ARLA/CLUSTER: Milhões de aparelhos de TV podem se tornar obsoletos no Reino Unido

[João Costa > CT1FBF]

 Millions of TV sets may become obsolete

Ofcom's announcement of the clearance of the 700 MHz band could spell
the end of the road for millions of 'Freeview' TV sets

In 2007 Ofcom deliberated on the standard for future TV sets. They had
a choice between the modern high-efficiency MPEG-4 DVB-T2 standard or
the old MPEG-2 based DVB-T standard which was developed back in the
last century.

The DVB-T2 standard supported High Definition and also enabled lower
definition "625 line" stations to be transmitted using a greatly
reduced bandwidth potentially allowing many more stations.

Ofcom chose to stick with the old DVB-T MPEG-2 system and in the
following years people bought millions of those sets in good faith.

Currently some TV channels, such as the BBC's, are duplicated being
broadcast on both Lower Definition DVB-T and High Definition DVB-T
multiplexes. Ofcom has now announced that the HD TV multiplexes in the
700 MHz band will have to go. This move will force the old DVB-T
MPEG-2 multiplexes in the remaining 470-694 MHz band to convert to the
DVB-T2 standard to provide capacity for both lower definition and HD
channels.

Those lucky enough to have purchased TV's with the "FreeviewHD" logo
should not be adversely affected by the second Digital Switchover
(DSO2) but TV's which only say "Freeview" or "HD Ready" could be
heading for the scrap heap.

November 2007 - Ofcom Consultation on the Future of Digital Television
http://www.southgatearc.org/news/november2007/
future_of_digital_tv.htm

March 2016 Ofcom consultation on removing 700 MHz TV Multiplexes
http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/consultations/maximising-benefits-700MHz-clearance/

Trevor M5AKA