The Polish Ministry Of Administration and Digitalization (www.mac.gov.pl) will spend 31 million PLN (7.4 m EUR) in order ensure that all the citizens have access to the programmes transmitted digitally. The transmitters located in Gdańsk, Poznań and Iława will stop working on 28 November. The switch to the new signal is currently one of the biggest Polish public programs.

"It is necessary to inform and educate the society about the issues of the analogue transmitters being switched off and replaced with the digital signal," Michał Boni, the Minister of Administration and Digitalization told FNE. The Polish Office of Electronic Communications (www.en.uke.gov.pl) has also estimated major economic profits to be gained from the switch, with an eight-fold increase in available channel frequencies. The sale of the new, freed-up frequencies can bring Poland from 1.3 to 4 m PLN.

Currently, viewers within the reach of the digital signal have access to 18 channels. By 2014 four additional channels will be available due to the creation of a third multiplex of frequencies. Polish viewers who do not possess TV sets compatible with the new technology and will be provided with special decoders and informed through a special campaign in the local media.