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DigiTAGWeb LetterMarch 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.
DTT services in the Czech RepublicDTT services have been available in the Czech Republic since October 2005 when the public service broadcaster, Czech Television, launched one multiplex in Prague. Since then, further services have been rolled out, coverage areas extended, and new broadcast licenses allocated. However, it was not until May 2008 that the Czech Telecommunications Office (CTU) published the national digital switchover plan. It was only at this time that all broadcasters finally agreed on the strategy to adopt for the DTT platform. Two key issues impeded the development of the DTT platform. First, the two commercial broadcasters on the analogue terrestrial platform needed to agree to launch their services on the DTT platform and return their analogue terrestrial broadcast licenses prior to their expiration dates in 2016 and 2017. Both agreed to do so in exchange for an extra television programme service slot on the DTT platform. Second, it was necessary for new broadcast services to launch on the DTT platform. Attempts to do so had been hindered by the legal obstacles. The decision in April 2006 by the Czech Radio and Television Broadcasting Council (RRTV) to allocate six DTT broadcast licenses for new services was legally challenged and overturned. It was not until December 2008 that these licenses were officially re-allocated by the government in its amendments to the existing broadcast legislation. Current multiplex allocationA total of four DTT multiplexes are available. The first multiplex, MUX 1, has been allocated to Czech Television for the provision of four of its television services (CT1, CT2, CT Sport and CT24), two of which are only available on the DTT platform. The multiplex also include 8 radio services. It reaches 61.5% of the population The second multiplex, MUX 2, is allocated to the broadcast network operator Ceske Radiokomunikace and provides coverage to 53% of the population. This multiplex simulcasts the two commercial services from Nova TV and Prima TV, as well as their two “bonus channels” awarded in exchange for their agreement to the digital switchover plan. Earlier in the year, Nova TV launched its “bonus” service Nova Cinema while Prima TV has announced plans to launch Prima Cool. Initially set to launch today (1 April), Prima Cool has currently been put on hold. The second multiplex also provides one of the six new DTT services allocated by the government, Barrandova TV. MUX 3, allocated to the Czech Digital Group provides four services, Z1, Ocko, TV Noe, and Public TV, all of which are new services allocated DTT licenses by the government. Services are available to 46% of the population. The first three multiplexes use the MPEG-2 compression format and only offer free-to-air services. The networks are all operated by Ceske Radiokomunikace. The fourth multiplex, however, is an exception. It has been allocated to the telecom operator Telefonica-O2 which also operates the broadcast network. This multiplex is currently trialing DTT services, most notably HDTV and MPEG-4 AVC. However, it currently lacks sufficiently appealing content which would justify it to launch commercial services. This multiplex is available to 26% of the population. Launching DTT servicesThe launch of DTT services has been made possible in large part by switching off of analogue terrestrial channels. Czech Television has been progressively switching off its CT2 analogue channel in order to free up frequencies for the roll-out of its multiplex. Already, the CT2 analogue channel has been switched off in the regions of Prague, Chleb, Brno, Ostrava, Susice-Svatobor, and Chomutov-Jedlová. As a next step, the full analogue terrestrial platform, with the remaining 3 channels, will be switched off. In preparation for analogue switch-off, a pilot project took place in the region of Domazlice in August 2007 and affected approximately 300,000 residents. As part of the pilot, Czech Television and Nova TV agreed to switch off their analogue services on condition that 55% of households were equipped with DVB-T receivers. Prima TV chose not to participate in the pilot and continued to broadcast its services on the terrestrial platform in analogue.As a result, many viewers needed to access services on the terrestrial platform using a hybrid solution combining both analogue and digital reception since services from Czech Television and Nova TV were only available digitally and the service of Prima TV was only available in analogue. In addition, 30 days following the switch-off of its analogue channel, Nova TV switched the channel back on. This created much confusion and caused many viewers to switch away from the terrestrial platform and instead turn to the satellite platform. In the region, 35% of viewers opted for satellite, a significant figure considering that satellite previously had a nationwide penetration of approximately 6%. While satellite services are currently free-to-view following the purchase of the necessary equipment and access card, it is not known for how long this will remain the situation. A further pilot was conducted in Usti nad Labem in early 2008. Some viewer confusion arose since Nova TV launched its DTT services at a later date than Czech Television. Analogue switch-offThe digital transition plan as presented by the CTU calls for analogue switch-off to take place region-by-region. The transition plan calls for the regional roll-out of DTT services followed by a three-month simulcast period prior to full analogue switch-off. It is expected that the process will be completed by 11 November 2011 for all but two transmitter sites. Prague is the next area to undertake analogue switch-off and will complete the process at the end of April. However, it is not yet confirmed whether or not the commercial broadcasters will participate in the switch-off despite having agreed to do so as per the national digital switchover plan. Should they decide against switching off their analogue services, the CTU has threatened to take legal action. Other dates for switch-off in large cities include Brno in September 2010 and Ostrava in November 2011. The coordination for analogue switch-off is handled by the National Coordination Committee (NKS).
