Ofcom is to impose conditions on the conditional access services provided by Top Up TV. Previously the rules requiring a platform operator to provide indiscriminate access to broadcasters have only been imposed on Sky’s satellite platform, and while these rules will form the basis of the rules applied to Top Up TV, the regulator is […]
Two options for local TV after switchover
Local TV services will need to compromise if their services are to continue after digital switchover. As part of the Digital Dividend Review, Ofcom has identified that local channels could either be interleaved into the national TV multiplexes or broadcast from separate local transmitters. Including local TV services into one of the existing multiplexes would […]
Digital coverage will match analogue reception
Ofcom has published details of the predicted coverage of the public service and commercial multiplexes following digital switchover. The UK regulator is predicting that the three DTT public service multiplexes will be available to 98.5% of UK households, representing 24.8 million people, and matching the current analogue coverage. The full six multiplexes will be available […]
BBC expands Freeview multiscreen
The BBC has confirmed that it is adding two new services to its news multiscreen on the Freeview platform. Sports headlines and the UK weather forecast will join the two existing news screens from the end of February. It follows the recent improvement in statistical multiplexing within the BBC’s DTT multiplexes, which also led to […]
Freeview: two million Christmas sales
Freeview has reported fourth quarter sales of two million. The UK DTT platform saw strong sales across the board with sales of digital video recorders doubling year on year. The news comes ahead of the Freeview supported Playback DVR product, which is scheduled to launch in the next few months. 90,000 units were sold in […]
Mobilkom Austria trials DVB-H
Mobile operator Mobilkom Austria A1 has launched a trial DVB-H mobile TV service in Kitzbühel, a small city in the Tyrol region of Austria, an area known for its winter sports. The mobile TV service will carry content from public broadcasters ORF 1 and ORF 2, Hit Radio Ö3 and local radio station Kitzbühel Radio. […]
French DTT continues rise
Penetration of digital terrestrial television in France reached 15.1% by the end of 2006. However, according to the report released by the transmission company TDF and NPA Conseil, only 12.4% have DTT alone. DTT is now available to 63% of the population. Penetration for digital television as a whole now stands at 37.9%, an increase […]
History Channel returns to Scandinavia
The History Channel launches today (February 1) on the Canal Digital DTH satellite package for viewers in Norway, Sweden, Denmark & Finland. The channel is being launched by The History Channel UK, A&E’s joint venture with BSkyB. Although it will broadcast in English, the channel will be scheduled separately from the UK version. There are […]
Net Insight secures Finland DTT upgrade
Net Insight has received a further order from the Finnish DTT operator Digita. The Stockholm-based company had previously supplied its Nimbra platform for Digita’s transmitter network in the north of the country. The new order will see Nimbra deployed in the regional and national network. Separately, Net Insight will also supply the technology for Digita’s […]
Ofcom publishes switchover code
Ofcom has set out plans to ensure minimal disruption to both analogue and digital TV services during the switchover process. The regulator has published its draft code of practice Digital Switchover – Management of Transition Coverage Issues that sets out the steps it expects to be taken to ensure the maximum protection to existing viewers. […]