Three-year TV switchover
2008-02-11 18:12
Cape Town - South Africa will start switching to a digital television broadcasting system from November this year, Communications Minister Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri announced on Monday.
The process would take three years, she told journalists at a parliamentary media briefing.
"South Africa will start switch-on of the digital signal in November this year, and have switch-off of the analogue signal by November, 2011. This allows for a three-year dual-illumination period, thus facilitating a smooth transition."
Matsepe-Casaburri said state-owned signal distributor Sentech was on track to replace old analogue transmitters, and have digital terrestrial television (DTT) coverage to reach 50% of South Africa's population by the end of the year.
The process of switching - termed "broadcasting digital migration" by the industry - will require the public to obtain set-top boxes to enable them to view digital transmissions on their analogue television sets.
Proponents of the switch-over say one of the primary benefits of DTT is clearer, sharper television pictures, with no interference or "ghosting".
Matsepe-Casaburri said her department would launch a broadcasting digital migration awareness campaign to inform the public about the benefits of DTT.
Among other things, DTT would leave a "greater spectrum available for other uses", including broadcasting in more of South Africa's indigenous languages, and extend government service and education.
"For us, with 11 languages, there is a vested interest to go that (digital) route."
The set-top boxes would be manufactured in South Africa, she said.
Responding to a question about the cost of these being subsidised, Matsepe-Casaburri said this was still under discussion.
- SAPA