The six local TV stations that were earmarked a slot on the new digital terrestrial TV platform in Malta are finally transmitting. The announcement was made more than seven months after the original target date for switching on these digital channels and switching off analogue TV signals for good. As yet there is still no definite date for this final ‘digital switchover’ (DOS), i-Tech can reveal.

Last week it was announced that Favourite Channel, Net TV, ONE and Smash TV joined TVM and Education 22 on the new free-to-air digital terrestrial platform. While the public channels were the first to go on air on the new platform, since PBS is legally entrusted with the new digital set-up, the four private local channels had to be chosen by the Broadcasting Authority following a call for applications.

Favourite Channel, Net TV, ONE and Smash TV were regarded as fulfilling the so-called “general interest objectives”, which means their programming is of interest to the mainstream population and not just a particular segment.

This platform has nationwide coverage and is set to completely replace the old analogue broadcast technology used by broadcasters and some TV viewers.

“This latest development in the digital switchover process means that Maltese viewers can now benefit from a wider variety of Maltese TV channels, a better picture quality, as well as an electronic programme guide (EPG),” the Digital Switchover Committee, entrusted with the changeover, said in a statement.

The final step of this so-called digital switchover will be the switching off, once and for all, of the analogue terrestrial TV signals in Malta. This means TV viewers still watching channels thanks to an antenna on the roof will need a digital set-top box or a TV set with in-built digital capabilities to be able to do so. The existing four analogue TV stations – TVM, Net TV, ONE and Smash TV – will be transmitting in both analogue and digital technology simultaneously for a number of weeks. This ‘simulcast’ period allows those households who rely solely on analogue transmissions enough time to carry out the necessary adaptations in order to be able to receive digital transmissions. They are being encouraged by the authorities to do so as soon as possible.

Go and Melita Cable subscribers are not affected at all by the DSO.

No date for this final switching off has been announced, and this would be the third deadline, following the December 31, 2010 and June 1, 2011 deadlines that have been missed. The missed deadlines were in part the result of late changes in Maltese law, which were still being discussed in Parliament when the June 1 deadline passed, and the long-drawn process of calling on interested stations to apply and be considered for a slot on the new platform by the Broadcasting Authority. Technically the new platform was ready months ago.

According to the latest survey carried out by the Digital Switchover Committee, some 4,760 households rely on free-to-air transmissions received via rooftop aerials. The survey estimates that around 21 per cent of these households have made the switch to digital, leaving 3,780 households still relying solely on analogue transmissions.

These 3,780 households would need to purchase a digital decoder or a digital TV with built-in digital terrestrial capabilities in order to be able to receive the six Maltese free-to-air TV channels in digital. These may be purchased from a number of retail outlets nationwide.

Malta’s DSO is part of an EU-wide process that will free much needed wireless frequencies for new services that have been launched in recent years. Malta must complete its DSO by the end of next year.

Italy is also moving ahead with its DSO and this will affect the reception of Italian channels in Malta, something which had been taken for granted for the past 50 years or so. This newspaper has already highlighted the fact that digital terrestrial TV signals from Sicily will be weaker than the older analogue signals and their transmission to Malta will be more difficult.

The Maltese DSO only guarantees six local channels accessible free-to-air without any subscription fees. Foreign channels are not included.

More details on the digital switchover are available at www.dso.org.mt