2000
In place of the unencoded AM-Micro service, the encoded AntennaMikro program distributor service is started. The terrestrial television networks are switched over to NICAM-system stereo audio transmission.
Installation of the improved, new generation version (TDM+IP system) of the VSAT system commissioned as a second item.
2000-01
During the course of the privatization transaction, the ÁPV Rt’s main goal was selling with keeping 50%+1 of the votes. As a first step of the business, a share packet was sold within the scope of a stock market auction. The second phase of the privatization, where the Hungarian and international issuance of shares was planned together with a raise of the share capital, had to be delayed due to the unfavourable international capital market conditions. ÁPV Rt. sold shares in January 2001 within the scope of a closed sales meeting, while the employees of the company could buy shares during the employee share sales.
2001
To provide basis for the expanding telecommunications services, AnTetra Kft. in the name of the AH-group participated in the bidding for the 3.5 GHz frequency band, where the company acquired the 15 year usage rights for the highest quality frequency block. According to the option contract concluded with the Hungarian Post, it was possible to increase the shares in Vodafone, and AH raised its shares in the company to 30%.
The company acquires the ISO 9001:2000 certification for the whole broadcasting and telecommunication activity, and becomes a qualified NATO-supplier, too.
2002
From the National Mircowave Center, the 100 MHz Kossuth program's broadcast is started with a 10 kW semiconductor Harris transmitter.
HUNSAT becomes a company limited by shares. AH bought the Eurotel-shares of co-owner Vivendi Telecom.
2003
From 1 October 2003, the telecommunications activities were outsourced to Antenna Távközlési Rt. AH sells its AnteCom shares
The national construction of the 100 MHz band Kossuth transmitter network is started.
2004
By joining the European Union, all activities of the AH became liberalized. Although the broadcasting service continued to belong to the scope of state – maximized – prices according to the regulations in effect, AH’s monopoly has ceased to exist in this field.
The digital terrestrial (DVB-T) operating broadcasting starts from the Budapest and Kabhegy sites with the programs of three public service televisions, mtv, m2 and Duna Tv.
The broadcasting of the Katolikus Rádió’s program started at Szolnok with the old 135 kW BHG transmitter. With the reconstruction of the MW sites, modern TRAM transmitters are installed at Szombathely and Miskolc.
Installation of the fourth wideband VSAT system providing wideband satellite data transmission services, operating independently.
2004-05
In September 2004, the agreement was made to sell the shares of the Company in Vodafone Magyarország Rt. to Vodafone International for HUF 19.4 billion, and the transaction was closed in January 2005.
Government decision on AH’s privatization, based on this ÁPV Rt. was authorized to sell the Company’s share package providing 75%+1 of the votes on an open tender. ÁPV Zrt. announced the privatization tender in the spring of 2005. Swisscom Broadcast AG offering the highest purchase price became the 75% owner of Antenna Hungária. After the approval of the deal by the Office for Competition, the Swisscom Broadcast AG submitted a public purchase offer for all AH shares. Following this, the Swiss company exercised its purchase rights, and became the 100% owner of Antenna Hungária. Swisscom brought out the Antenna Hungária shares from the Budapest Stock Exchange, and reformed the operation of the company to private during 2006.
2005
The digital Antenna Digital microwave public service is started, replacing the analogue AntennaMikro service available around Budapest and its surroundings.
We started to broadcast the program of Katolikus Rádió with modern TRAM transmitters at Lakihegy (14,5 kW), Siófok (150 kW) and Szolnok (135 kW). Still in this year, we installed at Nyíregyháza the new 25 kW transmitter, and at Mosonmagyaróvár the new 5 kW TRAM transmitter.
2006
The long wave data transmission is started from Lakihegy with the new 100 kW TRAM transmitter.
2007
The French TDF S.A. agreed with Swisscom to purchase 100% of Antenna Hungária for HUF 80.7 billion. After the approval of the deal by the Office for Competition, the transaction was closed in July 2007.
A mobile television experiment starts with the involvement of T-Mobile. Later Vodafone Magyarország also joins the DVB-H experiments.
The construction of the 100 MHz Kossuth transmitter network is completed. The network was built at 47 sites partially from Harris, partially from Broadcast Electronics full semiconductor transmitters. At the same time, the 70 MHz Kossuth transmitter network was closed down. We started broadcasting the MR4 program with new TRAM transmitters at Lakihegy (20 kW), Szolnok (100 kW), Marcali (300 kW) and Kozármislény (20 kW). Start of DAB+, and TDMB experiments at Budapest.
