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Digital Broadcasting
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Information from the Toshiba guide
The UK is about to enter the age of digital television.
Later this year TV viewing will change forever with the launch of digital services on terrestial. satellite and cable TV
It will offer more choice. better picture and sound quality as well as services such as pay per view, home shopping and banking.
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1. What is digital broadcasting?
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Digital broadcasting is a new, more efficient way of transmitting television services.
It allows much more information than before to be transmitted - offering more
channels; interactive shopping, banking and entertainment channels; some widescreen programming; more regional programmes as well as higher quality picture and sound.
There will be three types of digital broadcasting:
Digital Terrestrial
Digital Terrestrial Channels will be transmitted through the current transmitter network
You won't need a new TV aerial or satellite dish, but you will need a new digital TV
or a new set top box .
Viewers can look forward to more channels operated by the BBC, ITV, Channel 4,
Channel 5, and S4C as well as about 15 channels from British Digital Broadcasting
BDB (a consortium between the two bigest ITV companies - Carlton TV and Granada TV). up to channels in some areas.
Digital Satellite
Digital satellite channels will be beamed down from a new ASTRA digital satellite.
You will need a new smaller digital dish and a set top satellite receiver or TV with built in digital satellite receiver.
Viewers will eventually be able to receive up to 250 channels, the majority operated by BSkyB.
Digital Cable
Digital cable channells will be transmitted via the existing cable TV lines.
You will need a new digital cable set top receiver linked into your current TV or a new digital TV with built in cable receiver.
This service will be operated by the major cable organisations and will eventually offer 250 channels.
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2. Why should I buy a new digital receiver?
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Digital TV can improve the picture and sound quality over the existing analogue TV and will offer an enormous increase in consumer choice and interactive services.
Better Picture and sound quality
Digital TV has the ability to offer better quality pictures and CD quality sound.
The new technology also offers a solution for those viewers whose TV viewing
suffers from poor quality reception.
There will be no ghosting or picture noise.
Interactive Services
Services include a choice of shopping, banking, holiday and travel, games learning on line and sports. There will also be the opportunity to subscribe to the internet and
E-Mail via the TV.
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3. New digital TV or set top box?
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There are ways of receiving digital TV:
A: A new TV with a digital circuitry built in - it's much more convenient and
removes the need to buy another black box.
B: A set top box that plugs into your existing TV just as a video recorder does today and will give you digital terrestrial.
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4. I'm happy with the current channels Do I have to uprade?
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No. The current analogue service will continue for many years. It is estimated that it may be up to 20 years before it is switched off.
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5. How many programmes will be in widescreen format?
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Initially 30% an average of prime time programmes will be in widescreen gradually
increasing to 90% by 2005. Remember, classic programmes will only ever be able to
be shown in there original format (4:3) Although some channels will only show programmes in the widescreen (16:9) format.
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6. So will I need a widescreen TV?
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No. You can watch widescreen programmes on either * 4:3 or * 16:9
* 16:9 Widescreen TV screen format (16 units wide by 9 units high)
* 4:3 Conventional TV screen format (12 units wide by 9 units high)
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7. When will Digital TV begin?
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Digital System Likely Start Date Equipment Needed
Terrestrial Autumn 1998 *Digital TV or digital terrestrial set top box
* Existing aerial
Satellite Mid 1998 * Digital satellite set top box
* New 40 cm dish or dish upgrade
Cable Summer 1998 * Digital cable set top box
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8. Will all of the UK receive Digital channels?
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Digital Terrestrial
Will be available in the main population areas of the uk next autumn - other
areas will have to wait for completion of the nationwide upgrade programme.
Digital Satellite
Yes
Digital Cable
Will be available, subject to the local operators agreemant, to all cable subscribers from next summer
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9. How much will the new equipment cost?
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TVs with built in digital receivers will cost about £200 - £400 more than the
equivalent analogue sets.
Set top boxes will cost between £400-£600 (installation may be extra) which may be reduced by about £200 when subscribing to PAY TV services.
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10. What are the channels on Digital Television?
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Free Digital TV Pay TV - BDB Pay TV other
Existing Premium
BBC1 Sky Movies Channel 4 Films
BBC2 Sky sports Premium
ITV The Movie Channel
Channel 4
Channel 5
New Basic
BBC News (24 Hours) Carlton Select
BBC Choice Granada Plus
BBC Inform BBC Horizon
ITV2 Carlton Films
S4C (nationwide) Granada good life
Sky1
BBC Style/Showcase
Public Eye
Granada TV shopping
Carlton Entertainment
BBC1 TV
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11. How will I know what's on the different channels?
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An easy to use on screen Programme Guide, available at the touch of a button will show you all the programmes on any channel that you can watch.
You can select a programme to watch later and the guide will remind you just before the programme is about to start. It will also provide a fuss free way of selecting programmes to be recorded while you are out.
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12. Can I record digital programmes on my current VCR?
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Yes. The VCR will record in the same way as it currently records satellite
progrrammes.
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