📺 STVR Secures Free-to-Air Terrestrial Broadcasting

The agreement guarantees that the media holding’s core television networks will remain available to the public free of charge via conventional indoor or rooftop antennas, while delivering unprecedented budget optimization for the broadcaster.

The contract with the strategic partner runs until the end of August 2029, aligning precisely with the expiration of Towercom’s license to operate the public-service multiplex. Under the terms of the agreement, channels Jednotka, Dvojka, Šport, and the 24 news network will continue free-to-air (FTA) terrestrial broadcasting without any subscription fees or paywalls.

At present, STVR remains the only broadcaster in Slovakia with a long-term distribution contract for unencrypted digital terrestrial television (DTT).

The cornerstone of the new agreement is aggressive cost optimization carried out while fully preserving the existing network footprint, including all remote relay stations and transmitters.

• Direct Savings: STVR’s monthly expenditures for terrestrial distribution will decrease by €246.9 thousand (excluding VAT).
• Annual Impact: The cost reduction will amount to nearly €2.96 million per year.
• Three-Year Total: The cumulative savings of public funds over the contract’s three-year duration will exceed €8.8 million.

The infrastructure adjustments will not degrade signal quality. Channels are currently transmitted in HD resolution utilizing the MPEG-4 codec; however, the contract includes a strict technical mandate to fully migrate the multiplex to the advanced, highly efficient DVB-T2 broadcasting standard by the end of September 2026. This step will drive technological advancement while further optimizing the utilization of the radio frequency spectrum.

The Slovak digital terrestrial multiplex, managed by Towercom, has been evolving since 2011. During this period, the network has undergone several modernization phases, including large-scale spectrum clearing and the reallocation of bands to accommodate 5G mobile networks.

STVR leadership emphasizes that traditional over-the-air broadcasting remains a fundamental pillar for distributing state-backed content, eliminating the need for citizens to pay commercial cable, satellite, or IPTV operators. Furthermore, in the current media landscape, the terrestrial TV network is viewed as a critical component of national information security, ensuring guaranteed access to public broadcasting even in geographical zones where alternative digital platforms are unavailable or unstable.