DigiTAG

Web Letter

June 2009

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.

Changes to the DTT platform in Spain

The Spanish government has recently made several proposals to allow for the introduction of high-definition (HD) services and pay content on the DTT platform. These proposals have been presented to the Consejo Asesor de las Telecomunicaciones y de la Sociedad de la Información (CATSI) for approval, and as a next step, will likely become law through a series of Royal Decrees to be issued in July.

In addition, the government has initiated the process for the development of receiver specifications and has announced plans for the use of the so-called 'digital dividend.'

Launching pay-DTT services

Last May, the government announced its intention to allow broadcasters to offer pay services on the DTT platform. This proposal has received mixed responses.

Several broadcasters on the DTT platform have been lobbying strongly for the introduction of pay-DTT services and have already put in place launch plans. Thus far La Sexta, Antenna 3, VeoTV, Telecinco, and Net TV have each submitted applications to the government requesting an authorization to launch services, while Dahlia TV, owned by the Nordic group Airplus, has signaled its intention to launch a pay DTT service similar to its offering on the Italian pay DTT platform. It would like to use bandwidth which the incumbent national broadcasters would be required to release.

As could be expected, other pay television platform operators have objected to the launch of pay services on the DTT platform. The cable operator Ono has criticized the government for making changes to the terms agreed at the time of the DTT platform launch which could impact other television platform operators while Sogecable, owner of satellite platform Digital+, has announced that it will appeal against the government's proposal. Redtel, the association representing Telefónica, Vodafone, Ono, and Orange has also criticized the government’s plans.

The government is currently allowing until 11 July those who may have a differing opinion to the proposed law to present their arguments through a procedure managed by the Consejo Asesor de las Telecomunicaciones y de la Sociedad de la Información (CATSI).

DTT receiver requirements

Alongside its proposal to allow for the introduction of pay services on the DTT platform, the government has suggested that broadcasters and manufacturers agree on a system to allow viewers to access the pay-DTT services available from all operators from a single DTT receiver and has tasked the Foro Televisión Digital with coordinating this activity.

This has resulted in a more general discussion on the development of a single specification for all DTT receivers as well as further specifications for such services as HDTV, pay-DTT, and interactivity. At this stage, the Foro Televisión Digital has published three documents: the general specifications for DTT receivers, minimum requirements for HD/DTT receivers, and minimum requirements for pay-DTT receivers. It is expected that DTT receivers that conform to the DTT receiver specifications may be identified through various logos.

HD/DTT services

After the completion of analogue switch-off in April 2010, broadcasters will be allocated further capacity for the provision of DTT services. Each of the commercial broadcasters on the analogue terrestrial platform, Antena 3, Telecinco, Sogecable, and La Sexta will be allocated the operation of a full multiplex as will the broadcasters on the DTT platform, Veo TV and Net TV. The public service broadcaster RTVE has been allocated two multiplexes.

According to the government's proposal, broadcasters will be allowed to provide HD services on their DTT multiplexes although an administrative authorization will be required. It is not required that the HD service provides a simulcast of existing standard definition services or need even be available in standard definition. The public service broadcaster RTVE has announced its plans to launch an HD service and has already provided HD content on a trial basis during special events such as the recent Summer Olympic Games.

It is estimated that 7 million homes own HD-ready displays. However, to encourage the further penetration of HD displays and ensure that they can receive HD content, the government has proposed requiring all television sets sized 21 inches and above to include an HD receiver using the MPEG-4 AVC compression format as of 1 April 2010. This would mean that Spain could launch HD services on the DTT platform as of April 2010, and similar to services in France, using the DVB-T standard.

Analogue switch-off

Analogue switch-off is set to be completed on 3 April 2010 to correspond with the date when the licenses for commercial broadcasters to operate on the terrestrial analogue platform expire. The switch-off had been set to take place in three phases with the first phase in June followed by a further switch-off in December and the completion of the process in April. A switch-off pilot took place in July 2008 in the region of Soria affecting 50,000 residents in 160 municipalities.

However, some delays occurred with the first phase of switch-off. Instead of switch-off in 32 areas as initially planned, only 18 areas switch-off analogue services in June followed by a switch-off in 4 areas in July. The delay in the further 10 areas is due to an insufficient DTT coverage which does not exactly replicate the existing analogue television coverage. In order for analogue switch-off to take place, a given area must have a DTT coverage that equals or surpasses the existing analogue coverage and final agreement must be given by the Secretary State of Telecommunications following consultation with those broadcasters whose services will be switched off.

