Flanders (Belgium) will switch off its analogue terrestrial television signals at the end of 2008, the Flemish government has decided. The Dutch speaking part of the country is highly cabled with around 97% of all homes connected and it is thought about 60,000 homes will be affected who only receive television over the air. A further 80,000 to 180,000 homes with dual reception mode will also lose their analogue signals.
Currently only the Flemish public broadcaster VRT is available over the air, both digitally and analogue. Private broadcasters, such as VTM and VT4, are distributed via cable and or satellite. After the switch-off licences will be issued to commercial broadcasters as well. Also, mobile TV (using DVB-H) usage is envisaged by Flemish minister of media Geert Bourgeois.
Luxembourg and The Netherland already experienced nation-wide analogue switch-off in September and December 2006 respectively. Luxembourg also plans analogue switch-off on cable in 2008.
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