Taiwan launches move to digital TV

Starting next year, all televisions with screens measuring 29 inches or more in Taiwan will have to bear an identification tag signifying whether the set contains an embedded digital TV tuner, the Taipei Times has reported.

The government of Taiwan introduced the tag early this week as the first step in moving toward the digital broadcasting era.

Taiwan plans to replace analogue broadcasting with a digital system by 2008. Analogue signals are to be completely phased out by 2010. To reach this goal, all TV sets with screens measuring 29 inches or more, sold in Taiwan from next year must be equipped with built-in digital TV tuners.

The rule will apply to TVs with screens measuring between 21 and 29 inches in 2007, and to sets of all sizes in 2008. TV manufacturers and importers that fail to meet the requirements can be fined from US$7,500 to US$75,000.

Taiwan plans to gradually recall broadcast frequencies for analogue signals, starting from 2008 in Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu, the east of the country in 2009, and the west in 2010. It is estimated that more than 6 million households will replace their cathode-ray-tube TVs or buy set-top boxes during the next three years.

Source: Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union