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Digital TVMore Than Half of U.S. Households Now Own Digital TVsAuthored by Mark Hefflinger on January 3, 2008 - 9:50am.
Arlington, Va. - More than 50% of U.S. households now own a digital television, according to new research by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA). Broadcasters Detail $697 Million Digital TV PSA CampaignAuthored by Mark Hefflinger on October 15, 2007 - 1:13pm.
Washington - The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB), a trade group that represents the major networks and other TV broadcasters, on Monday announced a $697 million public service campaign that will educate consumers on the pending analog switch-off and transition to digital broadcasting, the Associated Press reported. FCC: Cable Providers Must Carry Local Stations for Analog SubscribersAuthored by Mark Hefflinger on September 12, 2007 - 12:00pm.
Washington - The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has ruled that cable TV operators will have to ensure that their analog-only subscribers can receive local TV stations for three years after the digital TV transition, scheduled for Feb. 17, 2009. The ruling affects some 40 million U.S. households. Cable providers can either offer their digital local TV feeds in analog format, or else make sure that all of their analog-only subscribers have the converter necessary to view digital signals. Democrats Say More Funds Needed for Digital TV ConvertersAuthored by Mark Hefflinger on March 29, 2007 - 10:58am.
Washington - Democrats said at a House subcommittee hearing on Wednesday that more money should be allocated to help consumers purchase converters that will be needed to view digital TV signals on their analog TV sets, once analog signals are shut off in early 2009, CNET News.com reported. NTIA Offers Two $40 Coupons per Household for Digital TV TransitionAuthored by Mark Hefflinger on March 12, 2007 - 11:11am.
*The original version of this story has been corrected. Survey: 61% of Analog TV Households Still Unaware of Digital TransitionAuthored by Mark Hefflinger on January 31, 2007 - 11:53am.
Washington - The majority of U.S. households that receive only over-the-air TV signals (61%) are still unaware that these analog transmissions will be shut off in February 2009, and compel an estimated 22 million households to make some sort of digital transition, according to a survey conducted by research firm ICR Media for the Association of Public Television Stations (APTS). U.K. Government Agency Recommends Deadline for Switchover to Digital TVAuthored by Mark Hefflinger on July 5, 2006 - 7:18am.
London -- In a report published earlier this week, the U.K. communications watchdog (Ofcom) said the government must stop dragging its heels and set a date for switching the nation's TVs from analog transmission to digital. The regulatory agency said an official timetable would significantly extend digital penetration in the country and help to ensure that the U.K. has made the move to digital by the end of 2010. In its Driving Digital Switchover report, which contained 23 recommendations, Ofcom warned the government that many TV viewers and broadcasters might need some sort of financial incentive to make the switch, which it said should by phased in region by region to prevent widespread TV blackouts. Since receiving the report, however, the government has said that it has no intention of subsidizing the replacement of nearly 40 million analogue TVs.
Report: China to Count 50 Million Digital TV Subscribers in 2008Authored by Mark Hefflinger on January 10, 2006 - 4:41am.
Dublin, Ireland - Subscribers to digital TV services in China will grow in number from just over 1 million in 2004 to 50 million by the end of 2008 -- representing a 165% compound growth rate -- according to a report from Research and Markets. There are currently 5.35 million digital TV subscribers in China. Research and Markets predicts that China's digital TV industry will enter a rapid development era over the next three years, when government agencies will set standards on transmission technologies and other areas, encouraging accelerated investments. The number of digital televisions sold in China between 2004 and 2008 is expected to exceed 25 million, while the volume of digital TV set-top boxes during the period is expected to exceed 21 million.
Report: 66% of U.K. Households Have Digital TVAuthored by Mark Hefflinger on December 12, 2005 - 3:53am.
London - According to the latest Digital Television Update by U.K. telecommunications regulator Ofcom, nearly 66% of U.K. households have digital TV. Ofcom said the number of digital TV households increased by 5.9% in the July-September period, from approximately 63% of total households to 65.9%. As of Sept. 30, the total number of households viewing digital TV grew by more than 760,000 to almost 16.5 million, Ofcom said. The report also found that there were more than 1 million sales of Freeview set-top boxes and TVs with integrated Digital Terrestrial Television tuners over the same period, a 55% year-on-year increase.
Senate Votes to Set April 7, 2009 Digital TV Transition DateAuthored by Mark Hefflinger on November 4, 2005 - 3:17am.
