TV2Go DVB-H trial ends
Singapore’s DVB-H, TV2Go mobile TV trial ended on the 30th November after operating for 18 months.
According to Singapore Digital CEO Giulio Dorrucci, the TV2GO trial has revealed a great deal about how mobile TV technology performs in high-density living environments, and the challenge of providing high-quality coverage indoors.
Dorrucci said that the timing was now right to cease the trial and to start considering the next steps towards commercial network deployment. “The TV2GO trial has equipped Singapore Digital with the all-important experience and insight into how mobile TV networks need to be designed and deployed,”
Having met the objectives of the trial Singapore Digital is now looking forward to Singapore’s Media Development Authority (MDA) announcing their plans for mobile TV licences in the UHF band. This is expected in early 2009. “We are committed to actively participating in the licensing and development of digital TV services in Singapore,” Dorrucci said. “We look forward to the opportunity of working with the MDA to leverage our extensive mobile TV experience
Source: cellular news
Item added: 1st December 2008




New DVB-H trial announced
Singaporean telecommunication service providers M1, Sing Tel and StarHub have joined with MediaCorp in a new DVB-H trial, planned to last three months.
Some 300 of the telco’s customers will be asked to take part in the trial, which will give them access to six dedicated channels featuring news, sport, movies and children’s programmes.
Lucas Chow, CEO of MediaCorp, said: "MediaCorp pioneered DVB-H consumer trials in Singapore some four years ago."
"From our past experience, the availability of handsets is paramount to the service taking off."
"I am happy that our efforts to have all three Singapore telcos onboard the trial will offer better quality and wider choice of services to our customers and, at the same time, allow us to explore viable business models," he added.
The CEO of M1, Neil Montefiore, said that he hoped the trial would enable the companies to "better understand consumer preferences and behaviour that will enable us to define realistic service standards" for mobile TV.
Source: abu.org
Item added: 4th August 2008


TV2Go management broadened
PGK Media, which has been managing the Singapore DVB-H trial (TV2Go), has formed a joint venture with network operator Broadcast Australia to continue the trial.
The joint venture has been given the name Singapore Digital and one of its key objectives is to rollout fixed and mobile digital television services in Singapore. At the present time the trial has one hundred users.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 16th June 2008

Mobile TV consultation extended
Media regulator MDA has extended the deadline for the receipt of responses to its Mobile TV consultation from the 4th to the 18th January 2008.
The MDA says that the extension has been given in response to requests by industry players, who needed additional time to provide a more comprehensive input to the consultation.
Source: MDA news desk
Item added: 22nd January 2008

Mobile TV in Singapore open for consultation
Singapore’s Media regulator, MDA, has said that it wishes to harmonise the rules for the delivery of Mobile TV across the various platforms including 3G and DVB-H. Both platforms will have to meet the existing broadcast content requirements and programming codes.
The comments have come as a result of the MDA’s recently opened public consultation on mobile TV, which is seeking input on its proposed regulatory framework.
Two companies have already expressed interest in the four mobile TV licences that will be on offer in Singapore. These are PGK Media, which wants to offer a 10-15 channel service, and Innoxious Technologies, which wants to provide 8 channels, targeted at 15-35 year olds.
The four mobile TV licences are planned to be assigned in the second half of 2008.
The consultation is open until the 4th January 2008.
Source: MDA website
Item added: 27th November 2007

MediaCorp's HD channel – HD5 – lifts off
MediaCorp recently announced that its High Definition (HD) channel, HD5, would launch on the DTT platform from Sunday, 11 November 2007.
HD5 is a simulcast of Channel 5, MediaCorp TV's flagship English channel
Says Mr Chang Long Jong, MediaCorp Deputy CEO (Television), "Since we commenced our HDTV trials last year we have received many queries from the public about the official launch of HDTV on MediaCorp's channels. With HD5, Singapore viewers will experience better picture and sound quality while enjoying a greater choice of HD content on another (free-to-air) platform”.
MediaCorp plans to broadcast all its channels in High Definition by 2012.
Source: MediaCorp
Item added: 23rd October 2007

MediaCorp to start HDTV on its DTT platform
MediaCorp plans to launch an HDTV commercial channel in the last quarter of 2007 and be the first broadcaster in Southeast Asia to roll out an HDTV channel on a terrestrial platform.
Since June 2006, MediaCorp has conducted an HDTV trial where 1000 households, community clubs and retail outlets got to experience HD programmes such as CSI, Smallville as well as MediaCorp’s locally-produced productions and co-productions with China.
From the trials, about 50% of homes are already able to receive the HD signal.
Between now and the launch date (to be announced later), viewers who can receive the signal and have the requisite HD equipment will experience better clarity of programmes on the new HD channel - HD 5.
HD5 is a simulcast of Channel 5 with programmes enhanced for display on HD-Ready TV sets. In addition, viewers can look forward to some true HD content such as Hollywood movies and TV series (e.g. CSI) as well as local programmes(e.g. Lifeline) produced in HD.
MediaCorp plans to broadcast all its channels in High Definition by2012.
Source: MediaCorp
Item added: 16th July 2007




Singapore encourages HDTV skills
In a “Call for action” the MDA, in partnership with industry players, are promoting the creation of interesting High Definition programmes, to be broadcast during its ongoing HDTV trial.
Its call for action on the HDTV trial website goes on to say that” We are encouraged by the strong response received from the first call for exciting new ideas for HDTV programmes and look forward to receiving more of these ideas”.
To further encourage this participation, a series of courses has been set up aimed at demystifying HDTV, by looking at the historical evolution of television right through to the creation of HD programmes, even including a “Directors Masterclass” as part of the lecture series.
More information is available at : HDTV trial
Item added: 22nd August 2006

Singapore HDTV trial begins
Singapore begins its HDTV trial on the 18th June with the film The Lord of The Rings. 
The launch just before the Broadcast Asia 2006 conference is more importantly just in time for the FIFA World Cup and it has been reported that the lucky participants will have access to all 64 World Cup games as well as movies documentaries and other entertainment shows.
The signals will be made available  terrestrially by Media Corp and on the cable system by StarHub.
Recent information reports that the trial will have 2000 participant households receiving the HDTV signals, 1,000 by DTT and 1,000 by cable. The trial is expected to last for six months.
Source: DVB and Mediacorp
Item added: 6th June 2006

HDTV trial starts June 2006
MediaCorp, Singapores largest broadcaster, has partnered with the Media Development Authority (MDA) for an HDTV trial which begins in June.
The trial will run for six months and have 800 participants chosen by a research company to provide a varied mix of users. 
The HDTV signals will be broadcast on channel 38 although a MediaCorp press release points out that a full commercial service, when launched, may be delivered on a platform other than terrestrial.
MediaCorps currently transmit 1 TV mobile channel and 5 SDTV channels using DVB-T technology.
For more information click on www.hdtv-trial.sg
Main Source: MediaCorp bulletin
Item added: 7th May 2006

DIGITAL DREAMS
An article in the June DVB scene, by the Media Development Authority in Singapore, examines the progress Media 21 blueprint for the development of the media industry, which began back in July 2003.
To view the complete article click on the following link and look at page 10.
http://www.dvb.org/documents/newsletters/DVB-SCENE%20Issue%2014%20Final.pdf
Item added: 17th May 2005

The information provided comes from several 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: 1st December 2008, Barry Tew