DigiTAG

Web Letter

October 2005 | # 44

DigiTAG seeks to inform members and non-members about important developments in the digital terrestrial television market. Each month, DigiTAG distributes its web letter with news updates and further exploration of one topic. This month, we examine digital switchover in Austria.

Don't forget to register to attend DigiTAG's Annual Public Seminar at the EBU Headquarters on 29 November! The seminar will provide the results of the DigiTAG/EBU study on analogue switch-off.

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

DTT services in Austria

Preparations are underway to launch digital terrestrial television (DTT) services in Austria. KommAustria, the broadcast regulatory authority, set 1 September 2005 as the deadline for candidates to submit their applications for a DTT licence. It is likely that KommAustria will award the licence by the end of the year and that DTT services will be launched in 2006. Only one application was received from ORS, the leading Austrian broadcast service provider.

In May 2005, KommAustria opened its application process for a single 10-year licence to set up and operate the DTT platform. Given the limited amount of broadcast frequencies available in Austria, only one country-wide multiplex will be launched. A second, regional multiplex will be launched in those areas where it can be accommodated.

Each multiplex will provide three or four television programme services as well as data services. Further multiplexes may be available following analogue switch-off. However, this will depend on the outcome of the Regional Radio Conference in 2006.

Importance of the terrestrial platform

While satellite is the most popular platform for television reception, used by 47% of households, it is does not provide the regional and national content available on the terrestrial platform. It is for this reason that many households use both the satellite and terrestrial television platforms.

Although only 15% of the population relies on the terrestrial platform as their primary means of television reception, it is estimated that 60% of the population uses the terrestrial platform for secondary television sets.

Currently, the analogue terrestrial platform provides the channels by national public broadcaster ORF (ORF 1 and ORF 2) as well as ATV+, the only national commercial broadcaster. ATV+ was launched on the terrestrial platform in June 2003 although it services had previously been available on the cable platform.

KommAustria has required that the first DTT multiplex provide the services of ORF 1, ORF 2 and ATV+ at no cost to viewers and with an improved image quality. Further services will be determined by the DTT licence holder.

Digital added value

The government has emphasized that DTT must provide a "digital added-value". This will likely include interactive services such as an electronic programme guide (EPG) and super-teletext. In densely populated areas, portable indoor and/or portable outdoor reception should be possible.

Already, an important DTT trial has taken place that tested usage of interactive services. Graz, Austria's second largest city, served as the location for a DTT trial to determine the extent to which interactivity can serve as a driver for the success of the DTT platform.

Beginning in April 2004, the trial provided 150 households with an MHP-enabled set-top box with a return channel using either ADSL or dial up access. Four television programme services were distributed from a single multiplex and included ORF 1, ORF 2, ATV+ and an MHP-based interactive service produced by ORF and several commercial broadcasters. The interactive service, called !TV4Graz, was on air between June and August.

The trial sparked user interest in DTT services, even among households not participating in the trial. Viewers showed a high level of acceptance for MHP-based digital services so long as services were attractively designed. EPGs proved popular as did services that directly related to a programme being broadcast. While voting also proved popular, its success was more directly related to the popularity of the show rather than the attractiveness of the MHP-based interactive features.

Promoting digital television

The government has set up the Digitalisation Fund to aid with the transition to digital television. The Fund is endowed with €6.75 million annually from the broadcasting fees collected. Set-up in 2003, it entered into force on 1 January 2004.

The Fund provides grants for pilot trials and research projects that help to develop programmes and services with "digital added-value" as well as campaigns that provide information on digital television, regardless of the platform.

In 2004, the grants awarded focused primarily on the DVB-T pilot project in Graz while in 2005, the grants awarded focused on mobile service testing and coverage.

The government has also set up a working group to help with digital switch-over. Begun in 2002, the Digitale Plattform Austria is tasked with developing scenarios for the speedy introduction of digital broadcasting and supporting future multimedia services.

It also provided input to KommAustria's digital switch-over strategy and selection criteria for the DTT licence. Digitale Plattform Austria has over 300 members representing the broadcasters and other service providers, network operators, consumers, policy makers and manufacturers.

