Disabling analogue broadcasting. Analogue television will disappear. What does this mean for viewers?
Analog TV in Russia will be turned off in 2018, and telecom operators, including television providers, want to be allowed to install equipment in homes without the permission of 2/3 of the residents, as is happening now. This is reported with reference to the Minister of Communications and mass communications Nikolai Nikiforov.
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TV antennas on rooftops will become a thing of the past from 2018
Why is analogue leaving?
According to the minister, the shutdown of analogue broadcasting is due to the fact that this type of television signal transmission will no longer be subsidized by the state.
As soon as the subsidies go away, it will be turned off immediately. Nobody will support it, well, perhaps only one or two regions will leave something there, based on their regional interests, nothing more.
Thus, television in Russia will completely switch to digital broadcasting, which will consist of three multiplexes.
The first multiplex will include a package of all-Russian mandatory public digital television channels and radio channels. It will include: Channel One, “Russia-1”, “Match TV”, NTV, “Channel 5”, “Russia-Culture”, “Russia 24”, Karusel, OTR, TVC.
The package of the second multiplex will consist of TV channels that are not mandatory for free distribution by satellite and cable broadcasting. The list includes Ren-TV, Spas, STS, Domashny, TV3, NTV+ Sport, Zvezda, Mir, TNT, MuzTV. These channels are distributed throughout the country without charging subscription fee from TV viewers.
The third multiplex will also have to include a package of regional TV channels, but, according to Nikiforov, it is not yet economically feasible to talk about its creation. Moreover, even the creation of a second multiplex still raises a number of questions.
Nikolai Nikiforov, Minister of Communications and Mass Communications of the Russian Federation
What should TV viewers do?
After turning off the analogue TV signal, TV viewers will have to connect cable or satellite TV or buy a set-top box to receive a digital signal. Regular TV antennas will become useless. In September 2012, when the Ministry of Telecom and Mass Communications first talked about turning off analog TV, the department said that the state would help some categories of citizens with the purchase of a set-top box.
In 2012, the authorities of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation and bodies local government at the request of the ministry, a list of “beneficiaries”: these are large and low-income families, disabled people and pensioners - in total, according to 2013 data, 7.3 million families need help.
At the same time, the shutdown of analogue broadcasting was justified. According to the Ministry of Telecom and Mass Communications, this is due to the fact that in Russia TV viewers are actively switching to cable and satellite TV.
Cable TV is present in more than 20 million Russian households out of 52 million. Another 10 million watch Tricolor TV. Every year in Russia there is a 10% renewal of the TV receiver fleet, and since 2013, TV receivers without the ability to receive a digital signal have not been produced.
If the trend continues, then by 2018 at least 60% of the TV receiver fleet in Russia will be updated. In addition, it is impossible to indefinitely hold broadcasters to the obligation to pay for both analogue and digital TV signals; we are driving TV channels into a very difficult economic situation.
Alexey Volin, Deputy Head of the Ministry of Telecom and Mass Communications
What else will be removed and allowed?
Changes are also expected by telecom operators, including television providers. The Ministry of Telecom and Mass Communications has submitted to the State Duma a bill ensuring non-discriminatory access for operators to communication infrastructure in residential buildings.
As Nikiforov explained, the bill proposes to allow telecom operators to install their infrastructure in apartment buildings without obtaining permission from 2/3 of the homeowners. This document is expected to come into force on January 1, 2017.
In addition to turning off the analogue television signal, in Russia, according to the Minister of Communications, already in 2016, the majority of collective Internet access points created in settlements with a population of more than 500 people will be operational.
This is due to insufficient subsidies, as well as the fact that most citizens can already afford at least mobile access to the World Wide Web.
At the beginning of 2018, the transition to digital terrestrial television was supposed to be completed in Moldova, but neither the population, nor the infrastructure, nor the state were ready for such a rapid abandonment of analogue terrestrial television.
Last week, the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova announced a new date for switching off analogue TV in Moldova, approving a bill to extend the transition period for another two years. This will allow maintaining analogue broadcasting in the country until March 2020, while simultaneously broadcasting TV channels in digital format.
According to the plans of the Ministry of Economy, the transition will occur when the majority of the population (about 95% of households) is ready to receive a digital signal. At the same time, according to department experts, at least 70 thousand families will need subsidies to purchase set-top boxes for receiving and converting signals.
