DigiTAG

Web Letter

October 2006 | # 56

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.

DigiTAG Annual Public Seminar

Join DigiTAG for its next Annual Public Seminar that will provide an overview of some of the hot topics affecting the DTT market.

Topics include:
- A case for bringing HD to the terrestrial platform
- Results of the DigiTAG HD/DTT study
- Examples of how to make HD/DTT possible
- Towards a second-generation terrestrial standard
- Business models and opportunities for mobile TV services
- Opportunities with SSP
- Making frequencies available for new services

Click here for the full agenda

DTT services in Ukraine

Digital terrestrial television (DTT) services are ready for launch in Ukraine. Already, trial services are available in the capital Kiev and a commercial launch is expected to take place in 2007. The extension of DTT services beyond Kiev is expected in 2008-2009 with full population coverage anticipated in 2011.

Service offering

The DTT platform will provide viewers with access to television programme services on four multiplexes. It is expected that the multiplexes will use the both the MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 AVC video compression standards and will combine DVB-T and DVB-H services from a single multiplex. It may also be possible to provide HDTV services.

Because 30% of television households have indoor antennas, it is also likely that portable indoor coverage will be the target in some areas.

The majority of the DTT platform will offer free-to-air television programme services, accounting for 70% of all services. Such a model will allow multiplex operators to generate sufficient revenue in order to cover the costs of the network extension and subsidise set-top boxes for low-income households.

It is expected that the following television programme services will initially be available: the national television services, 1+1, Tonis, Inter, KDTRK, 24, ICTV, Novy Kanal, M1, Channel 5, K-1, K-2, TRK Kyiv, Channel 7, Mriya TV, Megasport, and Gravis. A total of 20 services will be available.

Already, the first DVB-T pilot trial took place in 2002. At that time, the state-owned broadcast network operator, Concern RRT, in cooperation with the manufacturer Kvant-Efir launched a three-year trial with one multiplex in Kiev.

Legislative and technical framework

In January 2006, the Parliament adopted a new television and radio broadcasting law to allow for the introduction of DTT services. The law contains the necessary guidance for network operators, broadcasters and other content providers in a digital broadcast environment. However, it does not give a specific deadline as to when DTT services must be launched or when analogue terrestrial television services must be ended.

Following the adoption of this law, the National TV and Broadcasting Council awarded four multiplex licenses in April 2006 to JSC UDTVN, Era Production, Express Inform, and Gamma Consulting. Altogether, the multiplex licenses are valid for a ten-year period. During this time, it is possible to use the first year of the license to test the DTT network. In June 2006, UDTVN began its test DTT transmissions.

It is planned that Ukraine will have 81 single-frequency networks (SFN) throughout the country. When the full DTT platform is rolled out, it is expected that 95% of the country will be able to access services.

Analogue switch-off is expected to take place in either 2014 or 2015. According to the Geneva 2006 Agreement for digital broadcasting, parts of Ukraine have between 8-11 DVB-T coverage layers available.

Current television market

Ukraine has a large television market with 17.7 million households and a population of 49 million people. In terms of television households, 82% rely on the terrestrial analogue platform for their television reception. The popularity of the terrestrial platform is due in part to the availability of many free-to-air television channels. While nine channels are available nationally, it is possible in some areas to receive up to 18 free-to-air channels.

Cable was introduced in parts of the country in the 1990s. Currently, it makes up a total of 15% of the population, although in urban areas its penetration is closer to 30%. Satellite accounts for 2.5% of the television households.

Prospects for DTT services

Given the high reliance on the terrestrial platform, DTT should be able to enter the market successfully. However, given the high cost of set-top boxes for the average Ukrainian household, especially an MPEG-4 AVC set-top box, it will be difficult to achieve massive uptake initially without subsidies and government intervention. Sufficient free-to-air content will need to be made available to increase the attractiveness of the offer, especially in a country accustomed to a large number of free-to-air analogue channels.

The decision to offer some pay-DTT services initially in urban areas will help finance the continued roll-out of such services in less densely populated areas. As viewers do not currently pay a television license fee, it may be difficult to fund public service broadcasting without further support from the government.

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

Austria - DTT services begin on 26 October

DTT services have been launched in Vienna and the regional capital providing coverage to approximately 70% of the population.

Viewers can access services from ORF and ATV at a higher quality than available on the analogue terrestrial platform. Starting from the middle of 2007, it is expected that new services will be launched.

Source: krone.at

Switzerland - Launch of DVB-H commercial trial

Swisscom Broadcast has launched its commercial DVB-H trial in the Swiss capital Berne on 1 November. The trial involves 200 participants and will last until the end of January 2007.

Users will be able to access up to 17 television and 4 radio services. Trial partners include the telecom operators Swisscom Mobile, Sunrise and Orange as well as Nokia.

Source: DM Europe

Taiwan - HD/DTT trial to commence

Taiwan's National Communications Commission has approved an HDTV trial to be undertaken by local television broadcasters and the the public service broadcasters PTS.

The trial will take place on Channel 30, which has been reserved for engineering tests and trial broadcasts.

Source: advanced-television.com

New Zealand - Freeview to launch using MHEG-5

The free-to-air television platform in New Zealand will use MHEG-5 technology for interactive services. This is the first full-scale deployment of MHEG-5 outside of the United Kingdom.

Freeview plans to launch its free-to-view satellite service in 2007, followed by the launch of its free-to-air DTT service.

Strategy & Technology Limited (S&T) is providing the complete, end-to-end interative television solution.

Source: IBE

Sweden - 27.5% increase in DTT households

DTT service provider Boxer has reported that it had 616,000 subscribers at the end of September 2006. This is an increase of 27.5% in comparison with the number of DTT subscribers in September 2005.

Analogue switch-off is currently underway. In the next stage, analogue switch-off will take place in the area between Oland and Boras during the month of November.

Source: Boxer

Spain: 2 million DTT set-top boxes sold since November 2005

Since the re-launch of DTT services in November 2005, over 2,250,000 DTT set-top-boxes have been sold in Spain. In addition, antennas at over 300,000 buildings have been adapted for DTT reception.

Source: advanced-television.com

Finland - New pay-DTT services available

PlusTV will make its pay-DTT offer available to Finnish viewers as of 1 November. The package will provide viewers with access to two television programme services from the local commercial broadcaster MTV3.

More services are expected to become available following analogue switch-off in August 2007.

Source: Broadband TV News