DigiTAG

Web Letter

April 2010

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.

HD services in France

Viewers in France are able to watch HD services across all television delivery platforms – cable, terrestrial, satellite and IPTV. The satellite operator TPS (now merged with CanalSat) launched the first services in January 2006 and was soon followed by the cable and IPTV platforms. Currently, viewers can access up to 15 pay HD services on the cable platform, 12 pay HD services on the satellite platform and 10 pay HD services on the IPTV platform.

In addition, on 30 October 2008, the DTT platform officially launched 5 television programme services in HD. Of these, four are available free-to-air (TF1 HD, France 2 HD, ARTE HD, M6 HD) while one is available as a pay service (Canal+ HD).

HDTV penetration

According to the latest information published by the broadcast regulator Conseil Supérieur de l’Audiovisuel (CSA), 78.4% of French television households access digital television services on at least one television set. The DTT platform has proven popular and is available in 48.3% of households. IPTV and satellite follow with a penetration of 18.6% and 15.5%, respectively.

At the end of 2009, 45.4% of television households had at least one HD-ready television set which is an increase of 15.3% in comparison with 2008. By 2012, the consultancy NPA Conseil / Euroconsult expects that 78% of households will have an HD television set.

According to the HD Forum, the DTT platform has the highest number of HD viewers compared with other television platform. As of June 2009, 1.1 million DTT households access HD services out of a total of 2.4 million HD households (pay and free-to-air). According to data from Screen Digest, strong growth is expected for HD services in the coming year with an estimated 4.1 million pay-HD subscribers by the end of 2010.

HD/DTT service coverage

The HD services on the DTT platform are situated in three different multiplexes. Two of the services, Canal+HD and ARTE HD, are located within the R3 and R4 multiplexes which also provide viewers with standard-definition television services. Both of these multiplexes have a current population coverage of around 90% and will increase to 95% population coverage when analogue switch-off is completed in November 2011.

A further DTT multiplex, R5, provides three HD services (TF1 HD, France 2 HD, M6 HD). At the time of its launch on 30 October 2008, it had a population coverage of 40% (27 transmission sites) which increased to 60% of the population (additional 24 transmission sites) on 31 May 2009.

In February, the CSA published the roll-out calendar for the multiplex R5. It expects that the roll-out of this multiplex will take place alongside the calendar for analogue switch-off. In the regions where analogue switch-off is taking place in 2010, the major transmission sites will begin providing the HD services from multiplex R5. Relay sites, however, will not begin the HD transmissions until early 2012. The region of Alsace is the only exception since it has already completed analogue switch-off but will not begin HD/DTT services until 28 September 2010. In the regions where analogue switch-off will take place in 2011, all transmission sites (main and relay) will begin the transmission of the multiplex R5.

Following this roll-out calendar, the CSA anticipates that the coverage of multiplex R5 will reach 90% of the population by November 2011 and 95% of the population at the end of the first trimester of 2012.

Providing native HD services

The CSA has placed requirements on the broadcasters TF1, Canal+ and M6 for the transmission of native HD content. However, because it does not have regulatory oversight over France Télévisions and ARTE, it is unable to require these broadcasters to provide native HD content on the DTT platform.

The following requirements for the provision of native HD content between 16:00 and midnight have been set by the CSA in agreement with broadcasters. Each year, the broadcasters will be required to increase their HD production until they reach between 80-100% native HD content in the evening hours by 2012.

On the R5 multiplex, a total of 24 Mbits/s is made available for three HD services (TF1 HD, France 2 HD, M6HD). With the use of statistical multiplexing, it is estimated that each HD service has an average bitrate of 7.5 to 8.5 Mbits/s.

HD receiver requirements

As part of its legislation on the DTT platform (Télévision du Futur), the government has required manufacturers to include an MPEG-4 AVC HD receiver on all television sets sold after a certain date.

Since 1 December 2008, all HD-ready television sets, regardless of their size, must include an MPEG-4 AVC HD decoder.
Since 1 December 2009, all television sets sized 66 cm (26 inches) and above must include an MPEG-4 AVC HD decoder.
By 1 December 2012, all television sets must include an HD DTT decoder. In addition, set-top boxes must be able to receive both standard-definition and HD content.

