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October 23, 2005
US Targets 2009 For All Digital TV Network
A US Senate panel approved a plan to move toward all-digital television in 2009. Such a move would require converter boxes for millions of television sets.
Digital technology provides a more efficient way to deliver television than with analogue transmissions. It enables the same services to be delivered in less space with greater clarity. Freeing up valuable spectrum both for over the air and cable transmission.
Sound and pictures are converted into a digital format and compressed, using as few bits as possible to convey the information on a digital signal. This technique enables several television channels to be carried in the space used by the current analogue signals to carry one channel. Digital signals can be received by standard aerials, satellite dishes or via cable but have to be decoded and turned back into sound and pictures by using a separate set-top box, or a decoder built into your television (an integrated digital TV set/ iDTV).
In the US transition would free up valuable radio spectrum, some of which would be used to expand two-way radio communications for emergency responders. The rest would be auctioned to telecommunications companies, raising an estimated $10 billion, according to the Congressional Budget Office.
Currently UK leads the world in terms of Digital TV with more than 50% of the consumer base using it to access content
Developing countries are far behind in moving to digital television. However, China and Korea are moving towards digital TV. China plans to digitalise its cable TV in four stages, according to the country’s State Radio and TV Administration. It will spread to ground digital TV by 2008 and stop analog TV broadcasts by 2015 when digital TV would cover the entire country.
Posted by admin at October 23, 2005 02:50 PM