Christy Kim Lauren Klug Cassandre Rank Megan Tuttle Digital Switch Over Christy Kim Lauren Klug Cassandre Rank Megan Tuttle

Terms: DTV - Digital Television. An advanced broadcasting technology that has transformed your television viewing experience. DTT – Digital Terrestrial Television, the technological evolution of analogue television to digital television. Analogue TV – Analog transmission that involves the broadcasting of encoded analog audio and analog video signal. Multiplex – A group of channels that are all broadcasted on the same frequency. Multicasting - Several channels of digital programming being offered at the same time using the same amount of spectrum required for one analog program. FCC – Federal Communications Commission BBC – British Broadcasting Corporation

Analogue vs. Digital Analogue waves vary which makes bad quality. Digital waves are more consistent which creates the good quality. . Analogue carry less pixels which creates fuzzy images. Digital signals carry larger and clearer streams of pixels which makes the crisp picture. http://www.sciencebuzz.org/topics/digital-television/the-new-wave

US Transition -Telecommunications Act of 1996 -Initial Transition Date : December 31, 2008 -First DTT Broadcast : October 29th, 1998 -Digital Transition and Public Safety Act of 2005 -Digital-analog converter box coupon program -Transition Date Moved Back: February 17th, 2009 -Final Transition Date : June 12th, 2009

US Transition 2000 – Only 23% of Communication Broadcasters had met their promises 2005 – Only 53% of households had been affected by transition 2006 – 61% of Americans weren’t aware of the transition May 1st 2009 – 3.1% of Americans still not ready for transition June 11th 2009 – I day before the transition and still 1.75 million people not ready Final Transition Date – Set for September 1st 2015

UK Transition -UK focuses on the social benefits -offers more channels and easier access. -trends in technology demand it -HD channels, Pay Per View, Wi-Fi -Creates competition with the US -UK's switch was far more advanced at first -Gentle and relaxed approach -UK has heavy media presence in Europe. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KwRbf0WmOxU&feature=plcp

UK Legislation -Help Scheme -Disclosure of Information Act 2007 -Digital Economic Act of 2010 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Lf8NZCbajg&feature=plcp

UK Process -October 1st 1998-First Signal Broadcast -October 17th 2007-Start to Switchover -2 stages incolved in the switchover THEN -5 multiplexes -4 accesed 90% of the country: -1 channel only accessed 70%. NOW -6 multiplexes -all garantee to reach 90%

Actors in U.S. United States Congress Passed legislation Federal Communications Commission Oversee implementation Other Agents The White House Department of Commerce Telecommunication companies

Actors in UK Governmental agencies Independent Actors Parliament DCMS Office of Communication Independent Actors Digital UK BBC DSHS Ltd. add multiplexs

Differences between US & UK United States Command-and-control External regulation Broadcasting model United Kingdom Co-regulation Common carrier model

Merits -Better sound and picture -Flexibility and Efficiency -More channels and programs/ expanding programming choices -Better sound and picture -Flexibility and Efficiency -Public Safety -Advanced wireless services -Interactive video and data services -Diversity and Direct impact

Shortcomings -Instability and Unpredictability -Transition readiness -Public choice -Quality -Piracy

Discussion Questions What's your experience with the DTV Transition in your home country? When going through a transition this large, do you believe there should be heavy external regulation, co-regulation, or self regulation? What was the biggest benefit of DTV in your opinion and are there any other benefits we didn't list that you have experienced?