Television in Poland
was introduced in Poland 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 becoming the first private station in Poland.
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, all using MPEG-4 AVC compression. Three channels, TVP1, TVP2 and TVP Info are available in HD across all of Poland, while several others 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.
Allocation
At 2006 conference in Geneva known as GE06 Poland received eight DVB-T multiplexes—seven at UHF frequencies 470÷862 MHz and one at VHF frequency 174÷230 MHz. Since some of these frequencies are currently used for analog PAL terrestrial television broadcasting, it is possible to run only two nationwide multiplexes and one which covers part of country. 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
- MUX1 covers 98.8% of population;
- MUX2 covers more than 98.8% of population;
- MUX3 covers 99.5% of population;
- MUX8 covers 97.4% of population.
Analog shutdown
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 MPEG-4 AVC.The Polish government provides financial help for poor families and seniors to buy a TV or STB – ca. 250 PLN per household, totaling 475 million PLN.
Technical information
Polish digital terrestrial television broadcast uses 25 Hz H.264/AVC HDTV video, MPEG-2 Layer 2 and E-AC-3 audio, for a Baseline IRD able to decode up to 1920 × 1080 interlaced 25 Hz video pictures or 1280 × 720 progressive 50 Hz video pictures.During tests also MPEG-2 encoding for video was used.
Assignment of channels in multiplexes
Plan from January 2009 included three nationwide multiplexes with seven SDTV channels in each:- MUX1 – Free-to-air commercial channels ; after analog broadcast switch-off MUX3 covered the entire country population and public channels moved to it; there was competition for three freed channels;
- MUX2 – open competition
- MUX3 – Public channels; after analog switch-off MUX3 will cover all country population and public channels will be moved to it from MUX1; there will be competition for three freed channels in MUX1.
- MUX1 – public broadcaster channels
- MUX2 – Commercial free-to-air channels plus one additional from each broadcaster.
- MUX1 – four channels chosen in open competition and temporary three public broadcaster channels ; after analog broadcast switch-off and after covering MUX3 all country population, public channels have been deleted from MUX1; there was a contest for the remaining four freed channels ;
- MUX2 – four current terrestrial analog commercial free-to-air channels plus one additional from each broadcaster, currently: Super Polsat, TVN7, TV6 and Puls 2;
- MUX3 – public broadcaster channels.
MUX1
MUX2
MUX3
MUX8
TV Mobilna">Cyfrowy Polsat">TV Mobilna—MUX4 (Pay TV channels)
" * - temporarily FTA "MUX-L1 ([Lubań]/[Jelenia Góra]/[Bolesławiec]/[Chojnów])
MUX-L2 ([Ornontowice]/[Rybnik])
MUX-L3 ([Częstochowa]/[Kamieńsk]/[Tomaszów Mazowiecki])
MUX-L4 ([Świdnica]/[Wrocław])
MUX-L7 ([Lubin]/[Głogów])
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, 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. 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
Some of the biggest cable operators started to provide DVB-C channels in few cities. However, most of the cable networks currently operating in Poland are purely analogue.The largest telephone operator, Telekomunikacja Polska, introduced a new option to its Neostrada offer, the Videostrada. It allows to receive digital TV, available are most of Cyfra+ channels, as well as video on demand. It is currently available only in few biggest cities in Poland.
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.
List of channels
This is a list of television channels that broadcast in Poland.Public
[Telewizja Polska]
- SD version of the channel available only on cable
*** Operates as an Internet multistreaming channel
**** Only on Lithuania
***** Channel start emitted due to the COVID-19 pandemic
Private
Polsat Group">Polsat">Polsat Group
- SD version of the channel available only on cable
Discovery Inc.">Discovery Networks CEEMEA">Discovery Inc.
