Who ever thought pictures could move?? And well, they actually did!!! Then something that no-one at that time could have even anticipated happened - the moving pictures could come home!!! For this you just needed a box - Mothers call it an 'Idiot-Box' and for loners "it's like having someone in the room.", for now we'll simply call it TELEVISION aka TV.
Today, it is this very medium that has become one of the most widespread and influencing forms of media. Various innovations with this small box itself have brought it to how it is today. Every effort has always been aimed at bring better quality picture and more convenience to the viewer - inevitable pampering the "couch potato" in all of us!!! And with various other innovations going digital, this form was not one to hold back for long and this seems the advent of Digital TV.
Digital TV, if to be simple put, is the "sending and receiving of moving images and by discrete (digital) signals, in contrast to the analog signals" used by the TV you may currently possess - analog TV.
Advantages of Digital TV
Consumers of Digital TV have several broad benefits. This format enables broadcasting stations to provide one with improved picture and sound quality. The main advantage of Digital TV or DTV as it is also called is that the broadcasters are able to provide several more channels of digital programming, using the same amount of spectrum required for one analog program, simultaneously. Thus they are able to offer a greater range of channels. This is known as "multicasting", where a broadcaster is able to provide a super sharp 'high definition' (HD) digital program or multiple 'standard definition' (SD) digital programs at the same time.
Just to make it simpler lets consider an illustration. Consider analog television (your current television format), the broadcaster may be able to provide you with only one program say on channel 4. Now, due to digital television the broadcaster will be able to provide you with one program on channel 4-1, another one on channel 4-2, and yet another one on channel 4-3 and so on.
Further Digital TV also provides us with the concept of 'Interactive TV' - that has evolved from just channel switching or surfing using the remote to now availing of movies or channels -on demand and even pausing, rewinding, fast forwarding the programs just like DVD!!! New features such as on-screen listings, audio description and subtitling for people with visual and audio impairments. Switching off analog services will result in a whole new free spectrum that can yield space to extra TV channels in either standard or high definition, mobile TV or wireless broadband.
The world today is going digital!! Luxemburg, The Netherlands, Finland, Andorra, Sweden, Switzerland and Germany are just a few places who have done away with analog TV and have switched over completely to Digital TV. The US claims to switch completely by June 2009, Japan by July 24, 2011, Canada by August 31, 2011, China by 2015 and Brazil's major cities have already made the switch and the whole territory will take almost 7 more years.
In this race to go completely digital UK is not far behind!!! As per the policy issued by the Government, 2008-2012 is the switch-over period. Thus by the end of 2012 entire UK will have access to Digital TV, in fact analog will be switched off. Did you know that Whitehaven in Cumbria was the first to switch over way back in 2007 itself!!! Your place is not far behind. You will either be required to convert or upgrade your TV equipment to receive digital signals either through your aerial, by satellite, cable or broadband.
Easy and Very simple Switchover to Digital TV
This Digital TV increases affordability thus increasing the number of households with terrestrial television. The UK Government has taken complete charge and responsibility of assuring that the switchover is done in time.
And if you are wondering how you are going to make this switch you are at the right place!!!!! Once you enter the site you will be familiarized with all the Digital TV broadcastersLike , , , and with the various offers they have to provide you with. After all, although the Government has initiated the switch it is you who have to make the right choice!!!
But no worries there just enter the site and leave the rest assured. |