Integration of Antenna Távközlési Zrt. into the parent company. To fulfil the increasing demand for broadband satellite service, HDT put into operation at the end of 2007 its new iDirect-make satellite central system.
2008
T-Mobile and Vodafone, as well as Nokia-Siemens and Antenna Hungária continue with the mobile television experiments, consisting of a successful technical test and a common „friendly user” test.
Jean-Francois Fenech is the managing director of AH. In March 2008, Antenna Hungária changed its logo and its image, inherited the common image elements of its parent company TDF, and by this Antenna Hungária joined the comprehensive brand of TDF.
In June 2008, Magyar Katolikus Rádió conducted a successful digital medium wave (DRM) test together with Antenna Hungária.
From the end of June 2008, Antenna Hungária started its HDTV service in its cable service without cable, accessible in Budapest and its surroundings, called Antenna Digital.
At the end of July 2008, Antenna Hungária and the Hungarian Television started an experimental HD broadcast on the terrestrial television broadcasting network in Budapest, on channel 38, during the time of the Peking Olympic Games. The participants of the experiment considered the HD transmission tests successful, and stopped them on 31 August.
The National Communications Authority announced a tender in the spring of 2008 for the operation of five terrestrial digital television program networks and one terrestrial digital radio program network, both tenders were won by Antenna Hungária. On 5 September 2008, the National Communications Authority and Antenna Hungária concluded the contracts for the operating concession of the digital terrestrial television and radio broadcasting networks. In the two separate tenders, Antenna Hungária acquired the concession to operate 5 television multiplexes and one radio multiplex for 12 years.
In September-October 2008, the antenna systems were rebuilt in Budapest on Széchenyi hill, at Kabhegy and Szentes, in order to start the digital terrestrial television broadcast in December.
From 6 October 2008, Antenna Hungária made available the HD broadcast of the channel m1 in Budapest, on the experimental system. The HD broadcast was received on channel 51 in MPEG-4 format until 16 November.
At 17:30 on 1 December 2008, the digital terrestrial television service containing subscription-free channels with the programme of MinDig TV, the HD programme of Duna TV and the SD programme of Duna II Autonómia.
On 1 December 2008, the DVB-H broadcast started in Budapest with three transmitters.
On 3 December 2008, the broadcast of a programme package started containing ATV and Hír TV in encoded SD format with subscription – as requesred by the channels -, included in the offer of the Antenna Digital service with the name Terra+.
Antenna Hungária made available the HD format programmes of m1 and m2 for a period of one month as an experiment, from 23 December 2008, within the scope of the MinDig TV terrestrial television service, and extended it to the end of February 2009 after its success.
2009
In January 2009, AH successfully started the digital broadcast from the transmission tower at Száva street in South Pest as a result of substantial investments in the past month.
From 23 January 2009, Antenna Hungária started an experimental broadcast on its DAB+ digital terrestrial radio network. The experiment is available in Budapest and its surroundings, and at the start it contained the channels MR1, MR2 and MR3 of the Hungarian Radio and three channels of the Swiss Satellite Radio. The experimental broadcast was expanded with new programmes in February 2009, including the channels of Sláger Rádió and Magyar Katolikus Rádió, and later Gazdasági Rádió and Radio Café, so the number of available programmes increased to ten.
AH was informed on 30 April that based on the official decision of the National Communications Authority, AH acquired the exclusive concession related to the microwave radio transmission systems (26 GHz) for frequency use of the ’E’ frequency block.
Hungaro DigiTel Kft., a member of the Antenna Hungária group, inherited the VSAT activities of GTS-Datanet Távközlési Kft., and by this HDT increased further its share in the satellite data transmission services segment in Hungary.
RTL Klub is included on the digital platform from 8 May, TV2 from 1 June (both in SD formats), and the two channels of Hungarian Television: m1 and m2 are also included from 1 July (in HD format). By this, the programme choice of MinDig TV increased to eight channels, including six free-to-air channels (RTL Klub, TV2, m1, m2, Duna TV and Duna II. Autonómia) as well as two pay channels (Hír TV, ATV).
2010
On 25 May 2010, Antenna Hungária Zrt's “MinDig TV Extra” subscription service was launched on the digital terrestrial television platform (DVB-T). In addition to MinDig TV's 7 free-to-air channels, the new service includes 10 popular thematic channels.
