Advanced Television

Venezuela to switch off analogue in 2020

March 27, 2013

By Chris Forrester

There’s been considerable progress in rolling out digital terrestrial TV in Venezuela with 13 digital terrestrial relay stations installed and signals available to just over half of the population. But Venezuela’s vice president Jorge Arreaza says it is going to take some time to complete the country’s conversion to all-digital reception.

He expresses only as an ambition a switch off date of 2020. Arreaza said that by the end of this year the remaining 9 regions, as yet unserved, will get their local transmitters installed.  “These new areas enable us to reach the 60.5 per cent and we are willing to cover the 70 per cent of the population by 2014. All the capital cities plus the main cities where the greatest number of people is concentrated [will then be served],” he stated.

He also highlighted that, to date, some 126,000 decoders have been distributed and enabling users to enjoy the service through analog-adapted TV sets.  “In the future, decoders will be sold at special prices and according to the need of each family”, Arreaza added.

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