Are you ready for Digital TV?
Published on
01 Jan 2014
Published by
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About Digital TV
Digital TV is an advanced broadcasting technology that enables superior-quality pictures and sound. This technology supports two broadcast formats, namely Standard Definition TV (SDTV) and High Definition TV (HDTV).
Compared to conventional analogue TV, digital TV allows:
- Better quality pictures (e.g. high definition TV);
- Superior sound (e.g. surround sound);
- Multiple language subtitles; and
- Electronic programme guides which will contain more information about TV programmes
So how does it affect you?
Singapore’s free-to-air (FTA) TV channels began broadcasting in digital on 16 December 2013 using the DVB-T2 (Digital Video Broadcasting – Second Generation Terrestrial) broadcasting standard.
Channel 5, Channel 8, Suria & Vasantham are now broadcast in High Definition (HD) while the remaining three channels – Channel NewsAsia, Channel U & okto – will be upgraded to HD by 2016.
MediaCorp is currently rolling out the digital TV network island wide to enable everyone to receive indoor reception of these MediaCorp digital TV channels. You will have at least two years to change to digital TV before the current analogue TV signals are phased out. In the mean time, the MediaCorp analogue TV channels will continue to be broadcast so you can watch TV as usual.
Which estates can now receive digital TV?
Residents in Bukit Batok, Jurong East, Ang Mo Kio, Bukit Timah and Clementi are able to receive MediaCorp digital TV channels as their estates are now covered by the new digital broadcast infrastructure.
To find out when your estate is ready for digital TV, you can refer to the estate roll-out map in www.mediacorp.sg/digitaltv.
What do you need to do to switch to digital TV?
If your TV set is connected to StarHub TV or SingTel mio TV service, you are already enjoying digital TV.
If your TV set is not connected to StarHub TV or SingTel mio TV service, you need to buy a DVB-T2 digital set-top box and an indoor antenna to connect to your existing TV set in order to watch digital TV channels. Alternatively, you can consider buying a TV set with a built-in DVB-T2 digital tuner (Integrated Digital TV or IDTV). Just buy an indoor antenna and connect to the IDTV to watch digital TV channels.
When making purchase of a DVB-T2 set-top box or IDTV, simply look out for the following consumer labels:
This label indicates that the IDTV or set-top box supports Singapore’s DVB-T2 channels in stereo sound.
This label indicates that the IDTV or set-top box supports Singapore’s DVB-T2 channels in surround sound when connected to a home theatre system.
For more information about Digital TV, please visit www.mediacorp.sg/digitalTV or call 6435 6288.
A DTV Assistance Scheme for low income households will be made available in September 2014. You may visit MDA website for more information: http://www.mda.gov.sg/PublicEducation/DigitalTvConsumers/Pages/DTVAssistanceScheme.aspx
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