Analogue switch-off

Digital switch-over is expected to take approximately four years time following the first launch of DTT services and should be completed by 2010. Services will be launched by region with a 6-12 month analogue /digital simulcast period. Analogue switch-off may commence once 90% of population can receive DTT services in a given area.

It is planned that DTT services will have a population coverage of 90-95%. This means that satellite must be used to provide services to the remaining 5-10% of the population located in remote areas.

Source: Natalie Mouyal, DigiTAG Project Office

Upcoming activities

Annual Public Seminar

Join us for DigiTAG's Annual Public Seminar which will be held on 29 November at the EBU Headquarters in Geneva. The seminar will provide the results of the EBU/DigiTAG study on analogue switch-off as well as the results of several DVB-H pilot projects currently taking place across Europe.

Click here for further information, including the agenda.

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

For all articles, please go to DigiTAG News

France - Second phase of DTT services launched

The coverage for DTT services has increased to 50% of the population, up from 35% at the time of launch. Transmitters at 17 new sites came into service on 15 October.

DTT services will now be available in the following cities: Ajaccio, Bayonne, Bourges, Caen, Cherbourg, Grenoble, Le Havre, Le Mans, Nantes, Orleans, Reims, St Etienne, Toulon and Toulouse.

DTT coverage is expected to increase in June 2006 when a further 19 transmission sites will be switched-on.

The Prime Minister has tasked the Ministry of Industry to open negotiations with neighbouring countries over usable frequencies in the border regions.

Source: advanced-television.com

Czech Republic - Ready for DTT launch

Official DTT services have been launched on Friday, 21 October. One multiplex provides DTT services in Prague and the surrounding area.

Czech Television will provide three television service programmes which include generalist services CT1 and CT2 as well as its continuous news service CT24. Commercial broadcaster Novy will also provide its services. It is expected that Czech Television will launch a sports service on the DTT platform next year .

Service will be available free-to-air and use the MPEG-2 video compression standard.

Coverage will be extended to Brno and Ostrava next year. It is expected that the multiplex will eventually provide services to 70% of all households in two years' time.

Source: Czech Television

Spain - Launch of DTT promotion organisation

The non-profit organisation charged with promoting DTT in Spain was launched on 18 October. The organisation has been set up by the commercial broadcasters on the DTT platform as well as the network operator Abertis.

The commercial broadcasters include Telecinco, Antena 3, Sogecable (parent company of Canal+), Net TV and Veo TV.

As a next step, the organisation will put together a DTT communications plan.

Source: CincoDias.com

United Kingdom - ITV and C4 to join Freeview consortium

ITV and Channel 4 have joined the consortium that promotes Freeview.

Membership of the consortium consists of the BBC, Crown Castle and British Sky Broadcasting, will likely give the two broadcasters more of a say in the marketing of the service.

The addition of ITV and Channel 4 to the Freeview consortium may also support further plans to market a ‘Freesat’ free-to-air satellite service to compete with BSkyB.

Source: informitv

Italy - Further ASO plans announced

The deputy minister for communications, Paolo Romani, stated at the Third National Conference on DTT that, as in previous years, €110 million has been included in the 2006 budget in order to help households purchase interactive set-top boxes. It is likey, however, that the amount of the subsidy will decrease from €70 to €50 per household.

In addition, Romani also announced that the next region for analogue switch-off will likely be Friuli Venezia Giulia.

The first phase of analogue switch-off is ready to begin in Sardinia and Val d'Aosta. On 31 January, analogue terrestrial transmissions will end for 70% of the population. Full analogue switch-off will take place on 21 July.

Source: SATExpo website

Italy - DVB-H services launch in 2006?

Telecom Italia Mobile and Mediaset have announced plans to launch a DVB-H-based mobile TV service during 2006.

Telecom Italia will offer simulcasts of Mediaset’s three television channels and football coverage as part of a five-year agreement.

In a statement the two companies said they had reached an agreement for what would become the basis of the world’s first commercial launch of a digital terrestrial TV service on mobile phones using the DVB-H technology.