DigiTAG

Web Letter

January 2007 | #38

DigiTAG seeks to inform members and non-members about important developments in the digital terrestrial television market.

To subscribe to the DigiTAG Web Letter, send an email to the DigiTAG project office.

Analogue switch-off in the Netherlands

During the night of 10-11 December, the Dutch switched off their analogue terrestrial television services, making the Netherlands the first country in the world to complete digital switchover on its terrestrial platform.

The process proved remarkably smooth. Within a 3-hour period, analogue transmissions were shut off while digital terrestrial television (DTT) services were put back on the air. The transmission of services from the national and regional public service broadcasters continued throughout the switch-off process.

As a result of analogue switch-off, it has been possible to extend the DTT network. A further 15 transmission sites are now in operation, all but three using frequencies designated to the Netherlands in the Geneva 2006 (GE-06) digital plan.

Preparing for analogue switch-off

The process leading up to analogue switch-off had not always been easy. The Dutch Ministry of Economics initially called for analogue switch-off to take place by the end of 2005 so as to enable a reduction of €11 million per year in transmission fees. This initiative received the support of public service broadcasters, who also called for an early switch-off of the analogue platform.

But analogue switch-off was hampered by political issues. The government's lack of a political majority caused it to postpone switch-off twice. In addition, because the DTT platform did not simulcast all regional analogue content, political consensus on analogue switch-off was not possible until an agreement to transmit the regional content on the satellite platform was concluded.

Preparing television households for analogue switch-off was the responsibility of the government. Together, the ministries of Culture and of Economic Affairs set up an organisation to ensure that the public was informed about analogue switch-off. The organisation, Signaal op digitaal, handled all communications activities, including an informative website: http://www. signaalopdigitaal.nl

Viewer reaction to switch-off

In order to provide a maximum of support to viewers, call centres were set up to provide viewers with assistance should they have difficulties receiving DTT services. In the week following switch off, the call centres concluded that a majority of the problems reported dealt with viewers trying to receive television services using an indoor antenna in areas where only fixed roof-top antenna reception was possible. Roof-top antennas did not have to be re-aligned as the original analogue network sites were used to broadcast digital signals.

Given the domination of the Dutch television market by the cable platform, less than 5% of the population was affected by analogue switch-off on the terrestrial platform.

It is estimated that nearly 98% of households can access cable services, of which 93% rely on the cable platform for their primary television reception. IPTV has also proven popular and several operators offer services. Satellite television is primarily accessed in rural areas, although its offer of regional Dutch content may prove to be a significant attraction to viewers.

While the terrestrial platform has had limited appeal for the primary television reception, it is popular for secondary television sets. Approximately 75,000 households depend on terrestrial reception for primary reception while another 250,000 use the terrestrial signal for secondary televisions. Altogether, the terrestrial platform is used in approximately 5% of Dutch television households.

The low-level of viewer dependency on the analogue terrestrial platform has made the task of analogue switch-off easier in the Netherlands compared with countries with a higher terrestrial dependency. Many viewers using the terrestrial platform had, in any case, already converted to the DTT platform.

DTT platform offer

Launched in April 2003, the Dutch DTT platform offers viewers a combination of free-to-air and pay-DTT services. It is operated by Digitenne with several other operators, such as KPN, offering the service under their own branding.

The current DTT platform offers viewers access to 23 television and 17 radio programme services, including both national and international content. A key element of the offer has been the provision of television reception using a small, indoor antenna. Prior to switch-off, 50% of the population could access DTT services.

Fixed DTT reception in the Netherlands

Extending DTT services

Analogue switch-off has made frequencies available to allow for the coverage area of DTT services to be extended. Digitenne, which holds the license for four nationwide DVB-T multiplexes in Bands IV/V, plans on making its service offering available throughout the country.

In order to provide 70% of the population with indoor DTT coverage, 21 transmission sites will be launched towards the third quarter of 2007, some of which replace existing sites used for the transitional DTT network. These sites, which can be found in or near densely populated areas, will use the frequencies allocated to the Netherlands as part of the GE-06 digital plan. Altogether, the full DTT network will comprise 45 major transmission sites.

