Digital TV switchover on target for February 1 launch
The digital terrestrial TV switchover starts on February 1 and by June 1 all analogue signals will be switched off.
The digital terrestrial TV switchover will start on February 1 as planned. The switchover will put Malta in line with other EU countries which are also switching off the analogue signals to make space for the precious frequencies to be used for relatively new wireless services.
This means Malta’s free-to-air terrestrial television broadcasting system will be switched over from the old analogue technology to a modern digital system. It also ensures people have adapted or upgraded their televisions to receive national free-to-air digital TV broadcasts.
Around 26,000 – or 19 per cent – of Maltese households will be affected as they still use the analogue rooftop antenna to watch local and foreign free-to-air TV stations. These viewers have to make sure they get the digital signal by June 1, when the Maltese TV stations will switch off their analogue signal completely.
“February 1 will denote the completion of the implementation phase of the free-to-air digital TV platform which will be used for the broadcast of those Maltese TV stations which qualify as meeting general interest objectives,” a Malta Communications Authority official explained.
“TVM, as the state TV station, will be the first to be broadcast on this platform following test broadcasts currently being carried out by TVM. The digital switchover network is already up and running and reaches all parts of Malta and Gozo.
“The digital switchover affects households which need a digital TV decoder or a digital TV to continue to watch free-to-air Maltese TV when the analogue broadcasts are switched off on June 1. Subscribers of Go and Melita will not be affected and will not need to do anything to prepare for the digital switchover,” according to the authority.
“Benefits for consumers include better picture and sound quality, a wider choice of TV stations and programmes, as well as on-screen listing and information on TV programmes (i.e. the electronic programme guide of EPG). Moreover, the switchover ensures that the public’s right to free-to-air viewership of general interest channels is safeguarded by ensuring that the digital broadcasts are unencrypted and hence no subscription will be required to watch the free-to-air Maltese TV stations,” the MCA added.
The switchover was originally planned for last December 31 but it was postponed by a few months to make sure everything was in place, especially the new digital switchover network entrusted to PBS and implemented with the support of Go, which has expertise in digital terrestrial TV services. The EU expects Malta and other EU countries to conclude the switchover by 2012, at the latest.
The spokesman explained how the next and final phase of the switchover will be the selection of five Maltese so-called ‘general interest’ TV stations that appeal to the general public. These will be added to TVM which qualifies automatically for a slot. The Broadcasting Authority launched the selection process in April last year by way of a consultation on the eligibility criteria for the classification of broadcasters that fulfill general interest objectives. This process is under way and the TV stations that qualify will be gradually included in the channel line-up.
An intensive public information campaign will run in the coming months with details on who will be affected and on what needs to be done so that households are able to watch the free-to-air Maltese TV stations in digital, the MCA reassured.
According to authority’s survey, it is estimated that 11.2 per cent (around 16,000) of households have free-to-air reception only, and an additional 7.6 per cent (around 10,500) have a pay-TV subscription as well as free-to-air reception. This adds up to roughly 26,000 – the estimated number of households that still watch analogue free-to-air Maltese TV received via the conventional rooftop aerial.
However, Maltese TV viewers have to be aware that this switchover is an EU-wide process, involving neighbouring countries like Italy, whose analogue TV signals have been enjoyed in Malta for decades.
There is no guarantee these signals will be captured just as well once the switchover is complete in Malta and Italy, since the digital signal is actually weaker and has a shorter range.
The digital switchover will only guarantee the viewing of six Maltese TV stations free-to-air via digital terrestrial.
The various tasks and activities are coordinated by the Digital Switchover Committee bringing together key stakeholders: the MCA acting as the chair of the committee as the national regulatory authority responsible for spectrum management and the regulation of television broadcasting networks and services; the Broadcasting Authority responsible for television and radio broadcasting (content); the Office of the Prime Minister, responsible for the broadcasting policy and the BA; the Ministry for Infrastructure, Transport and Communications, responsible for communications policy and strategy direction of the MCA; and the Ministry of Education, Employment and the Family, responsible for the state broadcaster, PBS Ltd.
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S. Mizzi
Jun 25th 2011, 13:48
free to air maltese two channels only TVM and Education 22 are transmitting digitally as the other TV stations, Net, One and Smash, have not switched to digital yet.
Mario Cutajar
May 10th 2011, 19:41
Can someone tell me which italian TV stations I will be receiving with the set top box I will be buying from a shop (I do not want to pay GO or Melita every month ) I do not like Xarabank and Eurovision.
