DTT will boost local content

2013-02-11 18:53

A transmitter tower.

Johannesburg - The launch of digital terrestrial transmission (DTT) will create an opportunity for the local content industry to flourish, Communications Minister Dina Pule said on Monday.

"We expect that this sector will create various job opportunities and stimulate economic development."

She was speaking at the annual Digital Broadcasting Switchover Forum in Johannesburg.

Pule said the SABC had developed capacity at regional level in all provinces to ensure that it was able to cater for the increased demand for content, both at a technological level and at production level.

"They [SABC] have also been planning for the advent of digital television."

Another player in the digital switch over process was the SA Post Office.

"The post office will be responsible for the distribution of decoders or set-top boxes. This will also result in further job creation to ensure that this process is rolled out smoothly."

She said signal distributor Sentech had worked hard to have over 80% DTT coverage by March. South Africa is expected to switch from analogue to digital broadcasting by December.

After the December deadline, South Africans who still have analogue television sets will need special set-top boxes to receive images on their television.

- SAPA