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Revolutionising the way you watch television, MediaCorp will be the first to launch Digital TV in Singapore, providing Singaporeans with a new enhanced entertainment lifestyle. Apart from enjoying clearer, crisper images and better sound quality, Digital TV allows you to shop, bank, email or even surf the net all from your TV. With the introduction of Mdigital, television watching is no longer a passive activity. |
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- What is digital television (DTV)?
- Why is MediaCorp TV going digital?
- Why is Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB) being chosen as the national DTV standard?
- What will happen to current TV transmission services when DTV is introduced?
- What is the difference between Analogue and Digital TV?
- What are the key features and benefits offered by DTV?
- What kind of equipment do I need to receive DTV?
- Why do I need to buy a new set-top box to receive DTV? / Are the new digital television sets very expensive?
- What will the new DTV sets look like?
- Are digital TV sets available now? What about new TV sets currently marketed as 'digital TV'?
- What is the difference between digital TV and high definition TV ?
- Will I need a special new antenna in order to receive DTV?
- When will DTV be fully launched in Singapore?
- How will DTV affect the lives of Singaporeans?
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What is digital television (DTV)? |
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Digital television (DTV) is a new type of broadcasting technology that will transform television as we now know it around the world. DTV refers to the complete digitisation of the TV signal from transmission to reception. By transmitting TV pictures and sounds as 'data bits' (as does a computer) and compressing them, a digital broadcaster can carry more information than is currently possible with analogue broadcast technology. This will allow for transmission of pictures with higher resolution for dramatically better picture and sound quality than is currently available, or of several 'standard definition' TV programmes all at once. The DTV technology can also be used to transmit large amounts of other data that you may be able to access using your computer or your television set. |
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Why is MediaCorp TV going digital? |
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Being at the forefront of broadcasting industry, we are committed to providing the best services to our viewers. With digitisation, we will be able to increase the range of services available to the public and open new avenues for multimedia programming and interactive services. We wish to provide a new enhanced entertainment lifestyle to our viewers in the 21st Century. |
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Why is Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB) being chosen as the national DTV standard? |
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One of the key considerations in making the choice is based on the robustness of the signal under both fixed and mobile conditions, and the effectiveness of signal coverage. The chosen system must also have the flexibility of interoperability with other telecommunications and information technology networks. This is to cater to the increasing convergence of communications technology. Also the standard must have growth potential and provide opportunities for developing applications such as interactive services, on-demand services and so on. The European DVB standard has proven to meet these considerations and the adoption decision was announced on May 1999. |
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What will happen to current TV transmission services when DTV is introduced? |
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Analogue transmissions will continue for a specified number of years and will eventually be phased out, but it is difficult to estimate the exact date. The Media Development Authority (MDA) will review the situation five years after digital broadcasting commences to determine when to 'switch-off' analogue transmissions. Prior to that, SBA will ensure that the current (analogue) TV programmes continue to be made available to Singaporeans. |
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What is the difference between Analogue and Digital TV? |
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Analogue TV:
- Radio waves that travel through the air
- Signal quality degrades with every piece of equipment involved in getting the image to you
- Clarity of the reception also degrades, the further you get from the transmission source
Digital TV:
- Processes picture and sound information by using a pattern of 1s and 0s, converting them into whatever image or sound those particular patterns represent
- Can be compressed to carry more information using the same amount of broadcast bandwidth as an existing analog signal
- Signals are more robust than analogue signals, thereby promoting the clarity of images and sound
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What are the key features and benefits offered by DTV? |
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With DTV, viewers can expect to enjoy the following benefits:
- Better Picture Quality
DTV provides clearer, sharper pictures without interference and ghosting that currently affects viewers in built-up areas and places that are prone to reception problems. DTV gives robust signals even in moving vehicles. This means that TV sets can be installed in buses, cars and other vehicles with commuters enjoying the same high quality reception as they do at home. DTV also includes High Definition Television (HDTV) which gives about twice the vertical and horizontal resolution of today's analogue system. HDTV also contains about five times as much picture information as conventional TV, thereby enhancing picture quality.
- Better Sound Quality
Similar to CD player or cinema, digital sound is free from static or distortions that is common in analog audio. It enables new television features like multiple languages, audio enhancements for visually impaired and Dolby Digital Surround Sound Format.
- Wider Screen Format 16:9
Wider screen similar to the cinema effect, which means you view more of the original image's width. For conventional TVs or analog TVs which is only 4:3 format, movies or similar programs are trimmed down to size.
- Introduction of New Services
DTV enables us to have more services in the Ultra-High Frequency (UHF) band.
Digital signal can be compressed allowing it to carry far more information using the same amount of broadcast bandwidth as an existing analog signal. Hence, digitisation increases the capacity for new materials to be offered alongside regular TV programmes. Such materials can take the form of additional TV programmes, or multimedia and data services.