Television without analogues
In 2006, Moldova, together with hundreds of other countries, signed the Agreement in Geneva Regional conference on radio communications on the transition to digital TV in the DVB-T2 standard by 2015, pledging to abandon analogue broadcasting. The fact is that some analog channels overlap with frequencies from neighboring countries and with frequencies used to deliver a digital signal.
Despite this, over the next nine years the authorities took virtually no steps in this direction. The first government resolution on this topic appeared a month before the deadline for digitization - in May 2015. At the same time, a decision was made on a complete transition in Moldova from analogue to digital television by December 31, 2017.
The program for the transition to digital assumed that over the course of three years licenses would be issued for the use of radio frequencies to create three digital terrestrial television networks (multiplexes) with national coverage, as well as 21 regional network with a capacity of 12 to 15 broadcasters. The construction of the first two multiplexes was carried out by the state enterprise Radiocomunicaţii, which acts as their administrator. From a technical point of view, their equipment allows them to cover 95% of the country's territory with digital television.
Which TV channels are included in the multiplex is decided by the Coordinating Council on Television and Radio (CCTR), which is responsible for organizing the competition. Initially, the BCC issued licenses for broadcasting in the first multiplex to 12 TV channels - Moldova 1, TVR Moldova, TV7, N4, Agro TV Moldova, Canal Regional, CTC-Mega, Super TV and General Media Group TV channels - Prime, Canal 2, Canal 3, Publika TV. Then Accent TV, Jurnal TV and ITV received licenses for the three remaining free slots. RTR-Moldova and NTV-Moldova also applied for places in the first digital multiplex, but their applications were not supported by the BCC.
Some broadcasting organizations immediately stated that, despite having a license, they would not rush to switch to digital, since it is too expensive. Last year, a number of TV channels, such as Agro TV, Canal Regional and Jurnal TV, applied to the BCC for an extension to the transition to a digital broadcast format, citing high costs. The BCC did not refuse anyone, although they expressed regret that organizations that previously declared they had the financial capacity for digital broadcasting did not fulfill their obligations. Meanwhile, some broadcasters have not started broadcasting after receiving the license, while others have announced that they have given up their license.
As experts note, a hasty transition to digitization could easily leave the country without local TV channels. If the authorities had not extended transition period, then after stopping analogue broadcasting, signal transmission would only be possible via cable, which would significantly narrow the television audience. Today in the country there are only three broadcasting organizations with national coverage: TV channels Moldova 1, Prime and Canal 2. Other channels are broadcast in the regions using private regional repeaters.
Nevertheless, according to experts, the transition to digital is inevitable. Otherwise, Moldova will find itself in a vacuum, because this process is actively going on in neighboring countries, and therefore, at a certain moment, analogue TV transmitters will have to be turned off. Also due to the fact that one digital frequency can accommodate 12-16 programs, and in analog television each channel has its own frequency, the terrestrial analogue loses its relevance. It is proposed to use the freed frequencies for other technologies, for example, CDMA and LTE.
“Digital” is beyond the power of TV channels
The bill of the Ministry of Economy and Infrastructure, which provides for the extension of the transition to terrestrial digital television until March 1, 2020, was considered at the first plenary meeting of the parliament of the spring-summer session in two readings. According to the head of the parliamentary commission on economy, budget and finance, Stefan Creangă, requests for these legislative changes came from many TV channels.
State Secretary of the Ministry of Economy and Infrastructure Vitalie Tarlev notes that the law provides not only a new deadline for the transition to digital, but also the extension of licenses for the use of radio channels or radio frequencies for terrestrial analogue television. That is, the validity periods of licenses will be synchronized with the transition period.
Adviser to the Prime Minister on Economics, former Minister of Economy and Infrastructure Octavian Kalmyk explains the need to extend the deadline by saying that broadcasters are not technically and financially ready to create regional multiplexes or start broadcasting through a national multiplex. In addition, according to him, previously the state budget lacked the required financial resources to ensure such a transition. According to Kalmyk, these are the main reasons for extending the transition to digital terrestrial television.
The high costs of digital broadcasting are so far beyond the capabilities of local TV channels. The vast majority of broadcasting organizations do not have sufficient funds to ensure the timely purchase of equipment and invest in the transition to digital television. The cost of broadcasting in the multiplex is about 84 thousand euros per month (excluding VAT) for all TV channels connected to it. If we divide this amount by 15 channels included in the multiplex, then monthly payment for each of them will be 5.6 thousand euros.