- TVN International—a.k.a. iTVN, for Polish from around the world; New Zealand, USA, Germany, Australia and Pakistan
- TVN International Extra—a.k.a. iTVN Extra, for Polish from around the world; USA, Germany
** TTV belongs to Stavka
Telewizja Puls
[Canal+ Group]
- SD version of the channel available only in the cable
ZPR Media Group
[BBC Worldwide]
- SD version of the channel available only in the cable
[Fox Networks Group]
Others
- SD version of the channel available only on cable
Planned channels
List of Polonia channels
Digital platforms in Poland
Television rating system in Poland
Viewing shares
Top 20 Polish TV channels from 2007 by Nielsen Media Research :| Channels | Launched | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 |
| Polsat | 12/1992 | 11.15 | 10.91 | 11.45 | 11.60 | 11.84 | 12.24 | 13.97 | 14.53 | 13.84 | 14.81 | 15.42 | 16.76 | |
| TVN | 10/1997 | 10.92 | 9.87 | 10.37 | 10.65 | 11.68 | 12.54 | 13.93 | 14.95 | 15.21 | 15.92 | 16.73 | 16.46 | |
| TVP1 | 01/1953 | 7.51 | 9.59 | 11.10 | 12.28 | 12.27 | 13.17 | 15.41 | 17.41 | 19.35 | 20.89 | 22.63 | 23.20 | 24.0 |
| TVP2 | 10/1970 | 7.16 | 7.87 | 8.32 | 8.72 | 9.41 | 10.30 | 12.56 | 13.27 | 14.49 | 15.39 | 16.83 | 17.99 | 19.7 |
| TVN24 | 08/2001 | 4.14 | 4.27 | 3.81 | 3.22 | 2.99 | 3.12 | 3.06 | 3.14 | 3.45 | 2.69 | 2.71 | 2.98 | |
| TV4 | 04/2000 | 4.13 | 4.08 | 3.36 | 3.27 | 2.68 | 2.97 | 2.49 | 2.39 | 2.14 | 2.06 | 1.8 | 2.06 | |
| TVP Info | 10/2007 | 1.86 | 3.83 | 3.26 | 3.51 | 2.86 | 2.61 | 3.82 | 4.24 | 4.92 | 4.41 | 4.32 | 4.92 | — |
| TVN7 | 03/2002 | 3.55 | 3.29 | 3.33 | 3.30 | 3.53 | 3.54 | 2.53 | 1.79 | 1.63 | 1.66 | 1.62 | 1.49 | |
| TV Puls | 03/2001 | 3.89 | 3.03 | 3.20 | 3.09 | 3.11 | 3.08 | 2.33 | 1.89 | 1.51 | 1.13 | 0.80 | 0.53 | |
| TTV | 01/2012 | 2.60 | 1.78 | 1.60 | 1.45 | 1.30 | 1.02 | 0.31 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Puls 2 | 07/2012 | 1.91 | 1.75 | 1.78 | 1.62 | 1.52 | 1.07 | 0.14 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| TVP Seriale | 12/2010 | 1.77 | 1.49 | 1.48 | 1.40 | 1.44 | 1.14 | 0.64 | 0.34 | — | — | — | — | — |
| Polsat 2 | 03/1997 | 1.55 | 1.47 | 1.52 | 1.45 | 1.68 | 1.79 | 1.37 | 1.32 | 0.88 | 0.87 | 0.8 | 0.61 | |
| TV6 | 05/2011 | 1.63 | 1.44 | 1.48 | 1.23 | 0.97 | 0.61 | 0.20 | 0.04 | — | — | — | — | — |
| TVP ABC | 02/2014 | 1.15 | 1.18 | 0.92 | 0.70 | 0.49 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Polsat News | 06/2008 | 0.99 | 1.14 | 1.11 | 1.08 | 1.08 | 1.04 | 0.90 | 0.81 | 0.62 | 0.31 | 0.1 | — | — |
| TVP Rozrywka | 04/2013 | 0.46 | 0.99 | 1.09 | 1.14 | 0.93 | 0.48 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Stopklatka TV | 03/2014 | 1.14 | 0.94 | 1.00 | 0.88 | 0.60 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| TVP3 | 09/2013 | 0.98 | 0.94 | 0.97 | 1.05 | 1.09 | 0.36 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Fokus TV | 04/2014 | 0.96 | 0.80 | 0.81 | 0.69 | 0.31 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Top 10 most watched TV broadcasts in Poland from 1998 according to Nielsen Media Research:
| Program | Date | Channel | Number of viewers | Share | |
| 1 | Funeral of Pope John Paul II | 08 April 2005 | TVP1, TVP2, TVP3, Polsat, TVN, TVN24 and others | Over 21,400,000 | Almost 90% |
| 2 | UEFA Euro 2016: Poland vs Portugal | 30 June 2016 | TVP1, Polsat, Polsat Sport | 15,974,822 | 86.57% |
| 3 | UEFA Euro 2012: Poland vs Russia | 12 June 2012 | TVP1, TVP Sport, TVP HD | 14,683,216 | 81.51% |
| 4 | UEFA Euro 2016: Germany vs Poland | 16 June 2016 | TVP1, Polsat, Polsat Sport | 14,352,012 | 80.89% |
| 5 | UEFA Euro 2012: Czech Republic vs Poland | 16 June 2012 | TVP1, TVP Sport, TVP HD | 14,070,492 | 81.28% |
| 6 | FIFA World Cup 2018: Poland vs Colombia | 24 June 2018 | TVP1, TVP Sport | 13,631,335 | 75.45% |
| 7 | UEFA Euro 2012: Poland vs Greece | 8 June 2012 | TVP1, TVP Sport, TVP HD | 13,308,343 | 83.78% |
| 8 | 2002 Winter Olympics: Ski Jumping Men's K120 Individual | 13 February 2002 | TVP1 | 13,259,612 | 75.15% |
| 9 | Funeral of Polish President Lech Kaczynski and his wife Maria | 18 April 2010 | TVP1, TVP2, TVP Info, Polsat, Polsat News, TVN, TVN24 and others | 13,033,967 | 86.68% |
| 10 | UEFA Euro 2016: Ukraine vs Poland | 21 June 2016 | TVP1, Polsat, Polsat Sport | 12,639,308 | 81.67% |