Communications Authority addresses concerns on the digital TV switch-over

David Mizzi

Jul 24th 2009, 03:26

Still I am really ... highly doubtful on the deadline (i.e. 01/01/2011).

As far as I know ... PBS have not yet bought the transmitter... probably due to lack of funds
And with government finances in real trouble...

there will hardy be enough time for true testing and yet again lesser ample time for consumers to budget for a set-top box.

Financially well-off as we may be... we have to bear in mind that these are citizens just as much as you and me.

Most of them stayed on analogue aerial due to financial restrictions ... probabilty of a high %age of pensioners... and MCA cannot impose on them an immediate switch-off.

After that... I am more concerned on implimentation... I would like to see if we'll get a lot of compressed picture (pixel artefacts) .. apart from a fact that more countries are already in the process of testing in HD and DVB-T2 .. and even DVB-H (mobile oriented broadcasting)

Ain't that much concerned about Digital Radio yet.... there is still quite ample space available in FM and DAB receivers' cost is still too high compared with the traditional radio receiver.

Good luck MCA.. smooth transition please.

James Green

Jul 23rd 2009, 19:28

More hogwash from that great money sink hole, the MCA:

'six slots will be made available for national TV channels'
With two of them 'wasted' by the Reds and the Blues. The other four by teleshopping.

'enhancing the TV experience.'
More telshopping!

'Benefits of digital television include improved sound and picture quality and a wider choice of TV channels.'
Improved sound........yeehaa......we're finally getting teleshopping blurb in Dolby Digital surrond sound.......from five speakers no less......
improved picture quality........wanna bet they're gonna use full compression and all we'll see are chunks of blocks with the slightest onscreen movement
wider choice of TV channels.......yeah right........ more teleshopping or more political hot air.....

MCA please note, you are costing local taxpayers hundreds of thousands of euros annualy and in return Joe public is getting bugger all.
ADT stop smirking........you're even worse...............

M. Cachia

Jul 23rd 2009, 17:06

@K Camilleri
Melita did lose the Formula 1 rights, but I still watch the F1 races (including qualifiers) on RAI ...for FREE !! So I haven't lost anything :)

Daniel Russell

Jul 23rd 2009, 16:59

Just to point out, that in the UK we use DVB for Digital Television standard. This stands for Digital Video Broadcasting. I see in some of the letters, DAB is mentioned. This is correct for the Digital Radio, which is Digital Audio Broadcasting.

In relation to DAB/DVB +, the UK is supposed to be coming into line with the rest of Europe by 2015 and adopting the same enhanced system. This will mean that we will have to have a set top translator box for the new DVB/DAB system at this time, so the systems will be compatible in the longer term. I understand this is an EU directive.

Anthony Magri

Jul 23rd 2009, 16:59

There is absolutely no free television reception in Malta. That's an untruth.
Not only that but if you have more than one T.V. you pay double even if you use only one set. at a time

Simon Swartz

Jul 23rd 2009, 16:29

It's pointless to call it free-to-air TV since first of all it's not free.

And correct me if I am not mistaken but to get "free"-to-air tv through go you will need a wide-band aerial so there is no possibility of eliminating aerials Mr Attard.

J Abela

Jul 23rd 2009, 16:26

Come on lads. Use a bit your brain. Go does not encrypt Italian Tv stations because with a normal ariel (not the one used to watch the local TVs) you can watch scores of Italian TVs (including pay tvs). So is no need for GO to encrypt Italian stations because these can be watched free-to-air directly from Italy.

Galea. L

Jul 23rd 2009, 16:16

Why should people be made to pay for what is free to air transmissions by the private companies? The companies should be forced to provide for free all the free to air channels or be fined a hefty fine every day they continue to charge for them.

Paul Attard Baldacchino

Jul 23rd 2009, 15:55

Switch over to digital makes sense. Great opportunity to ban those horrible aerials which have become so typical of the Maltese skylines. I hope it is taken into consideration by the authorities soon.