It is likely that the DTT network configuration will change in order to cope with increased interference caused by the launch of DTT services in neighbouring countries. Further interference can be expected should neighbouring countries increase their DTT signal strength. It will be necessary to communicate these changes to viewers and help them, if necessary, to re-align their roof-top antennas or change polarisation.

Source: Erik Lucas, KPN Broadcast Services

About DigiTAG

DigiTAG aims to encourage and facilitate the implementation and introduction of digital terrestrial television services using the Digital Video Broadcasting Project's Standard (DVB-T). It has some 60 members from broadcasting, network operators, regulatory, and manufacturing organisations throughout Europe and beyond.

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DTT NEWS ROUND-UP

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Next DigiTAG Plenary / Steering Board meeting

DigiTAG invites you to attend its next Plenary/Steering Board meeting on Tuesday, 27 February at the EBU headquarters in Geneva.

The meeting will review key DigiTAG activities in 2007 including:

DTT activities across Europe
HDTV on the terrestrial platform
Mobile television
Consumer technologies, including SSU

Please see the DigiTAG website for further meeting information.

EC rules against set-top box subsidies in Italy

The European Commission (EC) has decided that subsidies for digital receivers granted by the Italian government in 2004 and 2005 are illegal while the subsidies granted in 2006 are legal.

In 2004 and 2005, Italy made over €200 million available to consumer to use towards the purchase of interactive set-top boxes. However, the subsidy was limited to the cable and DTT platforms and did not specify the use of MHP for the interactive component.

In 2006, however, the government subsidy for digital switchover in Sardinia and Valle d'Aosta did not explicitly exclude any platforms but only called for the use of an open application programming interface (API). This subsidy received EC approval.

The EC has also decided that the broadcasters who have most benefited from the subsidies should reimburse the state aid.

Source: EC press release

France - over 6.8 million DTT receivers in homes

Latest figures show that over 6.8 million DTT receivers had been sold or rented in France by the end of 2006.

According to GfK, 4,725,000 receivers have been purchased, of which 2,800,000 are set-top boxes, 900,000 are iDTVs and 950,000 are computers with an integrated DTT tuner. In addition, a further 2,100,000 hybrid DTT receivers are available to viewers via their subscription to other television platforms such as IPTV.

It is estimated that 19% of television households accessed DTT services at the end of 2006, compared with 13% in August 2006.

Source: Associated Press

Slovenia - MPEG-4 AVC selected for DTT platform

The Slovenian regulator for postal and electronic communications, APEK, has announced the selection of the MPEG-4 AVC video compression standard for the DTT platform.

The MPEG-4 AVC standard has been selected due to its increased spectrum efficiency when compared with the MPEG-2 standard. However, APEC notes that a majority of European countries have opted for the MPEG-2 standard.

Source: APEK website

Spain - Commercial broadcasters request lower DTT coverage requirements

Commercial broadcasters in Spain are asking the government to reduce the level of DTT coverage that they will be required to provide following analogue switch-off. Currently, DTT coverage in Spain stands at 80% of the population.

The current law calls for a DTT coverage of 98% of the population by the public service broadcaster RTVE while commercial broadcasters must provide a DTT coverage of 96% of the population following analogue switch-off in 2010.

The commercial broadcasters would like to reduce their minimum DTT coverage requirement to 90% of the population.

Source: El País

Austria - Delays to analogue switch-off plans

The initial timetable for analogue switch-off in the regional capitals has been delayed by a few weeks. Expected to begin in early March, the process is now likely begin in April.

As a result, the switch-off of analogue terrestrial services in the regional capitals will not be completed in June but rather in early Autumn.

The change to the analogue switch-off timetable will also affect the launch of a further DTT multiplex. It is now expected to be launched by the end of the year rather than in the summer as initially announced.

Source: Der Standard

France - CSA opens consultation on mobile television

The Conseil supérieur de l'audiovisuel (CSA) has opened a public consultation on mobile television. This consultation aims to gather industry opinion on the content offering, business models and frequency usage.

This consultation coincides with the National Assembly's upcoming debate on a proposed media law that would allow for the introduction of mobile television services. It can be expected that following the adoption of this media law, the CSA will invite candidates to tender for mobile television licenses.

Responses are to be sent to the CSA by 1 March 2007.