Digital TV GuideDigital TV Guide
Digital TV is the next generation of television broadcasting in the UK and from 2012 it will be the only way for TV viewers within these shores to see their favourite programmes. This is because the UK government plans to switch off the traditional analogue signal in 5 years’ time. So from 2012, we will all be digital TV viewers.
What is Digital TV?
Digital TV is the process of transmitting television channels via a digital signal. Picture and sound is converted into a digital signal pattern which is then transmitted via digital waves in the air, or via orbiting satellites or by fibre optic cables in the ground. The digitalisation process allows transmitters to compress the signal information, which in turn enables much more information to be sent. This means that digital TV can incorporate many additional features such as interactive TV, TV on demand and additional services including TV gaming and betting.
And as more signal information can be sent, digital TV really does represent a new dawn in television viewing, incorporating brilliant picture and enhanced sound quality not previously experienced and a level of interactivity previously unheard of.
What is the benefit of Digital TV over Analogue TV?
As touched on above, the advantage of digital TV over traditional analogue TV is its ability to deliver more, much more in fact. As more information can be transmitted, digital TV offers much improved picture and sound quality over analogue TV, thus hugely enhancing the viewers’ experience.
Digital TV also offers interactivity, which analogue TV simply cannot. With digital TV, viewers can command their viewing, from selecting from multiple options on one channel to choosing to pause, rewind and record live feed (with the necessary equipment installed). Digital TV also offers a myriad of additional features, including gaming, betting, parental controls and easy to use interactive programme guides.
How do viewers get digital TV?
Currently the are three ways to get digital TV: through an aerial, satellite dish or fibre optic cable. The easiest way to get digital TV is through your existing aerial. All that television viewers need to do is buy a set top decoder box. The decoder box costs from around £25 and provides access to about 40 free-to-air digital TV channels. Viewers who opt for this service can self-install by simply connecting their set top box to their aerial and TV.
The second option is through a satellite. The UK’s main satellite digital TV provider is Sky. To get satellite digital TV, customers need to pay to get a satellite dish installed on their house and for a cable linking the dish to their set top decoder to be connected up. Sky charges around £30 for this service, but it offers it free to certain customers.
The third option is via fibre optic cable. The leading provider of digital cable TV in the UK is Virgin Media. To get digital cable TV, customers will need to get engineers to run a cable from the main local network hub to a receiver box on the outside of their house. This cable will need to be installed underground, so some digging is required by the installers to set up the service. Then, and as with the satellite system, the service is connected to the customer’s TV by running a cable from the external receiver box to an internal set top decoder.
Who provides digital TV and how much does it cost?
In the UK there are three main providers of digital TV. Sky is the largest provider, offering the fantastic benefits of digital TV through its satellite broadcasting system. Sky offers many different viewing packages to suit all tastes and budgets, with up to around 200 channels available. Sky’s digital TV deals start from £16 per month for the basic package and end with their complete TV package for £45 per month.
Virgin Media offers similar package deals to Sky. Prices range from £11 to £20.50 for the set packages. On top of these Virgin also offers a menu of premium channels for an additional cost per channel.
Finally, the cheapest digital TV option available to viewers is Freeview. This service provides about 40 free-to-air digital channels to customers, including the suit of BBC, ITV and Channel 4 channels, Channel 5, and many others. The only cost involved is for the purchase of the set top decoder, which varies depending on the level of service wanted. Freeview boxes start from around £25. |
