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Ghana’s Digital Television Switchover, getting ready for 2012

Posted on 18. Jun, 2010 by Nana Kwabena Owusu in Real Tech

Digital television switch overs have been happening all over the world with one of the more recent notable transition being the US, which switched all TV broadcast to digital somewhere in June 2009. Its Ghana’s turn to switch over and although the deadline is far away, 2012, I think it’ll be good to start preparing now for the transition.

Its important to point out that there is a difference between Digital Terrestrial TV and Digital Satellite TV. This Digital Switchover is for terrestrial television not satellite television. This is what you need to know about the Digital Television switch-over based on extensive information from Smart TV’s website

Digital Television and the Switchover

Currently a lot of all terrestrial television we watch; GTV, TV3, TV Africa, Net2  etc are all broadcast over analogue signals. This means you only require television which can receive an analogue signal and to be in an area that a specific television stations signal reaches, to watch programmes from them.

So why do we need digital television? Just as there are new ways of recording and consuming content (photos, music, videos)  using digital technologies and processes (eg. MP3 instead of cassette tapes, and even CDs), television broadcasting has also evolved and Ghanaian broadcasters are ready to move forward.

Digital television has several advantages over analogue;

• Better picture and sound quality
• Allows for the introduction of new channels
• Provision of new services; Electronic Programme Guides (EPG), super-teletext and interactive services
• High Definition television broadcasts.

The Digital Switchover is a collaborative effort between the NCA and the television operators currently broadcasting over analogue to transition from analogue to digital signals.  The digital switchover is not intended to take away ‘free’ terrestrial TV, because the current broadcasters (GTV, Metro TV, TV3, Viasat1)  will still be available without paying any subscription fees.

Equipment

The main issue for you as a consumer during the Digital Switchover is whether your TV equipment can receive digital television or you need to purchase new equipment. In order to receive digital television in Ghana, your television equipment should at minimum meet two requirements:

• It is compatible with the DVB-T standard;
• It can decode MPEG-4/H.264 video.

If your equipment does not fulfil these conditions, you may take one of two courses of action:

• If you want to keep your current television set, you need to purchase an external device, usually a set-top-box connected between the aerial and the television set,meeting the two conditions above;

• If you prefer to buy a new television set and not install this external device, you should buy an integrated digital television set which is already capable of DVB-T reception and decoding MPEG-4/H.264 video.

It is usually easier and better to buy a set-top box in such instances since, replacing set-top boxes if newer advanced features become available is cheaper than your actual television set. Equipment for this will be easily available from the distributors of current digital television services.

Here are three (3) equipment related questions, I think you need to know.

Do you need to change your TV?

• NO: If your television has a SCART connection at the back, you do not need to change it but you will still need a compatible decoder (DVB-T + MPEG4/H2.64 ready) UNLESS your television has an integrated compatible decoder. Consult your manual or check the specification online or from your equipment dealer in Ghana.

• YES (and No): Yes, if your television has only RF connections (and no SCART connection) then you will have to change your television. The reason for this is that RF cable decoders are hard to find on the market but if you find one which is also DVB-T + MPEG4/H2.64 ready, then terrific (and then you do not need to change your TV).

Do you need to change your aerial (antenna)?

• NO: If you already have an aerial connected to your television set that  receives UHF.

• YES: If your an aerial (antenna) does not receive UHF or you do not have an aerial (antenna) at all, then you will need to install a UHF aerial (antenna).

Do you need to change your decoder?

• NO: If you currently use a compatible (DVB-T + MPEG4/H2.64 ready) decoder there is no need to change.

• YES: If you are using a free to air decoder or other set-top box which is not compatible then you must purchase a new decoder.

Note also that if you want High Definition (HD) content or plan to buy an HDTV the you need to purchase a decoder which has HD decoding capability. Ask your dealer or set-top box provider about options.

Timeline for the Digital Switchover.

The Digital Switchover is scheduled to be completed in 2012, with different television operators having different deadlines for switching on their digital broadcasts. There will be simultaneous broadcast of both analogue and digital for at least 12 months, whenever any broadcaster decides to start their transition. However, by the end of 2012 if you do not have digital television equipment, then its bye bye to terrestrial TV.

Meanwhile, the National Communication Authority (NCA), Ghana Broadcasting Commission (GBC), Ministry of Information and/ or Communication  will publish the deactivation date of each analogue transmitter/relay at least three months in advance, in accordance with the requirements set out by NCA.

Common Questions & Answers

Here are two additional questions which may be crossing your mind.  For all the rest, head over to the Smart TV FAQ

As a subscription television customer (cable, satellite or other), can I also have access to DTT?

Anyone who has the subscription television services can still gain access to DTT, however, some FTA channels will continue to be available through the existing subscription television platform (cable, satellite or other). Even so, the entire national population can access DTT, provided the equipment requirements are met.

Will the entire population be able to receive DTT?

Yes. However, in certain areas, the operator authorised to provide the DTT service may provide the same services   according to equivalent conditions but by alternative means – including satellite. Further information will be provided in good time with regard to the specific procedures and equipment which, as an alternative to terrestrial reception
equipment, will enable access in such circumstances.

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Tags: analog, deadlines, digital, digital tv, NCA, switchover, television, terrestrial, transition