Anthony Bugeja
Jan 22nd 2011, 19:38
@ George Vella. Many have needed to install Internet from Go and Melita just for the Dreambox, so at the end of the day you are wrong - Go and Melita are also benefiting from the Dreambox craze.
p attard
Jan 21st 2011, 10:06
This digital changeover can be recieved by means of a small aerial fixed at a height of one meter from roof level, same as the GO company installation system. Therefore I suggest that all the old, useless and rusty aerials ( or better, what's left of them ) are removed, thus giving a much better view at skyline level.
Joseph Schembri
Jan 22nd 2011, 08:26
Mr. Attard, what if one wishes to watch digital FTA transmissions from Italy? You still need the same old aerial. Mine will say up thank you very much as the choice of stations from Sicily is impressive!
Joe Fsadni
Jan 22nd 2011, 17:04
Bl-aerial li konna naraw l-istazzjonijiet taljani, xorta tkun tista taqbad ghadd ta' stazzjonijiet taljani ... jien ghadni naqbadhom ... anke meta naqilbu digital. Min irid jibqa jaqbad it-taljani ghandu jhalli l-aerial kbir li ghandu.
george Vella
Jan 21st 2011, 09:50
Il-GO u il-MELITA wara li xebghu jisirquna u qisu qatt ma gara xejn, issa irridu jaraw minn fejn ser igibu il-flus. Issa trid tabona bil-fors ma wiehed jew iehor. Ghax ma jghidulnix minn fejn nista nixtri set top box u ma nabonax ma GO jew MELITA?
VIVA DREAMBOX - l-ejjra tal-GO u MELITA.
Everything in this World comes at a price, specjalment il-paga tal-MP's
G.. Caruana
Jan 21st 2011, 12:37
This switchover is happening all over Europe and not only in Malta. So it's not something coming from GO or Melita. Also remember that the people who are still on airial do not need Dreambox as it's too expensive, considerign they used to watch only Italian and Maltese stations for all these years.
C Falzon
Jan 21st 2011, 17:47
George Vella, ghandek zball. Ma ghandhek bzonn thallas xejn la lil-Go u l-anqas lill-Melita. Kull ma trid tixtri huwa set top box kwalunkwe. Set top box kull ma tiswa ftit Euros u ssib bl-irhis anke fuq l-eBay. Aktarx l-anqas dak ma ghandhek bzonn - jekk it TV li ghandek m'ilhekx li xtrajtu aktarx ikollu digital tuner gewwa fih u allura ma jkollox bzonn tixtri xejn.
Christian Bezzina
Jan 21st 2011, 09:39
Can someone tell me if i buy a digital aerial and connect it with my tv that have a digital tuner, if i can receive free to air digital tv? and from where can i buy a digital aerial?
Thanks
C Falzon
Jan 21st 2011, 17:53
There is no such thing as a digital aerial - an aerial is no different for analog and digital. If you already have an aerial that receives the UHF channels (such as Rai2 canale 5 and so on) it will most probably also receive the digital channels since they are on about the same frequency. Depending on where you are it may be necessary to turn it round to a different direction but usually not even that is necessary. Since you have already a digital tuner in your TV all you need is to find out (from the instruction manual) how to search for digital channels.
Warren Camilleri
Jan 22nd 2011, 16:43
Hi christian,
be aware that all you need to to do if you already have a "working" anntenna on your all you have to do is either connected with the traditional RF connect some may require those Rf to golden pin connectors (the ones found on plasmas and DVB-T sticks for tv and pc's) these can be purchased for under a euro on the net, i also import most products From Asian Countries at low prices and sell them at low prices on ebay and locally,
Currently the only FTA channels i have picked up from 90% of the island are TVM and GO's info channels, people that live near mellieha and northen from it, benefit well over 150 channels from itally and sicily and 1000 ppv channels the FTA from italy are BBC world, CNN, Euronews, SportItalia 1+2, Rai 1,2,3 Canal 4+5+7, some adult channels where also picked up so perents be sure how to lock these if you have young kids
any one requesting any assistance or general know how you may contact me on my Open source society group page on fb
Adrian Borg
Jan 21st 2011, 07:15
Just discovered that most information I need is found on www.dso.org.mt. Much more depth is found.
Chris Grillo
Jan 21st 2011, 06:40
So now, everybody will be paying the respective Melita and GO for their service. I pay anyway since the local fare is very unappetizing.. but what about those who simply use the local channels for news? I know it's a paltry 2.33 or somewhere along those lines, but will the elderly be saddled with two year contracts for things they hardly understand?