The issue of creating regional digital multiplexes also remains unresolved. Most TV channels have repeatedly stated that they do not have the resources to do this. financial capabilities. According to rough estimates, up to 150 thousand euros may be needed to create a regional multiplex. One of the options being considered is the creation of regional multiplexes by the state and leasing of slots to broadcasting organizations at reasonable prices.
At the same time, small broadcasters consider it inappropriate to conclude contracts with the state-owned enterprise Radiocomunicaţii because, in their opinion, the cost of services is excessively high. Experts have calculated that the channel’s output to satellite, providing coverage throughout the country for its owners satellite dishes, will be cheaper than the cost of broadcasting via digital multiplex. Some TV channels rely on receiving grants or sponsorships, as well as discounts for regional media.
Poor people will be helped with a tuner
Meanwhile, due to the lack of information campaigns, many citizens are not aware of the upcoming changes and additional costs that the transition to digital may entail for them. You will need to replace your analog TVs with digital ones or purchase special equipment. In order to be sure that the TV receives these signals, it must have DVB-T2 technology.Modern TVs, as a rule, have built-in DVB-T2 reception systems. And to continue using older TV models, you will need digital tuner (set-top box), which can decode the signal. The cost of a special set-top box can vary from 50 to 100 dollars and more. Many low-income people cannot afford such expenses, therefore, to ensure the right to access to information, the state plans to compensate for forced expenses.
We are talking about families receiving social assistance who have a working TV that does not receive a digital signal. By preliminary estimates, signal converters for receiving digital terrestrial television will be available to more than 70 thousand families free of charge. To receive a converter, they will need to fill out a standard application.
The government foresaw that socially disadvantaged segments of the population would be provided with free set-top boxes for older TV models back in May 2015. However, financial resources were never allocated for these purposes. The Ministry of Economy and Infrastructure expects that with a possible adjustment of the state budget, it will include provisions for equipping low-income families with decoders. The solution to this problem is estimated at about 50 million lei.
Russian Minister of Communications and Mass Communications Nikolai Nikiforov said that analogue television will be switched off in the country in 2018.
Russia began the transition to digital broadcasting back in 2009. The original version of the Federal target program(FTP) for the development of television and radio broadcasting provided complete shutdown“analogue” back in 2015. But last August, by government decree, this deadline would have been postponed to 2018.
“Initially it was planned to complete the program in 2015, and the resolution extended it until 2018 inclusive. The reason is the difficult economic situation in the country in general and in the field of television and television and radio broadcasting in particular,” Igor Stepanov, press secretary of the Russian Television and Radio Broadcasting Network (RTRS), previously noted in a conversation with Gazeta.Ru.
It is this structure that is engaged in the transfer of the domestic television market to a digital format and is responsible for the operation of multiplexes - combining single package television channels.
Currently, according to RTRS, the first multiplex is broadcast in all regions of the country. In 50 out of 85 regions, network construction has been fully completed.
In total, there are ten channels in the country digital form accessible to 93% of the population. The technical coverage of the second multiplex - that is, all constructed facilities - is about 85.6%. However, as Stepanov clarifies, the number of working transmitters is 64.4%.
Available channels
When planning a digital network in Russia, it was proposed to organize the broadcasting of 20-24 free channels. The first multiplex, broadcasting of which was built for budget money and began in 2009, contains ten mandatory public channels
. The list includes Channel One, Russia 1, Match TV, NTV, Channel Five, Russia K, Russia 24, Karusel, OTR, TV Center.
The second package, which is provided at the expense of the television broadcasters themselves (about 1 billion per year), began its work in 2013. It includes REN-TV, Spas, STS, Domashny, TV-3, Friday, Zvezda, Mir, TNT, Muz-TV.
Before the crisis, the government was planning to launch a third multiplex, which was supposed to consist of four regional TV channels in standard definition format and one federal one in HDTV format. Later, the Ministry of Telecom and Mass Communications considered that the launch of the next digital package
"not economically feasible."
The only region of Russia in which the third multiplex has been implemented is Crimea. The peninsula inherited this opportunity from the Ukrainian authorities, who were able to implement digital infrastructure for television.
World experience
The turning point for the world was June 17, 2015, when, according to the Geneva 06 (Ge-06) agreement, priority in broadcasting moved from analogue to digital television. Countries that ratified the document were required to release regular TV frequencies that interfere with digital TV. In practice, this means that in the event of a conflict between two types of television and radio signals legal protection
will use a more modern format.
