ON TUESDAY the Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation, CyBC will launch its digital platform, alongside the present analog system, allowing any viewers with the correct television to watch clearer digital pictures, access interactive services and view extra channels.
For viewers with older televisions, however, the move could mean forking out as much as €120 to access all services, when the analog network is closed next year.
CyBC Director-General, Themis Themistocleous, said yesterday “We are very excited about the change, and especially pleased that it is all on schedule.”
Asked about what this offers to consumers, he said “First of all, it will offer much better picture and sound quality, as well as interactive options and, in the coming months, a much wider choice of channels.”
He said that the transition from analog to digital is in the second of three phases. When completed, the process will have numerous benefits for consumers.
Firstly, digital broadcasting uses fewer radio frequencies, so that some of can be returned to the government for other uses. This could include radio stations or communication channels for emergency services or wireless broadband.
Secondly, it will require fewer radio masts to manage. There are currently 80 masts in operation to broadcast analog signal, whereas digital requires only 50. So is it more cost effective? “Definitely. The reduced number of transmitters and sub-stations also means less maintenance.
Thirdly it will also allow for increased services and channels for deaf and blind customers.” He added that provisions for including the BBC will be written into forthcoming legislation.
For some consumers, making their TVs digital ready could cost between €50 and €120. Themistocleous said “Consumers will not need to buy a new antenna. If their set contains an MPEG 4 Compression box, then it is ready for digital.
If they have an MPEG 2 then they will need to buy a new MPEG 4 Decoder, or “Set top box” as it is known, and which cost from €50 for a basic box to €120 for offers additional features. Set top boxes do not enable analogue televisions to display High Definition programmes, however.
This will not be mandatory until the analog network is switched off on July 1st 2011.
In the meantime, digital and analog transmission will run in parallel and be accessibly immediately for a large part of the population. In the second phase, which will last for a few months, digital will extend to cover all urban areas. Then in the third and final phase it will cover the countryside, before the analog network is switched off.
The move is part of a pan-European campaign to digitalise television by 2012, which will bring such extra services to customers as High Definition television (HDTV), Personal Video Recorders (PVRs) and video on demand (VOD).
The changeover has been successfully piloted in the Denmark, Norway and Sweden, and the UK the two systems are running in parallel in the UK.
