Advanced Television

DSO

Uganda switches off all TV and radio

August 4th saw Uganda Broadcasting Corporation switch off the public TV and radio channels as well as those privately owned. A total of 64 channels or radio stations were involved.  They will be off-air for three days while conversion work is done to the nation’s key Kololo Summit transmission tower outside Kampala. Rose Namayanja, the […]

August 5, 2013By Chris Forrester

Frequency clearance smooths 4G launch

The final UK airwaves needed for the launch of high-speed mobile broadband in the 800MHz band will be cleared this week, according to Digital UK, the body which led the implementation of digital TV switchover from 2008-2012 and during 2013 oversaw the clearance of terrestrial TV services from the spectrum band. In February 2012, Freeview […]

July 29, 2013

India’s digital plan fails in Kolkata

Getting the first four India ‘metros’ to convert their analogue cable systems to digital was always going to be a tough demand. But there’s now considerable evidence that Kolkata has failed dismally to convert with consumers and MSOs being slow to fill in the necessary paperwork confirming that conversion has happened. Now India’s Telecom Regulatory […]

July 23, 2013By Chris Forrester

HbbTV plan for Australia

Following the completion of the country’s digital switchover, Australian free-to-air television is planning its next technological evolution combining broadcasting and the Internet. Freeview Australia – the industry grouping comprising free-to-air licensees Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Special Broadcasting Service, Seven Network, Nine Network, Network Ten, Prime Media Group and Southern Cross Broadcasting – is working with the […]

July 22, 2013By Colin Mann

UK DTT set for HD boost

UK comms regulator Ofcom is to proceed with an award of the 600 MHz spectrum band (550 to 606 MHz) to digital terrestrial TV (DTT) transmission company Arqiva, on an interim basis. The new capacity could triple the number of High Definition (HD) channels currently available on DTT, creating the opportunity for TV viewers to […]

July 16, 2013By Colin Mann

Hungary completes DSO

Hungary will complete its transition to digital TV on July 31st.  Hungary’s telecoms authority NMHH said all 14 Hungarian counties were on target to complete their digital switchover off by July 31st. Antenna Hungaria is managing the digital multiplexes, and are already fully on air. NMHH is urging consumers to get their converter boxes by […]

July 2, 2013By Chris Forrester

StarTimes wins Sierra Leone broadcasting

China’s StarTimes Group has been awarded a contract to convert Sierre Leone’s public broadcaster (SLBC) from analogue to digital. A contract was signed at a ceremony last Friday, June 21st. Star Communication Network Technology (StarTimes) and the SLBC signed the agreement that is expected to pave the way for the two organizations to form a […]

June 25, 2013By Chris Forrester

Digital UK’s Scott knighted for DSO role

David Scott, Chief Executive of Digital UK, has been awarded a knighthood for services to digital switchover in the Queen’s Birthday Honours. Saying he was “honoured” to receive the recognition, Scott added that delivering switchover required the collaboration of many individuals and organisations, all of whom deserved to share in the credit. Before becoming Chief […]

June 17, 2013By Colin Mann

South Africa starts digital awareness campaign

South Africa’s communications minister Dina Pule has kicked off the nation’s efforts to educate and inform the population about the upcoming changes to network broadcasting. South Africa is in the process of migrating from analogue broadcasting to digital in a move that will generate extra TV channels. But the process is well behind schedule, and […]

June 12, 2013By Chris Forrester

Mexico postpones DSO

Mexico’s US border cities of Mexical, Monterrey, Ciudad Juarez and Reynosa, will not see their analogue TV signals switched off this year. Mexico’s government says that it doesn’t have the resources to convert the border regions to digital TV, and says that it still has to find $130 million – $150million to make the necessary […]

May 28, 2013By Chris Forrester