DigiTAG

Web Letter

June 2008

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.

Networks in evolution

Terrestrial television networks are in continual evolution. From the transition to colour, to the launch of new digital services including HD and mobile television, the terrestrial platform has adapted to new television environments. Digital switchover provides the opportunity to launch new digital services, making use of the frequencies in the spectrum Bands III, IV and V released following analogue switch-off.

The opportunities provided by digital switchover, however, are offset by the increased competition to access these broadcast Bands. While these frequencies have historically been reserved for broadcasters, other service providers, such as telecom operators, have expressed interest in launching them for new services. Simultaneously, a market-led approach to spectrum management, favoured by the European Commission and some national administrations, may result in frequencies being allocated to the service providers with the ‘deepest pockets’ i.e. those who can pay the most money for the spectrum.

Possible new services

According to the European Commission, the digital dividend is defined as the spectrum made available over and above the spectrum required to accommodate the existing analogue television services in Bands III, IV and V. It has identified three categories for the allocation of the digital dividend:

• Enhanced terrestrial broadcast services (i.e. more standard definition services, HDTV, interactive opportunities, etc.)

• “Converged” broadcast services which are expected to be a hybrid of traditional broadcast and mobile communication services (i.e. DVB-H, T-DMB, etc)

• New uses which include either future services or existing ones that do not operate in Bands III, IV and V (i.e. 3G services, short range radio)

In terms of broadcasting, possible services include mobile television, an increased number of standard-definition television services, interactive content, and data services (DVB - System Software Updates, Electronic Programme Guides, teletext). In some countries, especially those with a high viewer dependency on terrestrial television, the DTT platform must offer HD services in order to remain a competitive television delivery platform alongside cable and satellite.

In a multimedia environment, some sort of return channel network enables users to be able to express their preference, personalize information, source “long-tail” content and participate in their own individual viewing experience. However, the DTT network is essential for providing popular television services watched simultaneously by many viewers and which require a high coverage area. While the return channel may be available only in a given area, for example inside a home with an Internet connection, DTT services are ubiquitous.

Networks will need to become increasingly flexible to meet the various demands of viewers, yet simultaneously provide viewers with the comfort of a standard television experience.

Ultimately, the market will decide which services are offered. Consumers will express their preferences through their purchases and usage of the potential services.

Network considerations

In planning a service offering using the DVB-T standard, it is necessary to find a compromise between service quality, the number of potential viewers and the transmission costs. This compromise will be influenced by significant commercial and political considerations.

The service quality is determined by the capacity in a given multiplex. The net bit-rate of a multiplex combined with the number of services will determine the quality of the audio and video service offered. Multiplexes with a high bit-rate capacity and few programmes will provide a higher service quality than those multiplexes with a low bit-rate capacity and many programmes.

Technological innovations, such as the new specification DVB-T2, have allowed for an increase in the net bit-rate capacity of multiplexes. However, changing a network from DVB-T to DVB-T2 will require massive investment in new equipment by network operators and viewers.

The number of potential viewers is determined by the coverage area of a given multiplex. The coverage area is dependent on such factors as the reception conditions, the characteristics of the receiving equipment and antenna type, and the DVB-T variant selected. Some DVB-T variants allow for a higher coverage area but a lower bit-rate capacity.

The cost of transmission is affected by radiation characteristics, and most notably the power level which impacts the field strength of a signal at a given receiving location. However, radiation characteristics can often be limited by regulatory agreements.

Regulatory framework

The regulatory framework agreed by national administrations in international forums will determine the type of services countries are able to offer within certain frequency bands as well as the conditions under which frequencies along borders are shared between countries.

In Europe, Africa and parts of Asia, the Geneva 2006 (GE-06) Agreement regulates frequency usage in Bands III, IV and V for DVB-T and DAB services. National administrations have been allocated 'layers' as part of the plan, which are generally understood to be a number of channels that can be received in a given area. Most countries have been allocated 3 T-DAB and 1 DVB-T 'layer' in Band III and 7 or 8 DVB-T 'layers' in Bands IV and V.