For a number of states, located mainly in Africa, the transition period was extended for another five years.
According to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), at that time, of the 119 countries that signed the agreement, 35% of states had turned off analogue broadcasting, 38% (including Russia) were in a transition state, and 27% had not yet even begun translation work television to digital.
Back in 2006, Luxembourg and the Netherlands switched completely to digital TV.
The USA, which operates independently of the ITU and has its own digital format- ATSC - analogue broadcasting was turned off back in 2009.
China, Chile and Mexico are preparing to complete the digitalization of their television before the end of 2016.
Ukraine will join next year.
It is expected that Argentina and Thailand will say goodbye to analog TV at the same time as Russia. By 2023, it is planned that Panama, Cuba, Brazil and other countries will join the list. How to set up a signal The transition to digital is due not only to the global trend, but also to practical benefits. Broadcasting in this format allows channels to be distributed to more
high quality . Digital TV also saves radio frequency spectrum: one frequency can accommodate 10 channels instead of one. Taking into account the development of technology, turning off “analogue” will be painless for most TV viewers. Many modern televisions support work with
digital standard DVB-T2. Those users who are in no hurry to change their “boxes” to new ones can simply buy a special set-top box to receive a more modern signal.
At the very beginning of the transition to digital, RTRS took care of Russian viewers by publishing on its website instructions on setting up equipment.
In addition, users can always connect cable or
satellite television
, or even completely switch to SmartTV.
Analogue television is planned to be switched off in Russia from 2018. Next news The head of the Ministry of Telecom and Mass Communications, Nikolai Nikiforov, said that starting from 2018 in Russia they are going to turn off analogue television and replace it with digital one. The 360 TV channel decided to figure out how the two types of broadcasting differ and why the authorities decided to get rid of one of them.
According to Nikiforov, analogue television will be turned off simultaneously with the end of subsidies. Several may leave it Russian subjects, in connection with their “regional interests”.
“This technology will disappear; instead, a digital signal will be broadcast, in which the same TV channels are also encoded. To decode you will need either
digital tv , or a set-top box for analog television,” explained independent expert, analyst of the Telecom Daily information and analytical agency Ilya Shatilin. signal - analog and digital. The first one is continuous, so it is vulnerable to any external influence: the quality of the image or sound may deteriorate. In the case of digital television, you won’t have to deal with such problems - it is safer and of better quality.
An analog signal can be received using a simple terrestrial antenna. It has no other obvious advantages. Now almost all modern TVs are designed to work with digital signal, although they still have an analog connector.
“The only drawback is that analogue television bad reception may show noise, ripples, sound may be interrupted. Digital will not work at all if there is serious interference. IN in this case those who live in an area of uncertain reception will have to switch to satellite television,” explained Shatilin.
Digital signal can unleash its full potential modern technology, since its picture quality is several times better. You can simply forget about ghosting, interference and interruptions, and the ability to watch TV in HD format is guaranteed.
Why analog TV will disappear
Analog TV technology is already outdated. If in the early 2000s many houses in large cities were covered with signal-receiving antennas, now there are almost none left. However, those who still use analog television will have to buy new TV, or digital set-top box.
“If you have an old analog TV, it won’t work. You will need to buy either a new TV or a digital set-top box. Console - additional device, you need to find a place for it, there will be a separate remote control for it, so it may not be very convenient to use. But in any case the service life analog TV it will pass anyway, it will break completely, and new TVs are all digital,” said Shatilin.
According to the expert, the sale of televisions without a digital receiver may also be prohibited by law.
Three multi-complexes
From 2018, digital television in the Russian Federation will include three multi-complexes. The first, which will include “Russia-1”, “Russia 24”, NTV, “Russia-Culture”, TVC, OTR, “Carousel”, “Channel 5” and Channel One, will be free.
The second will include REN TV, STS, Domashny, TV3, Mir, TNT, MuzTV, Spas and Zvezda. These channels will not be included in the list of required free distribution.
The third multi-complex in each region will be formed separately. From an economic point of view, Nikiforov considers its creation inexpedient. According to the minister, the second multi-complex, which is being implemented at the expense of television broadcasters, also has problems.
“The second and third multiplexes are not provided with budget funds in any way and are being implemented at the expense of the television broadcasters themselves. Due to the fact that the volume of the advertising market has greatly decreased, television broadcasters are also greatly reducing the list settlements, where they want to broadcast,” Nikiforov said.
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