Franica Pulis
Malta’s broadcasting system will finally make the switch from analogue to digital in December 2010, but how will this affect consumers who receive their transmissions by aerial?
The Malta Communications Authority (MCA) explains that once Malta switches to the new system, consumers who still watch television via the analogue system will not see the four public channels anymore: TVM, Smash, One and Net TV.
They will instead have to buy a digital set-top box, which will be available on the market by then. GO or Melita customers will not need any additional set-top box or decoder, as it is also called, as they are already provided for.
“If someone wants to continue watching the same stations which are transmitted free to air via aerial, they don’t need to apply with a commercial service provider, but get a digital box. The aerial’s cable, which is connected with the television set, has to be connected to the digital box and the cable attached to the digital box has to be connected to the television set,” a MCA spokesperson explained.
The four free-to-air stations will continue to be broadcast for free as long as the Broadcasting Authority establishes them as GIOs (General Interest Objectives). GIOs are stations which broadcast general interest programmes such as news, drama and cultural prpgrammes.
“Today there are also digital television sets on the market. These are capable of receiving digital TV transmissions. Most modern television sets are digital and with such sets, no decoder is needed,” the MCA adds.
The same system will have to be applied by restaurant, bar and hotel owners who make use of televisions on their premises. The digital system does not have any connection with the internet. So if this is disconnected, the transmission of the television will not be affected.
Italian stations, which Maltese aerials also capture and are transmitted for free on our sets, will not necessarily continue doing so.
“It will be possible for analogue stations to be transmitted for free in the digital form. Italian stations which transmit with the analogue system and reach our shores will continue to be aired on our TV sets. Yet, this might not be possible anymore when the Italian stations switch to the digital system,” the MCA said.
The Maltese stations which are aired on GO or Melita, such as Favourite Channel and Family TV, will be accessible to all digital televisions depending on what contract they have signed with their operator.
According to the spokesperson, consoles such as Xbox or Wii, which have digital decoders or which can be installed in them, can also be used to watch TV stations. This depends on their decodes if they up to digital transmission standards.
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