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DIGITAL TERRESTRIAL TELEVISION
Digital terrestrial television service is starting in Italy in 2004. According to "Gasparri law" forecasts for bringing Italy up to European standards, by 31 December the changeover to digital should be complete, with the abandonment of analogue broadcasts. These two years will be characterised by a period of transition in which analogue technique broadcasts will live side by side with digital ones. With the introduction of digital terrestrial television, traditional television will become an interactive appliance, which unites the functions of TV, information science and applications of telecommunications technologies. The intention of the operators involved in this project (Telecom Italia, Mediaset, Fastweb, Rai) is to create multimedia and interactive contents that let the audience intervene personally during televised broadcasts. For example: During the news they can ask for additional information on the news using even Sms, they can connect to websites for in-depth analysis, receive customised updated, provide contributions and information, or ask question to talk show guests or review old episodes of programmes. Interactivity is possible through a telephone connection (better with an Adsl line) and with a special remote control.
What is digital terrestrial?Digital terrestrial (abbreviated DTT) is a broadcasting process for radio and television frequencies. With digital technology it is possible to compress the broadcast signal occupying less frequency. If the seven national channels now occupy seven different frequencies, with digital terrestrial they will only use one, thus freeing the space for other channels. Digital language, the same as computers, Internet and cell phones, can also be used to converge the mediums: images, sounds and data speak the same language and can be combined, integrated and complement each other. Thus with digital TV it is possible to create interactive programmes in which the spectator selects particular services (T-banking, for example, the TV version of home banking is one of the most used of digital TV): in this case the decoder must also be connected to the phone line. Access to the interactive services will potentially be able to reach all the families who possess a television set (99%) and not solely the Internet elite. The lawAccording to a European law (law 66 of 2001) by 31 December 2006 all television broadcast must be digital and all citizens of the European Union must acquire a device able to convert or broadcast digital signals. In Italy, the law for putting into force and disseminating digital terrestrial are contained in the "Gasparri law" approved by the Chamber and Senate on 3 may 2004. Article 1 "Application framework and aims" reads: "This law identifies the main principles which form the structure of the national, regional and local radio and television system, and upgrades it to the advent of digital technology and the convergence process between radio and television and other personal and mass communication fields such as telecommunications, the press, even electronic and Internet in all its applications." "Included in the application framework of this law, it continues, are broadcasts of television programmes, radio programmes and data programmes even with conditioned access, as well as the supply of associated interactive services and conditioned access services on terrestrial frequencies, via cable and via satellite." The text of this law can be found on the Internet websitewww.governo.it/GovernoInforma/Dossier/ddl_comunicazioni/legge.pdf What are the advantages of DDT compared to analogue television?The main benefits of digital terrestrial are a greater number of available programmes (at least five times the current ones), improved picture/audio quality, the possibility of active and immediate participation in television programs with simple actions on the remote control instead of with telephone calls or sending Sms, the possibility of using the television medium for using information and useful public services which are currently only accessible with more complex mediums (for example, corporate networks, or computers connected to Internet) and lower electromagnetic pollution: DTT requires less broadcasting power compared to analogue. The antennaIt is not indispensable to have a parabola to receive digital terrestrial broadcasts: the existing antenna and same television set are used. The signal is received via the normal TV antenna. The oldest antenna models (approximately 30% of the total) will no longer be able to receive the signal and will have to be replaced. What is a Set Top Box?Set Top Box is the instrument that is connected to the antenna cable and television used to decode the digital signal. There are two types: standard and interactive. Televisions already set-up for digital signal (idtv) will be on the market in the future. The Set Top Box is generally smaller than a VCR and is used to receive the digital signal. It has a very simple remote control, similar to those we already know, with the addition of four new coloured keys for accessing interactive services. Government subsidiesIn 2004 the Government plans on providing subsidies for families to acquire around 900,000 interactive decoders. Users who have paid