A CONSORTIUM of Cypriot television broadcasters has won the auction for a second digital platform with a €10 million winning bid – a million more than the other bidder.
Velister won the auction in just one round yesterday as the procedure re-started after a month’s interruption prompted by recriminations between the two remaining bidders – Cypriot Velister and Greek LRG.
The director of electronic communications said the process has finished and no objections were pending.
“Nothing is outstanding. The tender submitting procedure has been completed,” Stelios Himonas told the Cyprus Mail.
Two previous rounds, 14 and 15, had been suspended as companies raised objections and while the offer made by both was €9 million.
State telecommunications company CyTA, which also competed in the auction, withdrew in round seven, with its bid at €4.1 million.
However, Himonas said, there are still things that need to be done before Velister is awarded the licence.
First a report on the auction will be drafted and after it is studied and approved the relevant authorities will then make their final decision to offer the licence to the highest bidder.
They will be declared temporary winners and after that they will be asked to fulfil the conditions of the competition, with the main one being paying the money within one month from the day they receive the letter that they are being offered the licence.
The company would also be asked to provide certification that they have fulfilled their obligations to the state – no outstanding tax.
After that the licence will be issued.
A first platform has already been given to state-controlled CyBC without any competition.
The whole system is supposed to be up and running by 2011.
CyTA had to struggle to take part in the auction with the semi-government organisation coming to loggerheads with MPs over their insistence on excluding it.
At the time it had been suggested that deputies were under the thumb of a private television station owner, who has allegedly threatened not to give politicians any exposure during next year’s parliamentary elections.
Digital terrestrial television is transmitted on radio frequencies through the airwaves that are similar to analogue television but with the main difference of offering reception of multiple channels on a single frequency range and at a much higher quality signal