As a result of amendments made to the Radio Regulations at the last World Radiocommunications Conference (WRC-07), it will be possible for countries in Europe to introduce mobile services in the upper part of Band V in the frequency range 790-862 MHz (TV channels 61 to 69) as of 17 June 2015. This date corresponds to the end of the analogue / digital broadcast transition period established in the GE-06 Agreement.

Already, however, in 22 European countries, mobile services were allowed immediately following the WRC-07 conference, so long as broadcasting services in neighbouring countries are protected. Studies to test the compatibility between mobile phone services and broadcast services are currently underway and results will be presented at the next World Radiocommunications Conference in 2011.

DigiTAG report

A full examination of these issues is available to DigiTAG members in the report Networks in Evolution available on the members’ only section of the DigiTAG website.

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.

Visit the DigiTAG website

Please contact the DigiTAG office if you have any news that you would like to include in the next DigiTAG Web Letter.

To unsubscribe from the DigiTAG Web Letter, please click here and put 'UNSUBSCRIBE' in the subject title of your email.

DTT NEWS ROUND-UP

For access to the full articles archive, please go to DigiTAG News

Estonia - Government encourages free-to-air DTT platform

The government is encouraging the two commercial broadcaster on the analogue terrestrial platform, TV3 and Kanal 2, to join the free-to-air DTT platform.

The government will waive their license broadcasting fee for 2009, which costs EEK 25 million (€1.6 million), if they launch on the DTT platform by 1 July.

A mixture of pay and free-to-air services are available on the DTT platform which had launched at the end of 2006.

Source: Broadband TV News

Ireland - ComReg opens consultation on UHF spectrum

The communications regulator ComReg has opened a public consultation on the award of UHF frequencies in the cities of Cork, Dublin, Galway, Limerick and Waterford.

ComReg has suggested that the frequencies could be used to deliver mobile television services as well as other mobile multimedia applications.

Source: ComReg press release

Via Licensing drops MHP licensing fees for FTA broadcasters

Free-to-air broadcasters will not be required to pay MHP license fees. This decision was made by Via Licensing, which represents MHP patent pool members, and communicated to the DVB Project.

This decision could encourage broadcasters to provide MHP services which had been at a standstill following the publication of initial licensing fee requirements.

Source: DVB website

Poland - HD Olympics on DTTplatform

The public service broadcaster TVP has announced plans to broadcast the upcoming Olympics Games in high-definition on the DTT platform.

The HD/DTT services will be available in the cities of Warsaw, Poznan, Zielona Góra, Zagan, Kraków, Lezajsk and Krosno.

Source: Broadband TV News

Japan - Government may provide STBs to needy

A Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications commission has recommended providing support for digital switchover to low income households.

Basic DTT receivers costing 5000 yen(€30) would be made available to the 1 million households currently relying on social services.

As a next step, the ministry will need to decide whether or not to include this measure and its related cost in its budget request for 2009.

Source: Asahi.com

Spain and Italy sign DTT cooperation agreement

The DTT organisations in Spain and Italy, Impulsa TDT and DGTVi, have signed a cooperation agreement. The organisations seek to promote digital switchover.

As part of the agreement, Impulsa TDT and DGTVi seek the development of a common DTT strategy across Europe.

Both organisations also seek to identify and implement common technical solutions.

Source: advanced-television.com

France - Canal+ allocated HD/DTT license

The pay-DTT television service Canal+ will be available in high-definition and replace the existing standard-definition service.

By 2012, Canal+ will broadcast the majority of its programmes in HD between the hours of 14.00 and midnight.

Other services that will be broadcast in HD on the DTT platform include TF1, M6, F2, and Arte.

Source: CSA website

United Kingdom - Ofcom to license 'white spaces'

The broadcast regulator Ofcom has published its proposal for awarding licenses to use 'white spaces' that exist between television transmitters. These 'white spaces' can be used to provide low-power services.

With its aim of promoting competition and innovation, Ofcom will offer tradeable licenses and users will be able to decide which sericees to offer and which technology to use.

Types of services that could make use of 'white spaces' include local television, programme making support, mobile television and mobile broadband.

Source: Ofcom website