And now that the 'free' service is over, and subscribers will be paying the private companies, the time for the TV license is over... as promised by Dr.Gonzi in 2008....
Joe King
Jan 21st 2011, 00:43
Sure it will be on target !!!
Nothing's been done actually !
Just an agreement...
Local stations will just have their scrambling on GO's system removed....
That's a major step forward from the original plans. !!
Actually the plan was to buy a new TV transmitter for PBS and all stations give a feed to PBS....
Now (due to lack of funds)... GO will carry the burden on their already existing network... and get a nice sum of money paid to them !
That's a target !.. all stations' balls (including National Station) in hands someone else
Abela J
Jan 21st 2011, 18:32
Joe, I don't think that scrambling will be removed from the channels transmitted by Go. Most probably there will be 2 multiplexes (Analogue Channels) transmitting the same maltese channels. Basically I think it will be like the current situation, where on any digital receiver (Go box or inbuilt in flatscreen tv's) one can see a channel 'TVM' watchable only if have a Go card, and 'Test' which is available totally free to air. It's like receiving a good signal from sicily and having RAI's and Mediaset listed twice in the channel menu. Some need Go card, some are totally free to air. Aerials CANNOT be removed, and old large aerials probably still remain the best option. However with a smaller one, you should be able to receive all locally digitally trasmitted stations.
G Darmanin
Jan 20th 2011, 19:22
"We live in a society exquisitely dependent on science and technology, in which hardly anyone knows anything about science and technology." - Carl Sagan (American astronomer, astrophysicist, cosmologist, author and science communicator)
Greig Lloyd
Jan 20th 2011, 19:07
To be honest its an excellent step in the right direction - analogue tv signal is a thing of the past besides getting rid of all the aerials or antennas off roof builidings its a horrible sight. I as a Britain do not watch Maltese tv anyroad, cause it doesn't interest me, primerily i just cannot understand the lingo and secondly i was told that most times its a load of rubbish programes mostly politics, something which i was warned about before we moved to Malta, but i do watch British tv via my computer and its just perfect for us, and now various internet providers offer reasonable prices for various packages which makes lifr alot easier for most people that can afford the monthlu subs.
Ray Buhagiar
Jan 20th 2011, 20:23
The aerials will remain.
t vELLA
Jan 20th 2011, 20:58
@Lloys
First and foremost thank you for offending the country where you decided to spend the last years of your life. Secondly as you can see we can understand, speak and write your language and a lot of other languages. You should be grateful for this, otherwise you would have not chosen this land to live in and to offend its inhabitants. VIVA MALTA!!!
Joe Cordina
Jan 21st 2011, 08:49
I think that you should apologize. And I pity you for your ignorance of not knowing our language.
Daniel Soler
Jan 21st 2011, 09:49
I don't know why you are all offended by his comment? Is it because a non national has commented on something we Maltese have been saying for ages about the level (or lack of it) of Maltese TV?
G Borg
Jan 21st 2011, 10:40
i don't understand why Mr Vella and Mr Cordina need to be offended. Mr LLoyd is just stating the truth.
Maltese TV is mostly a load of rubbish, ameaturish programs (with a few exceptions here and there - Destinations on TVM comes to mind)
And Mr LLoyd came to Malta but doesn't speak the language, so he doesn't see maltese Programs, what's the problem in that?
Patrick Mallia
Jan 21st 2011, 10:51
Greig Lloyd The aerials shall remain and if you don't like them just turn your heads around or leave. Now we are also having foreigners telling us what we should do on our roofs. As if!!!!
James Caruana
Jan 21st 2011, 10:53
Greig Lloyd insulting us will not earn you any friends Grieg. After all, you choose to come here and no one sent for you.
Joseph Mifsud
Jan 21st 2011, 10:55
If the UK is better than Malta why did you come here Greig Lloyd? Your old british empire where the sun used to never set is long long gone and shall not come back. So you had better get used to consider yourself a commoner like everyone else and don't try your colonialist superior mentality with us.
Barrie Smith Galea Aussie/Maltese
Jan 21st 2011, 13:25
I like your style Joseph Mifsud well said straight to the point no messing. Good on you mate
Viva Malta ***** Viva Malta/ club/the little mouse that roars like a lion
Leli Bonello
Jan 21st 2011, 13:41
At Ray Buhagar WE shall not be moved, maybe in time say another 50 years or so,
yaz tabone
Jan 21st 2011, 16:22
erm.. can't understand why people are offended by his comments, he only stated the truth - maltese programmes are rubbish! i am maltese and i don't watch ANY maltese programmes, i barely take notice of the news. it's always the same - labour offending gonzi - it goes on for weeks! i watch proper news (such as SKY, BBC, CNN..).
it's not like he even offended this country.
