QCOSTARICA – The government announced it has granted televisión digital terrestre (TDT) – Digital Terrestrial Television, open and free, as an initial phase to expand coverage throughout the country.
Approval of this first block of permits, announced Tuesday, will provide those currently broadcasting in analog and interested parties, to prepare and do the necessary tests in the digital system, adjusting their transmissions for the digital switchover date scheduled for 2017 .
In the announcement, the government is trustful that the eventual shift to digital TV could encourage the local production of content in High Definition (HD) which allows viewers to enjoy greater clarity in picture and sound, at no additional cost.
TDT will be free through an antenna, a television signal converter or new TVs with an integrated tuner, and through mobile and portable devices such as cell phones or tablets, with ability to receive the digital signal.
The switchover from analog to digital is to occur on December 15, 2017, meanwhile both analog and digital television must coexist.
The permits issued by are to current analog channels 2, 4, 6, 7, 11, 23, 29, 33, 35, 42, 49-54.
Prior to this, only the Sistema Nacional de Radio y Televisión S.A. (SINART) – National Radio and Television System, had obtained permission to start broadcasting under the ISDB-Tb standard
officially since 1 May 2014.
Vice President, Ana Helena Chacón, said that during this process and before the digital switchover, the executive branch must be certain that all Costa Ricans, which uses open and free television, be prepared for the change in technology, especially those in the low-income sector.
Costa Rica adopted the Japanese-Brazilian digital TV, ISDB-Tb (Integrated Services Digital) format in April 2010.
“We are analyzing the experience and lessons learned from other countries … “, said Deputy Minister of Telecommunications, Emilio Arias.
Source: Casa Presidencial, La Nacion