The HD receiver requirements have been developed by the French HD Forum, together with the broadcasters offering HD/DTT services.

By requiring television sets to include an HD receiver, the government has enabled the penetration of HD television sets to increase rapidly and allow viewers to easily access HD services on the DTT platform.

Next steps

In the past the government has called for all services on the DTT platform currently provided in standard-definition to become available in HD quality. It can be expected that such a shift will gradually take place once analogue switch-off is completed in November 2011. Sufficient capacity should be possible under the government’s plan to make 11 multiplexes available for DVB-T services.

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

United Kingdom - 10.1 million DTT-only households

Ofcom has published its Digital Television Update for the fourth quarter of 2009. According to the report, 91.4% of households access digital television services on their primary television sets.

In addition, nearly 69% of all secondary television sets have been converted to digital.

Source: Ofcom website

Portugal - Anacom publishes consultation on ASO plan

The communications regulator Anacom has opened a consultation on its proposed plan for analogue switch-off. According to the plan, analogue switch-off will take place in three phases each consisting of 7 days.

The first phase will begin on 7 January 2012 and switch-off analogue services in the coastal zone of the mainland. On 22 March 2012, the second phase will begin in regions of Madeira and Azores. The process will be completed with analogue switch-off in the remainder of the mainland on 26 April 2012.

Source: Anacom website

Latvia - ASO completed in Riga

On 1 April, the analogue channels of LNT and LTV were switched off in the capital city of Riga. Switch-off in the remainder of the country is set for 1 June.

As a result of the switch-off in Riga, the demand for DTT receivers has been high. According to the pay-DTT service provider Lattelecom, between 150,000 and 160,000 households access DTT services in the region.

Source: Lattelecom announcement

Sweden - 40 broadcasters apply for new DTT licenses

The Swedish Radio and Television Authority (RTVV) received 40 applicants for broadcast capacity on the DTT platform.

RTVV invited candidates to tender for the provision of national, regional and local DTT services. Of the applicants received, 20 requested the broadcast of services in HD.

Source: Teracom

Spain - Prisa to join TDT Premium platform

The media group Prisa has agreed to join the pay-DTT platform TDT Premium operated by the broadcast network operator Abertis.

Previously, Prisa had considered launching a separate pay-DTT platform with proprietary receivers. Instead, it will rely on the technical platform put in place by Abertis and make use of the existing base of pay-DTT receivers.

Source: Expanción

Poland - TVP and Emitel sign agreement for transmission of MUX 3

The public service broadcaster TVP and the broadcast network operator Emitel have signed an agreement for the transmission of DTT services.

TVP has been allocated one DTT multiplex for its DTT services which will be provided to viewers using Emitel's DTT network. As part of the agreement, Emitel will be responsible for the broadcast of TVP services, including the regionalization of services and the construction and operation of the platform.

Source: TVP website

Austria - ORS launches DVB-T2 trial

The broadcast network operator ORS has began a trial of HD services on the DTT platform using the DVB-T2 standard on 12 April. The trial will last for one year.

Services using DVB-T2 will be transmitted from Kahlenberg (near Vienna) using channel 65. Content available includes ORF 1 and ORF 2 HD and HD Radio Ö1. Commercial broadcasters are also expected to participate in the trial.

Source: ORS announcement

Australia - Nine to provide NRL's State of Origin series in 3DTV on DTT platform

The commercial broadcaster Nine Network has announced that it will broadcast 3D programming on the DTT platform in Sydney.

It has been allocated additional spectrum capacity on a trial basis to allow for the 3D broadcast of the 3-matches of the National Rugby League's State Of Origin series.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

Bulgaria - Mancelord acquires 50% stake in broadcast network operator NURTS

The telecom operator VIVACOM has agreed to sell a 50% stake in its broadcast network subsidiary, NURTS, to the international financial investor Mancelord Limited.

This deal must now be approved by the Communications Regulatory Commission (CRC).