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Hong Kong to launch DTT in 2008
HK’s two domestic free TV stations, Asia Television Ltd (ATV) and Television Broadcast Ltd. (TVB) will begin to phase in Digital Terrestrial TV services from the 31st December 2007, according to advanced-television.com.
It reports the Secretary for Commerce & Economic Development Fredrick Ma as saying that Hong Kong will be the first in China to adopt the Chinese national DTT transmission standard.
The initial launch will cover areas in Kowloon, north Hong Kong Island, part of Sha Tin and East Lantau, encompasses almost half the population of HK.
Source: advanced-television.com
Item added: 27th November 2007
DTT timetable for Hong Kong
Hong Kong is to adopt the same DTT system as mainland China and the HK government has defined the planned introduction of terrestrial as well as other means of digital delivery on its website.
Digital TV is being offered by all pay TV operators in Hong Kong via cable, satellite and broadband network.
As for terrestrial TV, the Government announced in July 2004 the implementation framework for digital terrestrial TV (DTT).
The existing two terrestrial TV broadcasters, Asia Television Limited (ATV) and Television Broadcasts Limited (TVB) are required to launch DTT by 2007 and achieve at least 75% of coverage in 2008.
Subject to further market and technical studies, the Government aims to switch off analogue broadcasting in 2012.
Further details can be found on the following web link.
Source: digitaltv.gov.hk
Item added: 1st May 2007
Hong Kong opens consultation on mobile TV
The Commerce, Industry and Technology Bureau (CIT) of the government in Hong Kong has opened a public consultation on mobile television. The consultation seeks opinions on various issues related to the introduction of mobile TV in Hong Kong. The major issues mentioned are spectrum availability, spectrum allocation, spectrum assignment and licensing arrangements.
The consultation document lists all the various mobile TV delivery technologies currently available including DVB-H.
Subject to the outcome of the consultation, the government will develop a draft implementation framework to be reviewed in a second consultation.
The consultation response deadline is 25 April 2007.
The full document can be viewed on the CIT website.
Source: CIT website
Item added: 30th January 2007
DVB-H technical trial in Hong Kong
Motorola Inc. and PCCW-HKT Telephone Ltd a subsidiary of Hong Kong telecommunication provider PCCW Ltd. recently announced a joint agreement to conduct a six-month DVB-H trial using Motorola’s end-to end Mobile TV system.
The trial will run from September 2006 to March 2007 within HK’s Quarry Bay district, be interactive and use Motorola DVB-H enabled mobile devices.
The PCCW trial will enable the evaluation of operational performance and the technical capabilities of the system in Hong Kong.
Source: Finanzen
Item added: 26th September 2006
Olympics a driver for switch to digital TV
Beijing’s 2008 Olympic Games are the driving force speeding up the introduction of digital television in Hong Kong, the government said.
Deputy Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology Marion Lai, speaking at a press conference announcing the digital TV plan on Wednesday (29th March), said the Beijing Olympics were a “golden opportunity” to encourage viewers to switch to digital TV and the government does not wish to miss the chance.
Commenting on the still to be decided standard for mainland China it was said that “if an announcement on the choice for a national standard is not made by the end of 2006 then HK would adopt the DVB-T standard” which is already used with great success by many countries around the world.
The government has set up two working groups, led by the Office of the Telecommunications Authority, to work with the two main broadcasters, TVB and ATV to ensure an integrated launch of digital TV. According to the government timetable ATV and TVB shall provide their existing services in both analogue and digital format by 2007.
Earlier this month the vice-minister of the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television in China (SARFT) is reported by the China People’s Daily as saying” that China has developed its own digital TV standard based on the European standard” and that a draft home-grown digital terrestrial TV standard has been submitted to the National Radio, Film and Television Standardisation Commission. The draft also needs to be approved by the Standardisation Administration in China.
Sources: news.gov.hk The standard Telecompaper
Item added: 30th March 2006
TVB readies digital TV battle plan for launch next year
Television Broadcasts (TVB) is set for an aggressive launch of its digital broadcasting service next year according to an article on the AsiaMedia website.
TVB general manager Cheong Shin-keong is quoted as saying that the company together with Asia Television (ATV) would begin their digitised services with 14 hours of high-resolution television programmes per day by the end of next year.
TVB and ATV will work together to build the new digital network. A total of six new transmiters will be installed with twenty smaller stations to complete the full coverage of Hong Kong.
TVB and ATV are pushing ahead despite the fact that China is still to decide which Digital Terrestrial system to adopt.
Work has been taking place on the development of a unique Chinese DTT system for several years and a decision on which to adopt is necessary by the middle of the year for Hong Kong's aggressive plans to be achieved.
Source: AsiaMedia
Item added: 7th February 2006
The China Peoples Daily on line (July 10th, 2004) commented that Hong Kong will adopt the DVB-T system if a Chinese standard is not promulgated on the mainland before the end of 2006. Hong Kong expects terrestrial television to be broadcast throughout the area by 2007.
For more information on the situation in Hong Kong look at the following links
http://www.citb.gov.hk/ctb/eng/press/pr09072004.htm
http://www.citb.gov.hk/ctb/eng/broad/pdf/DTT.pdf
Background
The Hong Kong Government published its second consultation paper on digital terrestrial broadcasting in Hong Kong on the 5th December 2003.
This is almost three years since the first consultation paper was issued after the trial of the three major digital broadcasting systems, ISDB-T, ATSC and DVB-T in Hong Kong during 1999. Both fixed and mobile operation where tested for DVB-T and ISDB-T and fixed only for the ATSC 8-VSB system which is unsuitable for mobile reception.
DVB-T was chosen as the system for Hong Kong but as a result of the consultation document responses from broadcasters ATV and TVB the introduction was delayed until mainland China produced its own system. Now three years on some DVB-T systems are being used in mainland Chinese cities on the understanding that these will be replaced with Chinese standard compatible equipments when they become available. This temporary measure allows new potential digital business models to be explored and generates a knowledge base for the future before the new standard is available.
In its latest consultation document the Hong Kong Government propose that market driven standards should be adopted in Hong Kong and recommend DVB-T.
This compromise would allow ATV and TVB to continue delaying their digital transition until the new Chinese standard becomes available but would allow for new broadcasters to provide DVB-T services in the remaining four SFN networks proposed for Hong Kong. The one remaining MFN is reserved for ATV and TVB so that existing services can be simulcast in digital and analogue during the transition from analogue to digital TV.
By this means it is anticipated that territory wide DTT coverage will be achieved in 2008. (now 2007.see above)
The second consultation closed on the 5th March 2004.
The information provided on this page comes from many sources and whilst DVB believe it to be correct we cannot guarantee its accuracy.
If you have more up to date information or corrections please send them to dvb@dvb.org
Last page update: 27th November 2007, Barry Tew
