TV with digital tuner in SA soon
Sony has announced that it has plans to release an LCD television range to the local market which will feature a built-in digital terrestrial television (DTT) receiver.
According to a Sony representative, the KDL 32EX600 will be available in March and features a DTT tuner which is incorporated into the unit design. This will reportedly allow owners to access digital television without the use of a set top box.
The LCD television will be available for “roughly R4999” and will incorporate the Xross Media Bar found in Sony’s PlayStation 3 as a means to navigate between DTT channels and other television options.
This is a significant announcement for South African users. The country is currently in the process of switching from analogue public broadcasting to digital terrestrial television – a process that, when completed, should provide television viewers with multiple channel offerings.
To access this all television owners will be required to purchase a set top box or decoder. According to the Digital Dzonga, an advisory council for the DTT migration, the price which the Department of Communications is targeting for this is R750 per unit. In addition R400-million has been set aside to subsidise these devices for roughly 5-million poor households.
By purchasing a DTT ready television households will be able to save on the cost of the set top box.
It is not yet clear whether other television manufacturers will follow suit with their own DTT enabled models but given the competitive nature of the market it seems likely that other brands will launch similar devices.
TV with digital tuner in SA soon << Discussion
Loading ...