A 3DTV test was carried out as a world first by Antenna Hungária Zrt. and iPONT Kft. by transferring 3D video content over the digital terrestrial television system, displayed on a glasses-free television set.
As part of the MinDig TV service, a 24-hour information channel was launched, presenting the devices required to receive the MinDig TV and MinDig TV Extra services and providing detailed information on the available content, coverage, promotional campaigns and the availability of additional information.
2011
As a result of a long-term trade agreement between the Antenna Hungária Group and FM1 Zrt, the DAB+ service was resumed in Hungary. The agreement, on the basis of which the digital terrestrial broadcasting of the NeoFM national commercial radio station began on 1 June 2011, was a milestone in digital radio broadcasting.
The National Media and Infocommunications Authority and senior executives of the Antenna Hungária Group signed the amendment of the administrative contracts concerning the operational licence of the national digital television and radio broadcast networks, concluded in September 2008, enabling the AH to use multiplex B for DVB-T services rather than the broadcasting of DVB-H (mobile TV) services. AH implemented the change on 30 September 2011, replacing the DVB-H service by the new MinDig TV Extra Family package on multiplex B.
In the new MinDig TV Extra Family package, 13 popular channels were added to the 7 free-to-air channels and the 10 channels included in the Basic package.
MinDig TV reached another milestone: the free-to-air channels are now viewed in 300,000 households whereas MinDig TV Extra has more than 42,000 subscribers.
2012
On 1 June 2012, Antenna Hungária CEO and Board member Jean-Francois Fenech resigned from his position.
The Olympics were broadcast online by the MTVA in HD quality, to which the technical background (Content Delivery Network or CDN) was provided by Antenna Hungária. In addition to the HD service, the live 3D stream provided by Antenna Hungária also proved successful. It was the first time the application became commercially available in Hungary.
On 10 September 2012, András Piller was appointed Antenna Hungária's new CEO and Board member.
On 31 October 2012, the Barcs analogue M1 relay transmitter was switched off on the basis of the decision of the NMHH. Since that date, digital terrestrial has been the only terrestrial method public-service channels are transmitted in town.
2013
February 2013 - The National Media and Infocommunications Authority publishes the switch-off schedule of analogue terrestrial television broadcasting networks in Hungary. The analogue switch-off is scheduled to be completed on 31 October 2013.
March 2013 – The ConnectMedia digital business media service is launched.
May 2013 – Launch of a new MinDig TV application, available free of charge on Android, iOS and Windows Phone devices.
31 July 2013 - Phase I of the switch-off of analogue networks completed (Dunántúl North and Centre, Budapest and Pest County, Dél-Alföld).
September 2013 – Frequency replacements at 19 digital terrestrial television channels.
September 2013 – As a result of an agreement between AppZee Média Kft. and Antenna Hungária, streaming services are launched on ConnectMedia.
October 2013 – A pilot free-to-air hybrid television service is launched under the name MinDig TV Plusz.
30 October 2013 - Phase II of the switch-off of analogue networks completed (North and North-east Hungary, Dunántúl South). The analogue service is terminated on all sites.
December 2013 – The M3 and D1 channels are added to the MinDig TV Extra package, while PRO4 is replaced by Super TV2.
2014
In January 2014, the RTLII channel is added to the MinDig TV Extra Family package.
March 2014 – Antenna Hungária is repurchased by the Hungarian government (NISZ – Nemzeti Infokommunikációs Szolgáltató).
March 2014 – The C8 channel is added to the MinDig TV service, i.e. 8 channels are now available free of charge over the digital terrestrial television network.
May 2014 – Médiaklikk, a new hybrid television service is launched by the MTVA with the technical collaboration of Antenna Hungária.
June 2014 – The TV Paprika channel is added to the Family package.
August saw the launch of the pilot broadcast of the DIGI Sport 1 and DIGI Sport 2 channels on the DVB-T platform. On 1 October, both channels are added to the MinDig TV Extra package.
Following the re-nationalisation of Antenna Hungária, the owner's rights and obligations over the Company are vested with the Minister of National Development. Acting in that capacity, Minister Dr. Miklós Seszták appointed András Kápolnai the new CEO of Antenna Hungária Zrt. with effect from 10 September 2014.
By the launching of two new DVB-T multiplexes (D and E), from 1 October 2014, the MinDig TV Extra service offers 22 new channels to subscribers. As a result, 55 television channels are now available by roof antenna or, at certain locations, by indoor antenna.