GREIG LLOYD - unfortunately some people can't accept other people's opinions
James Graham
Jan 22nd 2011, 09:36
As a British expat, I found Mr Lloyd's comments unfair.
It strikes me that Maltese TV has a similar mission to local TV in a larger country, it is designed for the people who live in the region and does not appeal as much to those from further afield. It is targetting 400,000 people, to out that in context roughly the same number of residents as live in Amsterdam.
I get the same feeling when watching the local programmes in the UK and in the USA.
In the case of Maltese TV, the producers do not have the access to the big funding as the national broadcasters in countries with populations of 30-50 million inhabitants, so they have to work with what they have.
It is still possible to produce engaging programmes, but you simply cannot throw millions of euros into the pot to produce stunning 'big' programmes and thus to compare TVM to the main stations in UK, Germany, France etc, is unrealistic.
I tend to read the Times website to keep abreast of what's happening in Malta and use a Dreambox to access movies and documentaries from abroad.
L Xerri
Jan 20th 2011, 18:25
Actually,the signal levels required to receive digital TV signals are much lower than analogue
ones.Indeed, most digital STBs can work with half the signal level required to give a decent
picture.The only problem,is that the picture will disappear completely when in certain weather
conditions the signal level will fall below a certain threshold.So in digital you either have a picture or non,with the only exception being,when the signal level is playing around this threshold,;then you will experience,picture freezing and pixelation.
Most areas that have an unobstructed view towards Sicily will be able to receive some 40 free to air channel by 2012,most of which will be of high quality programming.The only problem they will experience will be in summer when there is the usual fade outs ,with the only difference from the old analogue days being ; no picture or picture freezing,instead of the noisy picture or interference .
Also as presently both analogue and digital signals are transmitted simultaneously,the digital signal is held at a lower level to prevent interference with the analogue on.So once analogue is gone the digital one can be increased in power to increase coverage.
Alfred Grech
Jan 20th 2011, 17:27
Long article that talks a lot and says very little to us mere mortlals.
I'm on GO with a small antenna on the roof, does that mean that I will get digital or do I have to install another antenna?
R Saliba
Jan 20th 2011, 19:11
GO already transmits in digital. That means you won't have to do a thing
K.Anastasi
Jan 20th 2011, 19:18
You are already on digital if you have a GO set up. Just make sure your TV has a digital tuner so that you can connect directly to your antenna, to see what else you can pick up.
C Falzon
Jan 20th 2011, 19:22
Alfred Grech,
since you have GO you already have digital and you do not need to change anything. The GO transmissions have been digital from the beginning.
C Falzon
Jan 20th 2011, 19:34
K Anastasi,
he already has a digital tuner - the GO box. The box has nothing specific to GO except for the card.
The free to air channels from Italy can be picked up by the GO box, no need for the TV to have its own digital tuner.
In fact not only will it receive any free to air digital broadcast but will also receive some digital pay TV channels from other broadcasters (in SIcily) if you have one of their cards and insert it instead of the GO card.
Alfred Briffa
Jan 20th 2011, 17:14
Hey, bloggers wake up!! Are tghidux bhal tal-PL li ma konniex infurmati li ser tigri din ic-changeover.
Are you aware that Malta is not the the Scrounger Era.! Mela qumu u nahhu l-ghamad min quddiem ghajnejkom. X'qirda ta nies!!
John Attard
Jan 20th 2011, 18:14
Ref to your commenrs MrAlfred Briffa; You should be the first one to take your own advice and 'WAKE UP' YOURSELF. Stop and ponder a little; the less said the better '.
Jeremy J Camilleri
Jan 21st 2011, 14:42
No bloggers here...Bloggers write blogs...Ironic for one whos talking about lack of info and getting stuck in another era.
Aberto Mollicone
Jan 20th 2011, 17:00
Fejn huma David Agius u Edwin Vassallo; issa lanqas television b'xejn m'ghad baqa x'tara! X'kummidja wkoll.
M.Busuttil
Jan 20th 2011, 22:17
Issa izjed ha jkun b'xejn,f ejn qabel biex ikollok stampa cara trid thallas lil xi kumpanija privata biex tara programmi lokali...issa dawn ser jigu transmetti b'xejn. Fil waqt li TVM taht Test transmission tiga qieghed jixxandar siehbi...kun marraf sew qabel ma twaddab ....Issa bit Terrestial Transmission ser ikollok il basic taz zewg kumpaniji lokali kolla b'xejn ...staqsi jekk ma tafx siehbi ghand Hwienet li jista jigwidawk .
