ASO on the 31st October
The four Maltese analogue broadcasters, TVM, Net TV, One and Smash TV, will switch off their analogue transmitters on the 31st October 2011.
This follows a period of simulcasting in both analogue and digital by the broadcasters during the past four months. From the 1st November only DTT signals will be available.
The digital terrestrial line-up currently consists of six free to air TV channels (unencrypted) over UHF channel 66 (834 MHz) using DVB T and MPEG-2 coding.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 17th October 2011
ASO planned for the 1st June 2011
Malta will finally switch of its analogue TV transmitters on the 1st June 2011.
The change will affect the 16,000 TV households that still receive Free to air analogue TV.
TVM which launches its DTT service in February as well as Net TV, One and Smash TV are all said to be planning or thinking about launching new DTT channels.
Source: Digital TV Europe.net
Item added: 31st January 2011
54% know of DTT switch
In a recent survey published by the Malta Communications Authority (MCA) 54% of the respondents said that they were aware that Malta’s free to air TV services will be switched to DTT by the end of 2010. The new digital service will offer 6 TV programs on a single multiplex.
The survey also found that 11.2% of the respondents rely exclusively on analogue terrestrial TV for their primary television services.
Digital terrestrial TV will not be new to the island as Go TV have been operating a Pay DTT service there for several years.
Source: MCA Press Release
Item added: 24th July 2009
Free DTT network deployment
Malta has started the build of its “free to air” digital terrestrial network in preparation for analogue switch off in 2010. Until recently DTT services were Pay-TV only with services provided by GO, which offers around 50 channels to its 80,000 subscribers.
The new free to air DTT network is called “General Interest Objective (GIO) network” and it will offer 6 channels replacing those currently available on the analogue platform.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 18th May 2009
Over 500 channels available on DTT platforms in Europe
Recent data from the MAVISE TV database, developed for the DG Communication of the European Commission by the European Audiovisual Observatory, shows the continued expansion of television channels in the European (EU 27 + Croatia and Turkey) television market. More than 200 new TV channels were launched in 2008. There are now a total of 5587 channels (plus 412 non-European channels) available in the 29 countries.
Digital terrestrial television (DTT) has experienced significant developments in the last year.
Six of the 29 countries included in the MAVISE database have already ceased analogue terrestrial transmission.
France, Italy, Spain and the UK (four markets with large use of terrestrial television) have reached very high levels of DTT penetration in households and two of these have started regional switch-off of the analogue signals
The market will see more rapid development this year with the expected launch of new services in Slovenia, Denmark, Portugal, Ireland, Poland, Greece, and Slovakia. Full article at: EAO press release
Item added: 7th April 2009
Free to air DTT by the end of the year
The Malta Communications Authority (MCA) has published the results of its consultation on Digital Television strategy.
Malta will have one SDTV free to air multiplex operated by the public service broadcaster with up to six services. A second frequency will also be reserved for the future provision of free to air HDTV services.
The public service broadcaster is expected to start rolling out service in March 2009 with completion of the full network by the end of the year.
It is estimated that 17% of the population currently rely on free to air terrestrial television services and a public information campaign telling the population about the changes will begin during the 2nd quarter of 2009. Full analogue switch off will occur at the end of 2010.
Pay-DTT services have been operating in Malta since 2005 and provide coverage to 100% of the population.
Source: MCA website
Item added: 16th February 2009
Malta has 95% DTT coverage
GO, Malta’s DTT service provider, has just completed a 2.3 million Euro, major upgrade of its digital terrestrial television (DTTV) network with the result that coverage has been extended to cover 95% of households in Malta and Gozo
Go also announced that it will launch new television programme services on the DTT platform in the coming weeks and in addition that it would also like to launch HD services and use IPTV for the provision of interactive services.
Source: MaltaMedia
Item added: 23rd October 2007
HD on the DTT platform from Go
Malta’s DTT service provider Go is lobbying the Maltese authorities for additional frequencies, stating its intention to launch HDTV.
Recently the government launched a public consultation called Making Digital Broadcasting Accessible to All which looks in to giving the public adequate time to make the digital transition and saying that broadcasting should continue to be free to view and that the governments intention is not to stifle the markets development by laying down too many policies. The document also mentions the use of the three frequencies initially reserved for digital broadcasting in Malta.
Go is now the only digital broadcaster in Malta having bought its rival Multiplus earlier this year and is unlikely to face competition on the allocation of digital licences.
However the allocation of frequencies and the granting of licences will be dependant on the content to be made available on the platforms being of relevance to the Maltese community. The consultation ends on December 7th 2007.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 2nd October 2007
Tandberg to supply equipment for DVB-T network
The Maltacom Group has selected Tandberg as the strategic provider of multi-platform video processing solutions for its new live and on-demand digital TV services.
The first deployment of equipment is for Tandberg television’s native IP head-end platform, which will be used to ensure enhanced service quality for Maltacoms new Digital Terrestrial TV (DVB-T) offering.
Further Tandberg equipments will be installed later to expand and support the introduction of new services such as mobile TV and IPTV delivery.
Main source: TMCnet
Item added: June 12th 2007
Malta begins its first DTT service on July 1st
Multiplus will start a commercial DVB-T DTT service on July 1st 2005 and supplying both the set top box and an installation check out using the existing antenna. More information is available on the Multiplus website.
Source: Multiplus
Item added: 28th June 2005
MCA in Malta assigns frequencies to two digital terrestrial operators.
On the 11th May 2005, the MCA (Malta Communications Authority) assigned access Rights of Use of Radio Frequencies in the UHF Band for the development and implementation of digital terrestrial Television transmission networks to Maltacom Plc and Multiplus Ltd.
Each operator will be assigned eight channels on lease for eight years, with the possibility of an extension for a further eight. The assignments are the outcome of a process initiated in March 2004.
Maltacom and Multiplus will be expected to achieve nationwide coverage within 18 months of the assignments taking place.
Source: Malta Communication AuthorityItem added: 19th May 2005.
Big interest in Malta digital TV trials
The operators of a planned digital TV service in Malta have described as overwhelming the public response to a request for participation in Digital Terrestrial TV trials.
Multiplus' website received more than 4,000 expressions of interest in the first week, company officials said.
Multiplus will be operating a wireless Digital Terrestrial Television (DTTV) network using the DVB-T system in the near future. Public trials are expected to start in the coming weeks.
"We are extremely grateful for the positive response we've received," Jan Spiteri, CEO of Multiplus said. "However, we would also like to point out that anyone who is not included in the trials will be first in line when our service is launched. Meanwhile, we encourage all interested parties who have not yet registered to do so via our website."
Test sites are currently being selected and Multiplus will be informing all those who have been chosen by the end of this week.
Each participant will be supplied with a fully interactive set-top box as well as a smart card and feedback will be requested by Multiplus on a weekly basis.
www.multiplus.com.mt
Source: http://www.timesofmalta.com/core/article.php?id=174784
The information provided comes from many sources and whilst DVB believe it to be correct we cannot guarantee its accuracy.
If you have more up to date information or corrections please send them to dvb@dvb.org
Last page update: 17th October 2011, Barry Tew