Washington - The U.S. Senate voted on Thursday to set April 7, 2009 as the date for the country's transition to digital TV broadcasting, when networks will cease transmitting their analog signals and yield their spectrum back to the government. The Senate bill includes a $3 billion subsidy, for those who can't afford costly new digital TV sets to purchase a converter set-top box that will enable their analog TV sets to receive the new digital signals. The Senate rejected a proposed amendment to the bill that would have cut the subsidy to $1 billion, and another to speed up the transition by a year so that spectrum could be freed sooner for emergency communications services. The Senate bill will now have to be reconciled with the version pending in the House, which sets the transition date on Dec. 31, 2008 and provides under $1 billion for the converter subsidy. In related news, the FCC voted on Thursday to move up by four months the date by which all TV sets smaller than 24" must include digital tuners, to March 1, 2007; larger TVs are required to carry a digital tuner by March 1, 2006.
Comcast to Sell Digital TV, Broadband Access in Radio Shack StoresAuthored by Mark Hefflinger on November 1, 2005 - 4:32am.
Philadelphia - Comcast, the nation's largest cable TV provider, announced on Tuesday that it has partnered with electronics retailer Radio Shack, to sell both its digital cable TV and high-speed Internet services in 1,800 Radio Shack retail stores. "There is a neighborhood RadioShack within an estimated five minutes of where 94 percent of all Americans either live or work," said Bob Faught, senior vice president of retail sales for Comcast Online. "Consumers can visit their local RadioShack, sign up for Comcast High-Speed Internet, for example, bring home a self-install kit, and connect to the Internet later that same day."
Senate Committee Proposes 2009 Digital TV Transition DeadlineAuthored by Mark Hefflinger on October 7, 2005 - 8:49am.
Washington - The chairman of the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee said publicly this week that he wants to complete the U.S. transition to digital TV broadcasting in 2009. "With a 2009 hard date, there would be three Christmas buying seasons during which Americans will buy digital television sets," Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) said in remarks to the Association of Maximum Service Television conference, Reuters reported. Current U.S. law mandates that 85% of a given market must own digital TV sets before broadcasters are required to abandon their analog spectrum and switch to digital broadcasts. However, the high cost of digital TVs has impeded the transition. Lawmakers and technology and consumer groups have argued over how to compensate lower-income households unable to purchase new digital sets; proposals include subsidizing low-cost antennas or converter boxes. Lawmakers want to free the spectrum space for use by emergency communications services, and to potentially generate billions by re-selling the spectrum to wireless carriers at auction. Stevens said the Senate Commerce Committee will debate a bill that would set a 2009 date for the digital TV transition on Oct. 19; a similar proposal is currently making its way through the House.
Report: 60% of U.K. Households Now Have Digital TVAuthored by Mark Hefflinger on July 13, 2005 - 10:16am.
London -- The latest figures from U.K. communications watchdog Ofcom show a dramatic increase in the adoption of digital technology in the U.K. Ofcom's second-annual Communications Market report found that more than 60% of U.K. households now have digital TV, while sales of DAB radio sets increased to more than 1.5 million early this year. Each month, approximately 250,000 households switch to digital TV, a boom driven by Freeview, which has increased its total subscriber numbers to more than 4.6 million households. For the first time ever, more households (30%) have broadband connections than dial-up Internet, leading the regulator to predict that, by the year 2010, more people will watch TV on the Internet than on analog TV. "This report shows that U.K. households are now accelerating into the digital age," said Ofcom's Ed Richards. "In parallel, industries formed over decades are being reshaped by digital broadcasting and broadband with every month that passes."
FCC Votes to Accelerate Transition to Digital TVAuthored by Mark Hefflinger on June 9, 2005 - 10:21am.
Washington -- The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has voted unanimously to accelerate the transition to digital TV broadcasting, by moving up the deadline by which manufacturers of mid-sized TV sets must include a digital tuner. The previous deadline of July 1, 2006, for mid-sized TVs to include a digital tuner, has been advanced to March 1, 2006. Additionally, the FCC proposed to move up the date by which all TVs 13" or larger must include a digital TV tuner, from July 1, 2007 to no later than Dec. 31, 2006. The FCC asked for public comment both on this issue as well as whether the digital tuner requirement should be extended to include televisions with smaller than 13" screens.
Report: Digital TV Receiver Sales Up 50% in 2004Authored by Mark Hefflinger on May 4, 2005 - 10:22am.
