Source: Millecanali
November 1 TV in Sardinia really is all digital. There is satisfaction at the Ministry (and not only there) for the success of the complex operation. However, some protests and some confusion, especially there is no guarantee that things trickle elsewhere so smoothly ...
Let us first consider the satisfaction of the Secretary Romans reported the site www.key4biz.it:
"" For the first time in Europe a region so important is completely digitized. An extraordinary result was achieved thanks to the contribution of all actors of this revolution: broadcasters, producers and distributors of decoders for digital terrestrial, satellite dish installers, voluntary associations that have accompanied this transition, the consumer groups. It was a process of synthesis and sharing that has led to achieve in a very complicated path, an amazing goal. "
are the words of Undersecretary for Communications, Paolo Romani, who commented on the passage of Sardinia to the new technology of broadcasting.
Over 1 million 600 thousand people, more than 640,000 families since October 31 have entered into the final television camera. This is the wider region of Europe which confirms digital the Italian record in the advance towards the transition to digital terrestrial broadcasting will end in our country, as in Europe in 2012.
"It was a success, with a transition that took place regularly and with few problems" - said the secretary, who claimed the success of initiatives undertaken by the ministry: the contribution for the purchase of set top boxes (358,000 those granted since 2004, the initiative then replicated by September 15 with contributions from 50 € in view of the planned switch-off October 15 to 31), the promotional campaign in print and TV, the call center operates from Monday to Saturday for information and assistance to citizens (about 58 000 calls within 15 days of the switch-off), the ad hoc website with all the relevant news, and the operations room at the headquarters of the ministry and Cagliari, to monitor all operations of the digital transition.
"... This success makes us optimistic for the next phases of the transition to digital broadcasting throughout Italy. A successful experience will be replicated in other areas involved in the digital switchover.
The Secretary has thus confirmed the timetable already set up in September that provides for the completion of the plan in the second half of 2012, with the digitization of Sicily and Calabria, although the 2010 "... 70% of Italians can already take advantage of new television. " The next steps involve the Valle d'Aosta by June 2009 will be digitized, while in the second half of next year will touch to larger areas of the country, such as Lazio, Campania, Trentino Alto Adige and the western part of Piedmont.
The positive experience of Sardinia confirming the benefits of moving to digital for the users: all citizens of Sardinia in the last 15 days have passed since an offer based on 26 analogue TV channels (10 national and 16 local) to a new offer Digital free and accessible to all with no less than 59 channels (29 national and 30 local).
addition to multiply the supply, digital switchover, said even the Romans, it also creates space for new entrants in the market: the frequency planning carried out in Sardinia thanks to an agreement between the Communications Authority, Ministry and operators allowed "to identify a dividend of two frequencies, despite some problems with international coordination. The same - said Undersecretary - will happen in other regions: indeed, in Val d'Aosta we expect a higher dividend ".
In fact we would like to express some doubt that elsewhere things can spin so smoothly and also that there will be a general 'digital dividend' (Val d'Aosta is no text, of course). But in the wake this success, we will try.
There are, however, were predictable protests of consumers and even some basic objection well expressed in his blog by my colleague Mark Apples 'Sole 24 Ore':
"It is, in essence, is whether the model is replicable or not Sardinian in other regions.
The test was technically (for the isofrequency: each uses one and only one) is on a social level (incentives), but in Sardinia are available at € 50 interactive decoder, generally purchased for the first set (and In fact, there has been no shortage of cheaper zapper). In other regions of limited resources will be limited to the indigent.
For the first time in Italy, from the seventies, the private channels transmit on frequencies allocated by the State. It would have been possible in any other European country? It would have been possible with government and authority over the parts?
Each network (multiplex) will broadcast all the facilities on the same frequency (except for a network that uses four Rai). It is most intensive possible use of spectrum. For the first time, also, Italy respects the international coordination. The technical success of this country should thank, among many others, Antonio Sassano, whose role was fundamental for spatial frequencies in Sardinia for Thanksgiving was "resigned" from the general direction Bordoni Foundation.
(But here) five questions:
1) The first concerns the redistribution of audience with multi-channels. The first data show an increase of the satellite. The reason is that the parable who often saw RAI and Mediaset in analog and now I must see more from the Sky decoder. It seems there is a decline greater than expected for general channels, but this will occur over time. Now it's too soon.
2) The second question is related to the two digital networks for new entrants, when and how they are assigned? You may only have recourse to a competitive process for the new entry and not for existing operators, as required by the EU directives on communications e? If not, what criteria the Department will award the two networks?
3) The dividend is 17 frequencies over the two to be filled, channel 12 will be available - at last - of digital radio. For the other 14 channels will need to decide whether to use television or reserve them for new telecommunications services. Maybe with a public debate and not reserved to the table of those "concerned".
4) None announced as there are digital networks in Sardinia to the operator and if they are equivalent to capacity and coverage!! They are, unofficially ... six goals for Mediaset (including Rete 4, which becomes a digital network ...) and six for Rai Media and Telecom Italy has four networks, but only two to full coverage in the region. A network has two other players and only one network. Not the reproduced analog system to digital, with the exception of equal coverage of (not all) national networks?
is the result of a negotiation method (division of frequencies around a table) that is not compatible with EU standards, especially after the European Court of Justice on the case in Europe 7. Or not? And the frequencies to Europa 7? Decide the State Council.
5) Why has not used the occasion of the switchover to create a separate independent network operator by the editors, as happens in most European countries (France, Spain, Great Britain)? This, at the expense of those not vertically integrated, hosted, pay, on the networks of publishers stronger. "
completely negative opinion of the association led by Mario Albanians Conna:
"The proclamation of the secretary communications triumphant Romans Paul is not true because the digital imposed by force alone in Sardinia raises profound discontent - not to say worse - in the audience. As also noted, the Movement for the Defence of the city rushed the operation of the digital switchover as it has been organized hides the desire to encourage Mediaset and Telecom Italy and other popular media publishing groups.
The frequencies freed from analogue (not case-called "digital dividend") is a delicious dish on which you are throwing all those who never tire of misappropriation of assets - such as broadcast frequencies - that belong to all citizens. This explains so much fury and frantic activity among the levying of digital terrestrial.
The technique of digital broadcasting can be proposed, not imposed by continuing to broadcast in analog and thus giving the public little time to acquire new types of receivers. "
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