China begins switch to digital

The government of China has announced that it will introduce digital television to areas throughout the country, following a successful three-year trial.
It is estimated that China has 400 million television viewers of which around 30 million are expected to sign up for digital services in the next few years.
At present more than 120 pay-TV channels licensed by the state are available on cable channels both analogue and digital, using DVB-C whilst China’s own system is perfected. Direct-to-home DVB-S digital broadcasts from satellite are scheduled to begin later this year so that existing analogue cable circuits do not need to be updated for the new digital services.
China is still evaluating its own home designed digital terrestrial television system and the longer this takes the more likely it is that DTH digital services will be the most popular means of receiving television in the short term.
According to a DTG report a number of cities, including Qingdao and Mianyang, have already completed the upgrade to digital cable while several municipalities and provinces, such as Shanghai and Guangxi, are in the midst of a switchover.
Main source: DTG
Item added: 23rd May 2006