It is as of yet unclear how these delays will impact the ability of the government to reach its target of completing analogue switch-off by April 2010.

Digital dividend

On 2 June, the Ministry of Industry issued a statement that from 2015, the upper part of the UHF band, from the frequencies 790-862 MHz will be reserved for the provision of mobile telecom services. According to the government, this could potentially allow for a gain of €12 to 16 billion to the national economy.

However, this decision fails to account for the considerable cost and effort necessary to clear these frequency bands of broadcast services. Currently, four single frequency networks (SFN) use these frequencies for the provision of DTT services. Re-locating these networks to other frequency bands will require changes made to be made to 4,000 transmission sites as well as the renegotiation of frequency plans with neighboring countries. Viewers will also need to re-scan their DTT receivers and in some cases may need to change antennas that had been adjusted for the reception of services on the upper part of the UHF band. The cost of such effort will be high and it is not clear who will be required to cover this cost, although it has been proposed that it should be the responsibility of the new license holders.

Source: Natalie Mouyal, DigiTAG Project Office

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

Finland - DNA allocated license for two DVB-T2 multiplexes

The Ministry of of Transport and Communications has issued a license to operate two DVB-T2 multiplexes to the telecom operator DNA Oy. These two multiplexes will provide HDTV services using frequencies in the VHF band.

The two multiplexes will use the MPEG-4 AVC compression format and are expected to offer viewers access to 6-8 television programme services. The launch of services is expected in early 2010 with a coverage of 60% of the population to be reached by the end of 2011. The license will expire in December 2016.

Source: DNA website

Italy - Rome begins analogue switch-off

The first phase of analogue switch-off has been completed in Rome and its surrounding region, impacting over 4 million viewers. Two analogue channels, Raidue and Retequattro, have been switched off.

The full analogue platform will be switched off during the month of November.

Source: DGTVi website

Spain - DTT services accessed by 58.7% of households

Strong growth for DTT services continued throughout the month of April. Over 615,000 DTT receivers were sold, representing 21,000 receivers sold per day. However, 8,000 fewer DTT receivers were sold compared with the month of March.

DTT penetration has reached 58.7% of households which is a slight increase with the penetration of 57.3% in the month of March. DTT coverage has reached 95.15 of the population.

Source: Impulsa TDT news letter

Germany - Allocation of frequencies 790-862 MHz expected this year

The Parliament has given its approval for the allocation of frequencies from 790-869 MHz located in the upper part of band V. It is expected the frequencies will be used by mobile telecom operators for the provision of broadband Internet services.

Licenses for the frequency usage could be allocated as early as this year to allow for services to launch by the middle of 2010.

Source: Rapid TV News

United States - ASO completed on 12 June nationwide

Across the United States, broadcasters have switched off their analogue terrestrial television services on 12 June. It appears that the process occurred without any major problems.

According to Broadcasting & Cable, the Federal Communications Commission's digital television help service received 317,450 calls on 12 June, but did not note any "widespread disruption" to terrestrial television services.

Source: New York Times

Israel - DVB-T services to officially launch on 2 August

The official launch of DVB-T services is set for 2 August. Trial services are currently underway from Jerusalem on UHF channel 26.

One multiplex offering free-to-air standard-definition services using the MPEG-4 AVC compression format will be available to viewers. Because not full population coverage will be achieved, these free-to-air services have been made available on the satellite platform.

Source: Go Digital website

Bulgaria - Towercom awarded license to operate 2 DTT multiplexes

The Communications Regulation Commission (CRC) has announced that it has awarded a license to build and operate two national DTT multiplexes to Taurkom Bulgaria. The license is valid for a 15 year period.

Taurkom Bulgaria is a fully owned subsidiary of the Slovakian broadcast network operator Towercom. It plans to launch services by the end of 2009 and provide DTT coverage to 95% of the population by the middle of 2011.

Source: CRC website

France - Switch-off completed in Kaysersberg

The switch-off of three analogue terrestrial channels, TF1, France2, and France3, has been completed at the Schlossberg transmission site on 27 May. Residents in Ammerschwirh, Kaysersberg, and Kientzheim are affected by the switch-off.

The process began on 14 April when a limited number of DTT services were launched in the area. In addition, a scroll began to appear on analogue services informing viewers of the impending switch-off.