S.Schembri

Jul 23rd 2009, 15:24

@Thomas Debono,

Currently TVM is free on Anologue transmition, when the switch over will occur it we be transmitted free on Digital Terrestrial, Go is a private company, it currently encrypts the TVM service because it is converting it into Digital from analogue, I wouldnt be surprised that GO will stop transmitting TVM on the Frequencies it has paid the MCA for and use that channel to transmit somehting else once TVM is transmitted free of Charge by the state

Victor Borg,

Jul 23rd 2009, 15:21

I can't understand why these changeovers are done on New Year's eve. Exactly like the Euro.
Why shouldn't this happen on some other day when people are not so busy. Just imaging the TV transmission switching off at midnight when so many are watching the New Year's festivities on TV.

GO already transmits in digital TV broadcasting DVB. What i can't understand is why GO transmits all Italian Rai and Mediaset channels on free-to-air, but all local stations are scrambled (blocked). Shouldn't this be the other way round.

Regarding DAB, UK uses DAB whilst in Malta we use DAB+ and the sets from UK don't work in Malta.

c Gatt

Jul 23rd 2009, 14:59

@Mr. Ebejer
there was a time,not long ago, when you had no choice. You could not see any football, whether it was expensive or not. If people think it i is too expensivethey will not subscribe. then the football rights owners will have to rethink their price strategy.
@Mr Sammut, As a rule UK electronics are cheaper. however the Maltese digital system is DAB+ which is superior to the UK system and in line with most of Europe. Many UK sets are DAB only, but some DAB+ models are coming on line. Having said that I've checked out the prices and the Malta prices is roughly equivalent to the UK price for similar models.

C. Marsh

Jul 23rd 2009, 14:56

@ R.Sammut
It's true In Uk they transmit on DAB but in Malta it's on DAB 2 OR DAB+ something like that.. But you'll find lots on the internet wich are compatible to Malta at much cheaper prices then here. AĦNA HAWN KULLĦADD IRRID JISLOĦNA ĦAJJIN!!!!!

K Camilleri

Jul 23rd 2009, 14:47

@ Emmanuel Ebejer

You are absolutley right! However, seems that now yoiu can get also the Melita Sports channel with the normal reception (digital) which costs just EUR 7, which is quite a fair price when compared to their older package. However, one cannot not forget that the Sports Channel is a little bit expensive - even when considering that Melita lost Formula 1 rights (which is probably the second most followed sports in Malta after football) but still they did not reduce their sports channel price. - Same Melita Story.

Thomas Debono

Jul 23rd 2009, 14:45

Why doesn't MCA explain to the general public please, how is it that currently TVM, being a GIO station (General Interest Objective - dan irid ikun 100% FREE OF CHARGE lil pubbliku as per EU Rules) being transmitted on DIGITAL TERRETIAL is ENCRYPTED.

How is it that we can get RAI1, RAI2 and several other Italian GIO TV stations, FREE-TO-AIR on DIGITAL TERRESTRIAL, but our local GIO stations such as TVM, NET, SUPER1 and even EDUCATION 22 (ha! we want to promote education???) are FULLY ENCRYPTED and not FREE OF CHARGE on the Digital Signal DVB-T that shall be mandatory due to the switch-over to digital in 2011???

The Times is correct in stating
"One other option would be to purchase a new television set which features an integrated DTTV tuner."

However, this article says nothing about the fact, that to view TVM YOU NEED THE DECRYPTION CARD because it is not FREE, despite being a GIO station. So currently it's pretty much pointless if your LCD or PLASMA TV has built-in DVB-T tuner. You would be able to get FREE TO AIR Italian stations, but PAY UP to view Maltese stations.

Jake Micallef

Jul 23rd 2009, 14:44

@Ebejer
That's 35% of the people who are still watching TV on analogue aerial despite it being full of noise, crap sound and sometimes completely off cause of wind and rain. Thank God most of us are past that! I wouldn't want an aerial back on my roof whether its analogue or digital. I'm way past hanging on the roof playing with arials when it's windy or rainy!!

Emmanuel Ebejer

Jul 23rd 2009, 14:34

I totally agree with the 35% of respondents. PayTV in Malta is expensive. If I want to watch football why should I pay for another package in which I have no interest. I should only pay to watch football. And I would gladly do so. Hands up all those who agree!

R Sammut

Jul 23rd 2009, 14:22

I wish that someone explains to me also the digital changeover of radio from analogue to DAB.

And if it is true that I cannot buy a DAB radio set from abroad. In the UK, a DAB radio costs GBP30... in Malta it is Euro 90!