In digital terrestrial broadcasting a channel does not belong to a single broadcaster: more than one broadcast is transmitted from the same capacity. The organisation that carries out that transmission is the multiplex operator.
Whom May They Serve? - Art. 28/2
The Obligation to Comply with a Suspension Decision - Art. 28/3
Multiplex operators must stop the transmission of broadcasts whose suspension has been decided by the Supreme Council immediately following the notification of the Supreme Council's decision. The broadcast transmission authorisation of multiplex operators that continue to transmit those broadcasts despite the notification is revoked by the Supreme Council and that situation is notified to the Information and Communication Technologies Authority.
| Stage | Result |
|---|---|
| Notification of the suspension decision | The transmission is stopped immediately |
| Continuing to transmit | The broadcast transmission authorisation is revoked |
| Notification | The situation is notified to the Information and Communication Technologies Authority |
Its Relationship with Frequency Allocation - Art. 26
The frequency plans determine the number of multiplexes for digital broadcasts (Art. 26/1). Multiplex capacity is allocated to media service providers according to the result of the ranking tender made on the basis of the digital television frequency plan (Art. 26/5).
Art. 26/7: the broadcasts of organisations given a terrestrial broadcasting licence with an allocation of multiplex capacity are transmitted by a multiplex operator. The organisations within the same multiplex transmit their broadcasts by agreeing on one multiplex operator.
We cover the detail in the frequency planning guide.
Multiplex Allocation to TRT
Art. 26/2: multiplex capacity of a number considered suitable, and not less than one multiplex, is allocated to TRT for terrestrial digital broadcasts, and at least four terrestrial television and four terrestrial radio broadcasts are made with that capacity.
Its Difference from the Transmitter Installation Company
| The multiplex operator | The transmitter installation and operating company | |
|---|---|---|
| Function | Transmitting more than one broadcast from the same capacity | Establishing and/or operating the transmitter installations |
| Basis | Art. 28 | Art. 26/8 |
| Number | There may be more than one | A single company |
| Capital | Media service providers may be partners | At least half of its capital belongs to the public |
The Supreme Council's Power
Art. 37/1-ç: without prejudice to the duties and powers of the Information and Communication Technologies Authority, to determine the administrative, financial and technical conditions with which platform, multiplex and infrastructure operators and the transmitter installation and operating company must comply in relation to their transmission activities, to give them a broadcast transmission authorisation and to revoke it where necessary.
The Fee
Art. 41/1-c: among the Supreme Council's revenues are also the broadcast transmission authorisation fees to be taken from platform, multiplex and infrastructure operators engaged in the activity of transmitting broadcasting services and from the transmitter installation and operating company. That fee is taken in equal instalments within six months following the grant of the authorisation document (Art. 42/1).
Summary
A multiplex operator is the organisation that transmits more than one broadcasting service from the same capacity in digital terrestrial broadcasting. The administrative, financial and technical conditions with which it must comply are determined by the Supreme Council and a broadcast transmission authorisation is given to those meeting the conditions. Multiplex operators may serve only organisations that have obtained a terrestrial broadcasting licence from the Supreme Council and must implement suspension decisions immediately; otherwise their authorisation is revoked.