their subscription fee for 2004, can obtain a discount of 150 on the purchase of a decoder. The Italian Government views interactive digital television as an opportunity for greater dissemination of information society services, also to obtain more efficient services at a lower cost for the public and easily useable from home (avoiding lines at windows and having to move). Only Set Top Boxes (those involved in the incentives) can ensure the use of useful public services and thus improve the services of information society services. The channelsIn addition to a wider selection of channels, digital terrestrial offers a better quality picture: viewing in cinematographic format (16:9) and the possibility of receiving some special contents such as sports events, films and documentaries in high definition. The sound, with a quality equal to Compact Disc, can be multichannel, Dolby Digital or multilingual. Of the 40 channels forecast for digital terrestrial, only twenty are currently active, almost all already visible with normal TV or by satellite. In addition to the three channels RaiUno, RaiDue and RaiTre, Rai currently offers RaiSport Sat (sports event channel), Rai News 24 (24 hour information channel), Rai Educational 1 (channel of educational entertainment), Rai Utile (a channel for citizens, which provides constant information on traffic, travel, tourism, weather) and Rai Doc (channel for cultural entertainment - proposing programmes on art, music, cinema and theatre - ). Mediaset instead broadcasts Rete 4, Tva40, Bbc, 24oretv, Vj, Coming Soon and Class. How can I find out if my area is covered by the digital television service?There are many ways to find out if your area is covered by the digital television service. Television stations, mainly on their websites, indicate the various areas of the country reached by the service. The sales points where it is possible to buy decoders also know the coverage conditions in the area where the user lives. For users with access to Internet, various websites are already in operation (belonging to television stations, institutions or independent organisations) where it is possible to find constantly updated information on coverage. With DTT is it possible to access the useful public services?The useful public services available with DDT are similar to those of Teletext. However, with digital technology, the services will be visible at the same time as television programmes (with division of the screen into areas) and will be much more functional. It will then be possible to access a series of services able to provide individual and private information, or effect commercial transaction, via access to service centres, managed by the television stations or third party service providers (for example central or local government agencies which will make digital terrestrial television services available currently only accessible via Internet or cell phone). GlossaryDTT: Digital Terrestrial Television, is the digital television signal distribution system via terrestrial transmitters-repeaters, receivable with existing antennas. Multiplex: is the system where the TV, radio and data signals are combined in a single broadcast flow. Of the four broadcasters only Rai has two, as it is a public service. The other network operators have one each. Set Top Box: is the device that receives digital signals from the antenna and transforms them in analogue for the television. It is used to access interactive applications, but must be equipped with a telephone connection. It also has an input for a smart card. This will be integrated in new generation televisions. Switch Off: indicates the end of analogue broadcast Switch On: indicates the beginning of digital broadcast Switch Over: indicates the period where digital and analogue broadcast exist at the same time Smart card: chip or magnetic band chips used to identify a user through a specific reader. T-Commerce: is the possibility of buying goods and services via the TV in a similar manner to that used by Internet. T-Government: all the interactive services used to connect via the TV to government agencies to request information or certificates. T-Learning: is the possibility to follow lessons, do exercises, ask questions and explanations via TV. T-Banking: all the interactive services used to connect to banks via the TV. Information and statements can be requested and banking transactions performed. Dgtv: the association that groups the four network operators, i.e. Rai, Mediaset, Telecom with La7 and Mtv and Dfree. The Bordoni Foundation is also a member, the agency run by the Ministry for Telecommunications which coordinated the experimental phase of digital terrestrial. Useful linksDgtvi Association The Ugo Bordoni Foundation, Rai, Mediaset and La7 televisions have founded Dgtvi, an association for the promotion of digital terrestrial technology. The Association president for 2004 is Professor Carlo Sartori. Dgtvi is aimed at promoting all the initiative for interoperability of the networks and for interactive services. The Association is in constant contact with the Ministry for Communications, Communications Commission and all other competent authorities. Rai digital terrestrial Ugo Bordoni Foundation Ministry for Communications Communications Commission Ministry for technological innovation |