Lessons learnedAccording to DTT planners, the DTT platform currently lacks sufficient content and reception robustness to compete effectively with other television delivery platforms and explains in part the success of such platforms as IPTV and satellite. DTT planners have also noted the difficulty for viewers with the transition from temporary to final digital transmissions. Viewers have needed to retune DTT receivers as a result of frequency changes, reposition their antennas as a result of changes in antenna polarisation, and remove power amplifiers as a result of the increase in transmission power levels. Communicating such essential information to viewers is seen as the key to a successful switch-off.
Source: Natalie Mouyal, DigiTAG Project Office About DigiTAGDigiTAG 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 websitePlease 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. |
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DTT NEWS ROUND-UPFor access to the full articles archive, please go to DigiTAG News France - Nearly 66% of homes access DTV servicesResults published show that 65.9% of all television households accessed digital television services at the end of the second semester 2008. In addition, 33.8% of households have converted all of their television
sets to digital. Because of its wide availability and free access, DTT
is the key driver for the adoption of digital television services. Source: CSA websiteSpain - 100 more days until first phase of ASOThe first phase of analogue switch-off is set to take place on 30 June 2009. It is estimated that affect 5 million residents in 1,286 towns, representing nearly 12% of the country's population. Impulsa TDT estimates that more than two-thirds of these households access DTT services. However, between 50-60 thousand buildings with collective antennas have yet to be converted. The second phase of switch-off will take place on 31 December 2009 and the process will be completed on 3 April 2010. Source: Impulsa TDTRomania - Government may make subsidies availableThe government has opened the possibility of allocating subsidies to help ease the digital switchover process. Approximately €146 million could be made available. The funding would be used to help an estimated 1.4 million households purchase MPEG-4 AVC DTT set-top boxes. The terrestrial platform is used by approximately 20% of households. Analogue switch-off is set to be completed in 2012. Source: Broadband TV NewsAustralia - Analogue switch-off campaign launchedThe government has officially launched its analogue switch-off communications campaign. Switch-off is set to take place region-by-region from January 2010 until December 2013. The campaign will help ensure that viewers can better understand the benefits of digital television and how to make the conversion. It will include television, radio and online advertisements, equipment labelling, point-of-sale information, and training and accreditation for retail staff. The government has also launched a new website, Get Ready for Digital. Source: Labour government websiteMalaysia - DTT tender expected in 2009The Communications & Multimedia Commission (MCMC) is expected to invite candidates to tender for a license to operate one DTT network. The tender is expected to take place this year and the license to be allocated in either late 2009 or early 2010. It is expected that DTT services will launch in 2010. Analogue switch-off is set for completion in 2015. Source: The Star OnlineSweden - PTS calls for relaxation of regulation for pay-DTT marketThe communications regulator PTS has opened a consultation on the regulation of the DTT market. It proposes that free-to-air DTT services should continue to be regulated while the rules regulating the pay-DTT sector should be relaxed. Market stakeholds must send their responses to the consultation by 23 April. Source: PTS websiteItaly - Strong growth for Mediaset PremiumCommercial broadcaster Mediaset's annual report for 2008 show that its revenue from its pay-DTT service, Mediaset Premium, increased by 78.7% compared with the previous year. Mediaset Premium generated revenues of €403.7 million, compared with a revenue of €225.9 million in 2007. As of 31 December 2008, active cards amounted to around 2.9 million, compared with 2.1 million in the previous year. Source: Mediaset announcementCroatia - Telecom operator HR participates in DTT tenderthe Croatian Post and Electronic Communications Agency (HAKOM) has closed its tender for a license to operate two DTT multiplexes. It is expected that HAKOM will announce the winner of its tender by 28 April. The license will be valid for a 10-year period. The license holder must provide services to 95% of the population on two DTT multiplexes using the MPEG-4 AVC compression format. According to Broadband TV News, the incumbent telecom operator, Hrvatksi Telekom (HT), has submitted a bid for the DTT license. Source: Broadband TV News |
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