Ofcom: HD can reuse existing space on DTT

[BGonaSTICK]

Ofcom has reiterated its preference for high definition services to use existing capacity on digital terrestrial TV.

In August, the regulator's spectrum policy chief argued against reserving further spectrum for high definition services, a position that is at odd with the HDforAll coalition of broadcasters, manufacturers and some MPs who have said that auctioning off spectrum post-switchover instead of reserving it for HD would render the sustainable provision of high definition services on DTT impossible.

Ofcom said that capacity to provide 4 high definition services across the country on DTT could be created without reducing the number of existing standard definition services and without reserving spectrum. It said that post-switchover, a transmission mode change from 16 to 64 QAM - effectively a reversal of the switch to the more robust 16QAM that took place after the collapse of ITV Digital - along with efficiency improvements permitted by statistical multiplexing, and the adoption of DVB-T2, a second generation DTT standard with a new modulation scheme, would create more capacity without the need for new spectrum.

Ofcom added that a change focused on altering technology rather than adding a seventh multiplex would be "quicker and less expensive" and "better for viewers" because a multiplex addition would be "likely to require over 1m households to change aerials."

The regulator will launch a consultation on the HD issue later this year.

Source: Digital Spy

[madrat]

I think you should read the following

The "secret" Ofcom plan for Freeview HDTV: DVB-T2 | ukfree.tv - independent digital TV and switchover advice

The full 105 page report can be found here.


http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbctrust/assets...v/sagentia.pdf
Its not good news.

[bigwegg]

After switch off of analogue services, as I understand, the muxes can be changed so that they are on the same frequencies throughout the land since DTT transmissions can be quasi synchronous (so there may be the big retune). You may be asking about regional programs, well again, as I understand, Ofcom wish to allow RSL and community broadcasting which will mean that one a couple of RF channels will need to be set aside in each region to carry regional content (you may be thinking that they wont wast precious channel allocations on this, but some channels must be kept free for systems which still use RF modulators as a means of signal distribution - remember the issues with VCRs when channel 5 went on air? OK, so most things are at least scarted now, but there are a lot of communal building where RF distribution is still the norm). Clearly DTT for RSL and community broadcasters cannot be as it is now (where aerial and transmitter are usually set up at the broadcasters site) and will need to feed into the main transmission system to put on a MUX.

As for HD, who wants it? PAL was fine for me.

[madrat]

frequency's will be different in different Regan's even after switchover. not that it will bother me, I have consigned freeview to the bin because its crap.

[bigwegg]

May be old news:
BBC - Press Office - Broadcasters join forces in DTT high definition trial

Some tech discussion:
Sky Pay DTT Mpeg4 instead of 2 - Technical - Digital Spy Forums