Digital domain: Deputy Secretary for Commerce, Industry & Technology Marion Lai says public awareness of the advent of digital TV broadcasting will be raised to ensure a smooth digital switchover.

The Commerce, Industry & Technology Bureau has set up working groups with Asia Television Limited (ATV) and Television Broadcasts Limited (TVB) to ensure the timely and smooth launch of digital services next year.

Led by the Office of the Telecommunications Authority, the groups will work with the television stations to solve technical issues related to the transmission and reception of digital terrestrial television and facilitate inter-departmental co-ordination to ensure successful migration from analogue to digital TV at different stages.

Smooth transition

Deputy Secretary for Commerce, Industry & Technology (Communications & Technology) Marion Lai said today the bureau's priority is a smooth transition. The pre-requisite for such a transition is the rollout of a digital broadcasting network.

"With more content on the digital platform, better reception quality and new high-definition TV services, we believe that consumers in Hong Kong will readily acquire the products to reap the benefits of digital TV," she said.

"We need to raise public awareness of the advent of digital TV broadcasting to ensure a smooth digital switchover. We will also collaborate with the industry to disseminate information about digital TV, work out plans to promote consumer take-up, and ensure a smooth analogue switch-off at a later stage."

A new website was launched today as part of a major publicity drive to raise awareness and improve understanding of digital TV. The Frequently Asked Questions section will help people understand the digital terrestrial TV project. A pamphlet can be downloaded from the site, or taken from the Home Affairs Department's public enquiry service centres.

The Broadcasting Authority has approved the investment plans of ATV and TVB for their digital TV programme service and network rollout. ATV has committed more than $400 million up to 2009 to provide a hybrid digital service of high-definition television (HDTV) and multi-channel broadcasting, while TVB has committed the same for an HDTV channel starting from the end of next year. The HDTV channel will include at least 14 hours per day of HDTV programmes.

Simulcast switch off

In July 2004, the bureau announced the implementation framework for digital TV in Hong Kong with the following major milestones:

* by 2007 ATV and TVB will start broadcasting their existing services in both analogue and digital format (simulcasting) and launch a new digital service on the respective additional frequency channel assigned to them;

* ATV and TVB will extend the coverage of their digital networks to at least 75% of Hong Kong by 2008;

* if the Mainland has not promulgated a national standard by the end of 2006, ATV and TVB will adopt the European DVB-T standard which has been widely adopted internationally; and,

* subject to further market and technical studies, the Government will direct ATV and TVB to switch off analogue broadcasting within five years after the commencement of the simulcast.