The annual conference of the Malta Communications Authority to be held on October 30 will discuss digital TV, the authority announced on its website.

"The impact of the migration to digital in the field of broadcasting is as radical, in terms of impact, as it has been in all the sectors subject to an earlier transformation. The transformation is bringing about a revolution in the broadcasting sector, opening different platforms to content and increasing the potential of current broadcasting spectrum," the MCA said.

Malta will switch off its analogue TV signals on the night of December 31, 2010, a process that is being undertaken by all EU member states on different dates in the coming years.

"The migration from analogue to digital in the broadcasting field will be completed over the next few years. Ensuring that this change brings benefits to all stakeholders would appear to be an easy matter - digital TV offers more efficiency and better quality. These characteristics translate into more capacity for broadcasters to offer more and better services, and a better choice for viewers. Digital TV also presents new opportunities such as High Definition and interactivity. A whole new industry, from production to consumption equipment and services, is emerging as a result of this migration.

"However, inevitably, migration raises several issues. These must be successfully addressed if the migration is to be successfully managed, and the resultant benefits enjoyed by all," the MCA said.

The aim of the annual conference is to provide answers to questions that this new order of things poses, including the implications of the digital switchover, the opportunities and challenges that arise from this new environment, and how the consumer will be impacted by all this bombardment of technology and audiovisual media.

The MCA said the conference will bring together an exciting array of renowned international experts who will address these issues and at the same time, inform and entertain the audience which should be composed of business organisations, service providers in the communications and media, government agencies, IT developers and students.

More details will be published shortly.

www.mca.org.mt

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