Joseph Grima
Jan 20th 2011, 16:35
Quote: There is no guarantee these signals will be captured just as well once the switchover is complete in Malta and Italy, since the digital signal is actually weaker and has a shorter range. The digital switchover will only guarantee the viewing of six Maltese TV stations free-to-air via digital terrestrial.
The implication is all too clear. Subscribe to the cable companies or you will only be able to watch 6 channels. The resference to a shorter range may also serve to excuse cable companies once their programme offer is reduced while costs to the consumer remain the same.
Peter Korsten
Jan 20th 2011, 16:54
Ah, so you are paying for the Italian channels? "Free-to-air" does not mean they're free: it means that the bill is footed by the taxpayer, or advertisers active in that country. Presumably, the Italians have little inclination to invest in extra equipment with no return, only so that Maltese viewers continue to enjoy their channels.
KATIA BUGEJA
Jan 20th 2011, 16:18
I need to ask one question regarding Television.
Can someone please tell me why do we pay TV licence now? Because we pay to see Television per month and we don't use Antennas anymore.
So why we pay licence?
A Abela
Jan 20th 2011, 16:32
People all over europe pay a licence to finance national tv. I'm afraid you have to do so yourself. We are not living in a society were everything is free. The days of 'jew b'xejn jew xejn' have come to an end.
Charles Sammut
Jan 20th 2011, 16:45
@ A Abela
I would be happy to pay a TV licence to finance state broadcasting, but only if the nauseating and obnoxious advertising stops. Otherwise state TV should be run on commercial lines like the rest of them.
A Abela
Jan 20th 2011, 17:21
@ Charles Sammut
How do you expect that to happen with just Lm 12 and 400,000 people?
The UK has millions of families and each pay around £150 each.
M. Buhagiar
Jan 20th 2011, 18:28
For your information the Primeminister promised during a mass meeting before the election in Febuary 2008 in Sanctuary Street Zabbar that if he will be prime minister he will remove the TV Licence
Chris Grillo
Jan 21st 2011, 06:32
I do not watch Maltese Channels. None of them. I am NOT paying to finance such garbage. They do not make part of my world.... I get my news from the Times website, I do not watch the moan-o-(euro)vision junk, nothing... Sundays is especially dull, according to mates at work...
I feel I do not have to fork out money for them, and I would rather give the amount to charity...
c calleja
Jan 20th 2011, 15:36
"However, Maltese TV viewers have to be aware that this switchover is an EU-wide process, involving neighbouring countries like Italy, whose analogue TV signals have been enjoyed in Malta for decades. There is no guarantee these signals will be captured just as well once the switchover is complete in Malta and Italy, since the digital signal is actually weaker and has a shorter range." How come that I (with an old and not functioning so well aerial) can already watch a lot of TV stations directly from Sicily via DTT??? MCA please explain, or this is only to make people subscribe to some company in particular?
R Saliba
Jan 20th 2011, 16:20
http://www.mca.org.mt/contact/
Anthony Bonello
Jan 20th 2011, 16:41
Can you please give us more information how this can be done?
P Borg
Jan 20th 2011, 16:44
No one said you can't - just that it's likely to be more problematic (especially during summer).
C Falzon
Jan 20th 2011, 17:05
C Callejja,
it depends on where you live. In some places the signals from Sicily are received very strongly and can be recieved even with a malfunctioning antenna whereas in other places you would need a very tall antenna to receive direct from Sicily.
This can also be seen with the present analog signals, for instance if you are in Sliema facing the sea even a small portable antenna will get you a good signal whereas you can see in many places the very tall antenna poles that are installed on most houses to (sometimes just barely) receive the analog signals.
The digital signals are usually much weaker outside the intended coverage are (but stronger within) for various technical reasons which means that in general we will receive the local digital signals stronger than the present analog ones whereas for us to receive the foreign stations the reverse is true.
John Micallef
Jan 20th 2011, 15:29
Nice report but for me most important is: which 6 ch will be free to air? as that is what i can permit at this moment, only to by a free to air decodr.
F Gauci
Jan 20th 2011, 21:59
You will not only have 6 channels, you will have many many more free channels transmitting from Italy . . . . with a simple and cheap decoder. This is the easy world we are living in today.