Digital TV switch-on
THE department of communications has set the date for the digital switch-on of public broadcast television for November 1 this year.
This does not mean, however, that ordinary people, especially the poor, will be able to watch their free-to-air television programmes on a digital signal.
Communications minister Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri said: “It’s a major shift, equivalent to the shift from black-and-white to colour tTV.
“It’s been a long process, but we are there. We had to wait for the International Telecommunications Union to agree on the different frequencies in the different regions before we could start the migration process,” she said.
She was speaking yesterday at the launch of the department’s broadcasting digital migration policy launch, which was approved by the cabinet last week.
Hi-tech company Sentech will have to overhaul its entire broadcasting network to transmit digital signals exclusively for free-to-air programming.
The change is planned to take place with a phased approach, where broadcasters will transmit both digital and analogue signals while allowing television viewers to purchase new set-top boxes (STBs) or decoders, and eventually new digital television sets.
The STBs, which will cost R700, will be available at a subsidised price of R210 if citizens can prove that they belong to the “poorest of the poor” segment of South African society.
The STBs will include interactive functionality that will allow access to government e-services.
When questioned about the cost of the STBs, considering that DStv decoders cost as little as R350, Matsepe-Casaburri said that it was worth the additional cost.
“When we first started, we thought it would cost R400, but because of the additional cherry on the ice cream, we arrived at the price,” she said.
She explained that the decoders would allow the public to receive and send messages including applications for various government services such as tax e-filing, traffic fines and other public services.
The cut-off date for the public to buy a decoder is the beginning of November 2011, and though the signal will be switched on in November this year, people will only be able to purchase the new decoders from June next year.
To avoid getting cut off, you need to understand what kind of TV you have at home. There are four types on the market.
Analog TVs: These include NTSC, PAL or Secam systems. Most retailers have now sold their last analogue products and will now only sell digital goods;
Digital-ready TVs: These are standard digital TVs, which have an in-built analogue tuner. They are the most common on the market and allow people to access a digital video and audio signal from the decoder or a DVD machine, but also pick up an analogue system;
HDTV-ready: These are basically computer monitors (LCD or Plasma) able to display High Definition resolution images; and
Integrated HDTV: TVs with a digital tuner for broadcast digital TV signals integrated into an HDTV display. Standards are changing rapidly and the chances are high that you may pay for a tuner that quickly becomes obsolete.
To avoid confusion, ask the salesman about the most affordable digital TV.
The government has promised it will meet electronics industry experts to develop a digital television that will have components of the new decoder, specially developed for use in South Africa.
But that depends on meetings held over the next two weeks between stakeholders.
Loading ...