Boston -- Manufacturers sold a record 49.3 million digital TV receivers worldwide in 2004, a 50% increase in unit volume and 70% jump in revenue growth over the previous year, according to a report from market research firm Strategy Analytics. Sales for 2005 are expected to grow a further 38% to 68.2 million units. New digital terrestrial TV, IPTV services and the looming U.S. government-mandated digital conversion will be key drivers of device sales over the next five years, the firm projected, with annual sales forecasted to reach 181.3 million units and $39.1 billion in retail revenue by 2010. By then, North America will account for 65% of all digital TV sales, while Asia-Pacific will account for 19% and Europe 14%. The firm's data includes sales of both digital TV set-top boxes and integrated digital TVs.
U.K. Government Offers Timetable for Digital TV SwitchoverAuthored by Mark Hefflinger on February 9, 2005 - 2:55am.
London -- According to a report published by U.K. communications regulator Ofcom on Wednesday, the government's goal of switching the country to digital TV by the end of 2012 is possible only if carried out on a region-by-region basis. Ofcom said the switchover would need to start in 2008 to meet the current target date of 2012, meaning that TV viewers in Wales and the Border and West country could have their analog TV signals switched off in just four years. Which? magazine has criticized the timetable, saying it could force many consumers pay as much as over $500 to make the switch against their will. For its part, the government has emphasized that no decision will be made on the timetable until consumers' interests are protected. Currently, more than half of households in the U.K. (about 60%) have a digital TV service with BSkyB, NTL, Telewest or Freeview.
Report: U.K. to Spend $757 Million on Digital TV SwitchoverAuthored by Mark Hefflinger on November 29, 2004 - 4:18am.
London -- According to a new report released by the Consumer Panel, the U.K. government can expect to pay as much as $757 million when it makes the switch from analog to digital TV. Set up by communications and media watchdog Ofcom, the independent panel of experts said practical help and support for society's "most vulnerable members" would cost about $208 million, while financial assistance for the switchover, which could occur as early as 2012, could cost as much as $511 million. The panel went on to say that informing the public was even more important than financial assistance when it came to reaching the elderly, the disabled and people with poor English. It urged the government to start a public information campaign on digital TV immediately.
Digital TV Developer Sofia Digital Acquires Interactive TV Firm Outer RimAuthored by Mark Hefflinger on November 19, 2004 - 4:44am.
Helsinki, Finland -- Sofia Digital, a Finland-based digital TV technology company, announced that it has acquired Outer Rim, a Finland-based interactive TV services firm. Financial terms were not disclosed. "Sofia Digital is the number one in Multimedia Home Platform based interactive TV application market," said Sofia Digital CEO Petri Martikainen. "Now we can offer interactive TV services which work on analog as well as digital platforms." The Finnish firm said Outer Rim would be incorporated into Sofia Digital as two separate units: SMS TV Products and Service Operations. Sofia Digital, which announced earlier this week that it closed an investment round with Sentica Partners, provides technologies for interactive TV services, SMS TV games and cross-media content management products for broadcasters, operators, receiver manufacturers and service providers.
Finnish Digital TV Developer Sofia Digital Closes Investment RoundAuthored by Mark Hefflinger on November 16, 2004 - 5:09am.
Helsinki, Finland -- Sofia Digital, a Finland-based digital TV technology company, announced on Tuesday that it has closed an investment round with Sentica Partners. While financial terms for the investment were not disclosed, Sofia Digital did say that Sentica would join the Finnish firm as minority owners to "support the company's growth internationally". Sofia Digital provides technologies for interactive TV services, SMS TV games and cross-media content management products for broadcasters, operators, receiver manufacturers and service providers. The company's customers include Czech Telecom, Helsinki Television, Nokia, ST Microelectronics and Sun Microsystems Italia. "Sofia is an internationally well-known and respected digital television solution provider," said Sofia Digital Chairman Heikki Lehmusto. "We expect to have significant growth from the European market."
Europe to Wait until 2005 to Impose Digital TV StandardsAuthored by Mark Hefflinger on August 3, 2004 - 3:49am.
Brussels -- The European Commission (EC) said late Monday that it will postpone until the end of next year its decision on whether to mandate a single digital TV standard for all of Europe. While the Commission encouraged member states to continue to promote "open and interoperable standards" for interactive digital TV on a voluntary basis, it said there was "no clear case for imposing technical standards at present." The Commission said it would let the industry develop interoperable standards on its own, at least for the time being. However, the EC also strongly advocated the Multimedia Home Platform (MHP), a standard used by German TV group, RTL, a unit of Bertelsmann. Industry experts said the decision would come as a relief for most digital TV equipment makers, but that consumers would continue to face a highly fragmented application programming interface (API) market.
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