- Multi-Language Transmission and Multi-Lingual Closed Captioning / Subtitling
With DTV, a viewer can choose to listen to his preferred language when watching TV, so long as the programme has been already been dubbed into various languages and are transmitted simultaneously in the bitstream. The same goes for multi-lingual closed captioning / subtitling.
- Interactive TV
Interactive TV will introduce new applications such as Home Shopping, Electronic Banking, 'Online Quizzes', Viewers Polls, Interactive Advertising, Email, Chat etc. It can also tie in with the Internet to provide Web Browsing, downloading of files etc.
- Multi-Channel Environment
With broadcast bandwidth highly compressed in DTV, it means there will be excess bandwidth for the carriage of at least 5 to 6 digital channels for every analogue channel. This means the possibility of increased channels to cater to viewers' both mass and niche viewing needs.
- Personalised TV
With the inclusion of a hard disk in the STB or DTV receiver, viewers can virtually personalise their programming needs, digitally recording television shows, without videotape. This means viewers can watch what they want at their convenience. It allows them to have more control. For example they can pause or instant replay "live" TV. Or, with the simple click of a button, they can tell their TV set to automatically find and record their favourite programs every time they air. They can even 'tell' their TV what they like and do not like, so it can suggest other shows they may want to record and watch, based on their interests.
- Electronic Programme Guide
TV viewers no longer need to search for their TV Guides to know which are the better programmes to watch. An electronic programme guide (EPG) will allow viewers to navigate the programmes available using the remote control, and will be able to show the schedule and synopses of these programmes with short captivating, video previews
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What kind of equipment do I need to receive DTV?
Why do I need to buy a new set-top box to receive DTV? |
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You will need to purchase either a new integrated DTV set, or a set-top box (STB) to convert the incoming digital signal for display on an analogue receiver set. In the meantime, the option of purchasing a STB that can be used to adapt to your current television set for digital use, so that your current television will not be made obsolete, will be the most cost-effective way to receive DTV. |
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Are the new digital television sets very expensive? |
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Just as colour television sets were very expensive when they were first introduced, the new DTV sets will be quite expensive at first. At present, DTV STB could cost between S$500 to S$1,000 whilst an integrated DTV set could cost in the region of S$3,000 to S$6,000. However, prices of these DTV equipment are expected to fall significantly once DTV becomes more wide-spread, and manufacturers are able to produce more sets at lower costs. (An HDTV set costs around S$12,000 currently) |
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What will the new DTV sets look like? |
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New DTV sets will have wider screens (16:9 ratio) than current TV sets (4:3 ratio), allowing the pictures to be viewed more like those experienced in a movie theatre. The wider picture, especially in larger set sizes, is expected to enhance audience viewing, making you feel more involved in the action, as well as rendering more realistic pictures. |
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Are digital TV sets available now?
What about new TV sets currently marketed as 'digital TV'? |
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Some TV manufacturers are marketing their analogue TV sets as 'digital TV'. These sets may use digital signal processing systems to create a better picture from current analogue transmissions, but they will not be able to receive and display DTV signals. These 'digital TV' sets are essentially still analogue TV sets and viewers will not be able to use them to enjoy the enhanced features of DTV. When DTV commences in Singapore, a set-top box (STB) will be required to enable such analogue TV sets to receive digital broadcast signals. There are currently no integrated digital TV sets available in Singapore. |
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What is the difference between digital TV and high definition TV? |
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Standard Definition Digital TV The new integrated DTVs can receive both digital (DVB) and analog (PAL) signals. High Definition TV High-end DTV i.e. HDTV gives you the clearest, sharpest picture and are built for wide screen format, which gives cinema-quality experience and Dolby Digital surround audio. All DTV picture resolutions will produce a higher quality picture than todayís PAL-compatible sets can. But not all DTV products will support the highest resolutions required to be called high definition. |
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Will I need a special new antenna in order to receive DTV? |
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The Digital Video Broadcasting-Terrestrial (DVB-T) standard adopted by MediaCorp means that reception of signals is via aerial / antenna. In most places, indoor antennas are sufficient to receive DTV signals. No special antenna is required. |
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When will DTV be fully launched in Singapore? |
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MediaCorp will start its first DTV service in the form of TV Mobile (TV in all SBS buses) in the first quarter of 2001. We will start our digital transmission of the current free-to-air channels in phases, starting with Channel 5 . The launch date for a fully digital transmission is yet to be determined at this point of time. |
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How will DTV affect the lives of Singaporeans? |
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DTV brings about new services and applications. Applications such as home shopping, home banking will bring much convenience to the users, right in the comfort of their home couches. Interactive TV can allow programme-related information to be called up on demand thus enhancing viewing pleasure. This spells a technical progression, similar to the transition from black and white television sets to coloured ones. Singaporeans would most likely welcome this advancement and improvement in quality of life. If you wish to have more information on digital television, please go to: www.dvb.org or www.digitaltelevision.com |
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| Contacts |
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| MDigital General Enquiry |
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