Households still using aerial to watch television will have to upgrade before December next year when Malta will be fully digital. This does not apply for subscription based television services such as Go's.

Communications Minister Austin Gatt said this morning that statistics showed that 17 per cent of households still used aerials. He was speaking at the launch of a broadcasting policy and strategy for general interest objectives.

The minister said that by 2012, all EU member states had to go digital but Malta was planning to implement the system by December next year.

This would entail a capital expenditure of between €700,000 and €800,000 and the expense was to be borne by Public Broadcasting Services, which would feed the other stations.

This system, the minister said, would allow more TV stations to broadcast, it was more efficient and it would still be free to air.