de Âncora33566-574 MHzVila Viçosa30542-550 MHzVilar Formoso41630-638 MHzVinhais46670-678 MHzViseu Centro36590-598 MHzViseu Sul36590-598 MHzVolta da Pedra, Palmela37598-606 MHzVouzela36590-598 MHz
Channels LCNChannelResolutionOwner1 RTP1 SD (720x576i) RTP2 RTP2 SD (720x576i) RTP3 SIC SD (720x576i) Impresa4 TVI SD (720x576i) Media Capital5 ARtv SD (720x576i) Assembly of the Republic6 RTP Notícias SD (720x576i) RTP7 RTP Memória SD (720x576i) RTP
References