Ofcom Consultation on the Future of Digital
Television
On Wednesday the UK regulator Ofcom announced a public consultation on
the future of Digital Television.
New technologies, MPEG-4 and 256 QAM DVB-T2, mean an opportunity exists
to both significantly increase the number of standard definition channels
available and also to provide HDTV channels.
On these new technologies the consultation document says:
· An improved video and audio coding compression
standard called MPEG-4 . This is expected (over time) to operate at up
to double the efficiency of the coding standard that is used at the moment
on DTT, MPEG-2. This means that a DTT multiplex could carry up to twice
as many services using MPEG-4 as can currently be achieved using MPEG-2,
whilst maintaining similar picture quality.
· A new transmission standard, known as DVB-T2.
This is expected to deliver an increase of at least 30% in the capacity
of a DTT multiplex over the current standard, whilst maintaining the same
coverage. This standard is a development of the existing DVB-T standard
used in the UK since 1998. DVB-T2 is still undergoing development by DVB
in Geneva, but is expected to be finalised in spring 2008.
In the long term any change in standards will result in all existing
Freeview set top boxes and digital TV recorders having to be replaced.
Consultation webpage
http://www.ofcom.org.uk/consult/condocs/dttfuture/
The Future of Digital Terrestrial Television document
http://www.ofcom.org.uk/consult/condocs/
dttfuture/dttfuture.pdf
How to Respond
http://www.ofcom.org.uk/consult/condocs/
dttfuture/howtorespond/
The consultation closes on 30th January 2008
Related URL’s
BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Five agree approach for Freeview
HDTV channels
http://www.southgatearc.org/news/november2007/
freeview_hdtv_agreement.htm
DVB-T2 to enable HDTV post-switchover
http://www.digitalradiotech.co.uk/articles/DVB-T2-to-enable-HDTV-post-switchover.php
Ofcom: no comeback for TV on analogue spectrum
http://www.southgatearc.org/news/october2007/
no_comeback_on_analogue.htm
Freeview to switch to MPEG-4 ?
http://www.southgatearc.org/news/may2007/freeview_switch.htm
Sky Freeview channels to switch to MPEG-4
http://www.southgatearc.org/news/february2007/sky_mpeg4_switch.htm
UK's Freeview boxes could soon be obsolete
http://www.southgatearc.org/news/january2006/freeview.htm
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