Colombia Adopts DVB-T2 (Jan. 9, 2012)
Following Colombia's National Television Commission (CNTV) recommendation to migrate from the DVB-T standard for digital terrestrial television delivery to the more advanced DVB-T2 standard, the Colombian government has officially adopted DVB-T2 on December 20th 2011.
You can read the official statement here.
DVB Visits Latin America
In Bogota, Peter Siebert, the Executive Director of DVB project office and representatives of the European Commission, met with Diego Molano Vega, Minister of Technology and Information (Ministerio de Tecnologias del Informacion y las Comunicaciones) accompanied by Commissioner Estrada, Director of the National Commission on TV (CNTV) to discuss all aspects of digital television. There was also a meeting with Colombia's private broadcasters. The broadcasters were interested in the improved efficiency and the new operational opportunities that DVB-T2 offers.
CNTV have now started a consultation process on using DVB-T2 in Colombia.
Source: DVB
Item added: 5th December 2011
Consultation on DVB-T2 migration
Colombia's National Television Commission (CNTV) has launched a public consultation proposing that the country migrates from the DVB-T standard for digital terrestrial television delivery to the more advanced DVB-T2 standard, which provides more capacity using the same bandwidth.
CNTV has recently obtained the results of a series of technical studies that it commissioned to evaluate the implementation of DVB-T2.
First rolled out by the UK nearly two years ago and then followed by other European nations including Sweden, Finland, Italy and Ukraine, DVB-T2 makes a more efficient use of the available radio frequency spectrum, which in turn translates into higher bandwidth per channel. This makes it possible for broadcasters to either pack more channels per multiplex than in DVB-T systems or to transmit a similar number of channels with some of them in HD or 3D.
Jaime Andrés Estrada, CNTV's director, said the results of the DVB-T2 tests will now be made available to the general public as part of the consultation process.
The development of DTT in Colombia is still at a very early stage and CNTV is convinced this is the right time to migrate to the next-generation version of the standard.
People and companies interested in providing their input to the public consultation can do so via email to info@cntv.org.co
The deadline for comments is the 1st December 2011.
Source: Rapid TV News
Item added: 28th November 2011
Colombia-affirms its choice of DVB-T
The Board of Directors of the Comisión Nacional de Televisión (CNTV) has re-affirmed Colombia’s previous decision to adopt the DVB-T standard for Terrestrial TV broadcasting and set the conditions for its implementation.
The decision was made in regular session on the 21st after considering the procedure established by Law 182/95.
The approved article describes the possibility to advance the transition to digital broadcasting and defines the responsibility of broadcasters to provide the same services on the digital platform as they do in the analogue TV service. It also gives the power to allow CNTV to grant concessions for the provision of Mobile TV. The use of MPEG-4, H.264.AVC for the video compression standard was also confirmed.
The process will be regulated by CNTV who will have control over all aspects of the DTV implementation in Colombia.
Source: CNTV.org
Item added: 27th December 2010
DVB-T DTT services launched in Bogotá
DVB-T services officially launched in Columbia on Friday the 29th January 2010.
Viewers in the Bogotá area are now able to receive three services, Canal Uno, Seńal Colombia, and Canal Institucional, from the public service broadcaster Radio Televisión Nacional de Colombia (RTVC).
During 2010 four additional transmission sites will open extending DTT service to viewers in and around Cali, Medellin, Antioquia, Barranquilla and Santa Marta.
Sources: Panorama Audiovisual and Comisión Nacional de Televisión
Item added: 8th February 2010
Colombia to offer ‘Free’DVB-H
Colombia will begin digital broadcasting in May when the first DTT transmitter goes live, bringing coverage to 11 million people.
Initially only the public service broadcasters will use the DTT platform but the nations private channels are also expected to join in the next few months.
Colombia’s Comisión Nacional de Televisión (CNTV) is also reported to have said that DVB-H licences will be offered at zero cost later this year
Rapid TV News reports that Mexican-owned América Móvil's Colombian Telco has already expressed an interest in taking a licence.
Source: Rapid TV News
Item added: 12th January 2009
Spain to help Colombia with DTT implementation
Spain’s Impulsa TDT, the association for the implementation of digital-terrestrial television and the Colombian government have signed an official agreement under which Spain will help the country implement DTT, reports Rapid TV News.
Carolina Hoyos the general director of Colombia’s Television National commission said that “ By knowing the different DTT solutions such as the planning of the radio spectrum, the implementation of HDTV or mobile TV these will become an important benefit for all citizens”
Source: Rapid TV News
Item added: 1st December 2008
DTT services to launch in May 2009
Preparations are underway, in Colombia, to launch DVB-T services in May 2009.
The launch will initially allow 11 million households in the regions of Boyaca, Cundinamarca, Huila, Tolima, Meta, and Caldas to view DTT services.
Viewers will be able to access the services provided by the public service broadcasters.
Source: Portafolio.com
Item added: 3rd November 2008
Colombia adopts DVB-T
Geneva - 29th August 2008
Colombia’s National Television Commission, La Comisión Nacional De Televisión (CNTV) has made a historic decision and announced the choice of DVB-T as the digital terrestrial television standard for Colombia. The decision to adopt DVB-T was taken after more than two years of in-depth analysis and rigorous testing of all the world’s digital television standards: ATSC developed by the United States, Japan’s ISDB-T, China’s DTMB and DVB-T.
Maria Carolina Hoyos Turbay, Director of the CNTV, said "This decision shows that Colombia is looking to the future and ensuring that Colombians will benefit from higher quality television for the next 30 years. With this milestone in place, the Colombian TV industry can determine its own future.
"The eyes of neighbouring countries were on us," she continued, "and we can say that our process of analysis has resulted in a mature decision that gives us the peace of mind of having met the challenges facing Colombians and the future of television. Now we can welcome the transition from analogue to digital TV."
Colombia’s move to digital will bring social benefits, such as decreasing the digital divide, social inclusion and democratisation of access to information. Additionally, it will drive the audiovisual sector by inspiring the production of dynamic content and invigorate the industry's domestic production.
Peter MacAvock, Executive Director of the DVB Project, commented: "DVB welcomes this momentous decision by the Comisión Nacional de Televisión and is looking forward to working with the Colombian industry as it moves to Digital TV. By choosing DVB-T, Colombia joins a growing worldwide DVB community that includes fellow Latin American country Uruguay, benefiting from economies of scale and bringing the advantages of digital television to all."
As Colombia chooses DVB-T, other Latin American countries are considering their digital television futures. DVB continues to grow from strength to strength around the world, with some 220 million receivers now receiving cable, satellite and terrestrial services of all kinds. DVB is an ideal toolbox for broadcasters as they embrace convergence, and represents the most appropriate solution for Latin American viewers entering the digital age. Since April 2008, the association of American regulators, CITEL has included DVB-T in its digital television guide for the Americas. Indeed, Latin American countries have a unique opportunity to join the DVB family and jointly develop their digital futures.
Details of the Colombian CNTV announcement can be found on http://www.cntv.org.co/cntv%5Fbop/noticias/2008/agosto/28_08_08.html
Download full DVB Press Release
DVB work to ensure that the information made available on these pages is correct but we are unable to guarantee its accuray.
Last Item added: 5th December 2011, Barry Tew.
