DigiTAG

Web Letter

July 2006 | # 53

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.

To subscribe to the DigiTAG Web Letter, send an email to the DigiTAG Project Office.

DVB-T in Croatia & Slovenia

The roll-out of DTT services continues in central Europe. From within the former Yugoslavia, Slovenia and Croatia have announced their plans to launch DTT services in 2006 and 2007 respectively. Given the importance of the terrestrial market in these countries, DTT has the opportunity to experience high growth.

DTT in Croatia

Preparations are well underway for an official launch of DTT services in 2007. Since May 2002, a DTT trial has been running and providing viewers access to 4 television programme services on a single multiplex. Available content includes HTV1 and HTV2 from the public service broadcaster and RTL and Nova TV from commercial broadcasters. This year, regional content may become available and a second multiplex launched. Planning is also underway to begin a DVB-H trial in Zagreb.

Currently, 7 transmitter sites provide DVB-T services to 75% of the population. With the addition of 10 new transmitter sites, the population coverage will increase to 90% by the end of the year. Because of the improved reception quality offered by the terrestrial platform, many households, especially along the coast, have begun purchasing DTT receivers.

Map of Croatia with DVB-T transmitter sites

Alongside the technical preparations, the Government has begun the process for the establishment of the legal framework to allow for the launch of DTT services. It is expected that the necessary legislation will be approved by the end of the year. Already, the Government has announced that more public service programming should be made available on the DTT platform and it will likely reserve one multiplex for the public service broadcaster HRT while further multiplexes will be allocated to commercial broadcasters.

In preparing for the launch of DVB-T services, the Government, Telecommunication Agency (CTA), public service and commercial broadcasters, the network operator OiV, and the University of Zagreb formed the DVB Forum in July 2005. This Forum seeks to develop the strategy for the roll-out and promotion of DTT services in Croatia. It will also provide input into the usage of DTT multiplexes and help define when analogue switch-off will take place.

The terrestrial platform has an important share of the television market in Croatia, accounting for over 80% of all television households. Cable is used in 10-15% of homes, while satellite is viewed in less than 2% of households. The size of the terrestrial platform suggests that DTT growth can be strong should these television households find the DTT platform appealing and adopt the new services.

DTT in Slovenia

The public service broadcaster RTV SLO is planning to launch DTT services in September 2006. Already, a DTT trial has been operating since September 2001.

The new law on public service broadcasting, approved by the Government in November 2005, allocates a full multiplex for services provided by RTV SLO. Specifically, RTV SLO is required to provide 3 national television programme services, 1 regional service and 4 radio services. Services from commercial broadcasters will be available on other multiplexes.

The multiplex in the DTT trial provides services to 34% of the population with the use of only 2 transmitter sites. The addition of 8 transmitter sites by the end of the year will allow coverage to be extended to 54.4% of the population. Coverage will continue to increase through 2007-2008.

Map of Slovenia with transmitter sites used for DVB-T

Because the DTT trial offers access only to a demo programme, it has not served as an incentive to viewers to purchase DTT set-top boxes as has been the case in Croatia. It has been assumed that any set-top boxes currently in Slovenian homes are used to view Croatian or Italian DTT services.

Broadcasters in Slovenia cannot launch their DTT services without considering the services offered in neighbouring countries. While initially considering the use of the MPEG-4 video compression standard, it now seems unlikely since the MPEG-2 standard is used in both Croatia and Italy.

Because the first phase of the DTT launch will only include services from RTV SLO, it may not have a wide appeal with viewers. It is for this reason that RTV SLO would like to enhance the appeal of its offering by providing viewers with portable indoor reception. Another possibility is to provide interactive services using the MHP standard. It is not known when commercial services will be launched since the government has not yet approved the necessary legislative framework.

Currently, the terrestrial televison platform is the largest with 48% of households relying upon it. However, because of the relative strength of the cable platform with a market share of 39%, the DTT platform will need to provide a strong offering in order to maintain the current market share of the terrestrial platform.

Following the guidance from the European Commission, analogue switch-off has been announced for either 2010 or 2011.

Source: Natalie Mouyal, DigiTAG Project Office

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 HD/DTT trial to be launched in September

The Conseil Supérieur de l'Audiovisuel (CSA) is making one frequency channel in select cities available for HDTV testing on the DTT platform. The HDTV trial must use the MPEG-4 video compression standard and consist of HDTV content.

Candidates interested in the HDTV/DTT trial are invited to tender for capacity. However, they must be broadcasters on the free-to-air DTT platform.

The trial license will be available from 1 September 2006 until 7 January 2007 in the cities of Paris (channel 23), Lyon (channel 27) and Marseille (Channel 22). Given the limited amount of capacity available, broadcasters are invited to submit joint projects.

A first HDTV/DTT trial has taken place between 28 May and 17 July in Paris, Lyon and Marseille.

Source: CSA website

Taiwan - Government funding for DTT networks

The Taiwanese government has approved a budgetary bill that will grant the public service broadcaster, TBS, with $137.38 million to fund several DTT projects.

Up to $85.94 million will be allocated for the construction of a DTT network to be used for the provision of HDTV services. A further $30.89 million will be allocated for the construction of a second single frequency network. TBS will also conduct DVB-H trials and produce mobile TV content.

TBS, the Taiwan Broadcasting System, is a newly formed media group that brings together the public service broadcasters PTS and CTS.

Source: PTS

United Kingdom: Ofcom opens consultation on multiplex data limits

The communications regulator Ofcom has opened a consultation on the transmission of non-TV data services on the DTT platform. Currently, non-TV data services are limited to 10% of capacity on each multiplex.

Parliament set the data limit to ensure that the DTT multiplexes would be used mostly for television services rather than data distribution or other communications services.

Ofcom believes that there is likely to be an increase in the demand for data services. As such, it plans to publish guidance on what capacity can be used for data services.

Responses to the consultation should be sent to Ofcom by 14 September.

Source: Ofcom website

Belgium - CSA seeks guidance from government on digital dividend

The broadcast regulator for the French-speaking Community, CSA, is seeking guidance from the government on how to use frequencies allocated to Belgium in the Geneva 2006 Plan.

It has proposed three models on how the frequencies could be used:

- A mixture of DVB-T and DVB-H services with the public service broadcaster, RTBF, serving as the network operator.

- A mixture of DVB-T and DVB-H services with one or more parties serving as the network operator.

- The provision of DVB-H services with one or more parties serving as the network operator.

The CSA recommends that the government also provide guidance on the exact frequencies available for the French-speaking Community and open a tender for the designation of a network operator.

Source: Belgian CSA website

Analogue Switch-off in Europe

DigiTAG has published a free handbook that looks at analogue switch-off in Europe.

The DigiTAG Handbook examines the various factors affecting analogue switch-off, the different approaches used and the implications for 'stakeholders' in the television broadcast chain.