Boxer TV A/S

Boxer TV A/S

Type	Private company limited by shares
Industry	Media
Headquarters	Copenhagen, Denmark
Products	Television, digital terrestrial television
Website	www.boxertv.dk

Boxer TV A/S is a company that is broadcasting pay television channels on the digital terrestrial television network in Denmark since February 1, 2009.^[1] It is a subsidiary of Boxer TV Access, a Swedish company which is owned by Teracom which in turn is owned by the Swedish state.

History

Boxer won the right to build four multiplex networks to broadcast digital television in 2008. They were competing against Danmarks Digital TV A/S (owned by Telenor) and Danmarks TV A/S (owned by Modern Times Group, MTG). The procurement was organized by the government agency Mediesekretariatet and in March 2008 Radio- og TV-nævnet chose Swedish Boxer as the gatekeeper out of the three applicants. As Telenor and MTG both owned satellite platforms in Denmark, and Boxer didn't have any operations in Denmark, Boxer won the contract.^[2] Boxer stated in their application that they would use three of the networks to broadcast 29 pay television channels and the fourth network would be used to broadcast mobile television.

The initial plan was that Boxer would start broadcasting on November 1, 2009, when the analogue signals were shut down.

Boxer were however able to make a soft launch on Jutland and Western Funen on February 1, 2009. The launch package, which is called "Boxer Vest", consists of TV 2 Zulu, TV 2 News, TV 2 Film, TV 2 Charlie, Kanal 4, Kanal 5, 6'eren, Discovery Channel and Animal Planet.^[3]

Starting on May 1, 2009, Boxer made a soft launch in Copenhagen. This was made possible by using the Copenhagen transmitter on UHF channel 35 which was used to broadcast local channels such as Kanal København. Boxer broadcasts the same channels as in Jutland, but shares the frequency with Kanal København and the gaming channel G-TV.^[4][5][6]

In months leading up to the full launch, Boxer announced agreement with the channels that were added in November 2009, including Discovery Travel & Living, CNN and Cartoon Network in February,^[7] Disney Channel in April,^[8] Travel Channel in May,^[9] Disney XD, Discovery Science, MTV, VH1 and Nickelodeon in June,^[10][11] Canal 9 and Canal+ channels in July^[12] and TV 2 Sport in August.^[13] On August 17, Boxer revealed the full lineup. Other than the previously announced channels, it would include The Voice, History, Star!, Body In Balance, TV4 Sweden, TV2 Norway and Das Erste.

Notably absent from the lineup were the Viasat channels (including TV3, TV3+ and TV3 Puls), Eurosport, dk4, National Geographic Channel and SVT's channels.

On March 15, 2011 there was a channel change, and Body In Balance and Canal+ Sport 1 was cut from the package and replaced by DK4 which had been in great demand. Also Canal+ Hits Sport Weekend was replaced by just Canal+ Hits.

11 January 2012 there an additional another channel change took place, since the Danish TV 2 became a pay channel. today the channel is offered in all Boxer channel packets such as Boxer Mini, Boxer Mix, Boxer Max, Boxer Flex8 and the Boxer TV 2 package.

from April 2012, Boxer has offered HD channels. As of today Boxer offers seven HD channels such as TV2 HD, TV2 Film HD,TV2 Fri HD, TV3 HD, TV3 Sport HD, HD 5 and HD 6 as well as the existing DR HD channels, which are an integrated part of any Boxer package. Boxer has continued to adjust their range of channels and some channels have been added such as TV3 and TV3 Plus while others and less popular have been removed.

For more on the parent company, Boxer TV Access, see the article Boxer TV Access.

Products

It is possible to choose between five channel packages at Boxer and supplement with any of the "tilvalgskanaler"

• Boxer Mini
• Boxer Mix
• Boxer Max
• Boxer TV2 Pakken
• Boxer Flex 8

Boxer are obligated to offer highly flexible packages. This means that, aside from the regular tiers Boxer Mini (7 channels), Boxer Mix (15 channels), Boxer Max (29 channels) and Boxer TV2 pakken (all of TV2's channels), similar to the ones offered by other operators, Boxer also offers Flex8, where the consumer can choose eight channels from a list of 27, as well as eight themed packages and several channels that can be bought à la carte.^[14][15]

Boxer offers the service "Boxer Bio", which is a film and TV-show streaming service which also allows the viewers to record the broadcasts. You need to have the Boxer Bio Box in order to receive the service.^[16]

Since 2011 Boxer also offers pre pay "Tank Selv Kort", which is not considered as common subscribing. This card has no real contract or guarantees, but unlocks about 25 channels within Danish broadcasting range, including the area of Danish television overspill. The card is payable though a website link and it's possible to refill the card for 1,2 or 3 months. First month is included in the price of the card, it must only be activated prior to use. This pre-pay card is a slightly more expensive way of watching payment channels compared with common subscription, and addition of other channels are impossible. But for Danish speaking people in e.g. the German Flensburg (which was Danish until 1864, and still has a large Danish speaking population) it's the only option to watch Danish channels that not are free-to-air. The same apply to customers with official debts and who due to that fact get declined a subscription. The card is also known to have some users in southern and western Sweden, primary in the ex-Danish province of Scania.

Channels

Note conc. TV2-Sport and the pre pay card "Tank Selv Kort" - when activating the card a question "Do You want TV2 Sport ?" appears. If the user wants this channel, then the user has to fill in name, address, e-mail, phone etc. (Otherwise he/she can remain anonymous). However if TV2 Sport is fully included in the "Tank Selv Kort" card is not certain. The channel is not mentioned in advertising or information, so it appears that Boxer may lock TV2 Sport again whenever they want.

Apart from the five multiplex of Boxer, there exists in the Copenhagen metropolitan area a sixth one called MUX-CPH. This multiplex is both unconnected to Boxer and their four channels are broadcast free-to-air from one single transmitter in the north-west of Copenhagen. Yet, in the flat landscape receiving is possible up to a range of 30 to 40 km (possibly even longer) depending of the antenna and local surroundings. The four channels are

• Kanal København (Channel Copenhagen)
• Familie TV (Family TV, a Christian channel)
• Game TV
• France 24 (Worldwide news in English, from a French point of view.)

References