Digital Television

Digital Television.

What is it ?

Digital is a way of transmitting sound and TV pictures into digits and compresses them. Due to it being smaller it takes up less space in the air waves, this creates more space for more channels and features unlike the 5 channels used by the current analogue signals.

How do i get digital television?

You can get digital television through one of three systems also known as 'platforms'

Digital terrestrial television: This can be done by two different ways the first way by using a digital adaptor also known as a set top box with an aerial and the second way is by using an intergrated digital tv which will alow you to view digital terrestrial free to view services.

Digital satellite: Digital satellite is recieved by a mini dish and a digibox which is purchased from sky. It gives access to freeview channels and the added sky channels. Many other channels are available through sky subscription services.

Digital cable: Digital cable is a set top box which is provided to decode the digital signals, which is not available in all areas.

What is the difference between digital and analogue?

Digital is compressed which means it takes up less space than analogue, this increases the possibility to fit more channels and other services into the same amount of space that would have been used by the analogue system.

What does it give you?

• Alot more channels than on analogue television
• Improved picture and sound on every channel
• Interactive features like the interactive feature used on sky+
• Radio through your television
• Daily listing about what is on which is shown on screen most offer a "now & next" listing
• Better accessibility, for those who need audio descriptions or sign language and subtitles.
• Wide screen options which allows you to have a greater view.
• Less interferance and improved reception for channel 5
• Pay-per view services so you can watch thew latest movies before you go and spend £15 buying it at the shops.
• Digital recorders such as the one included in sky+ which allows you to record tv programmes without the fuss. These are hard-disk recorders which provide greator control of what you record.

The options open to you if you have digital TV in your home

• Freeview- 60 extra channels recieved via your standard TV aerial, no fee, no installation and no contract.

• Satellite- is from Sky digital provides the largest range of tv channels around, however it needs a satellite dish installation and a subscription. Sky also provide sky+ which totally makes you in control of the television, it allows you to pause rewind and record live television.

The switch over

Between 2010 and 2012 there will something known as the digital switch over will take place all around the world. The digital switch over is basically when every television in every region switches from an analogue signal to a digital signal. This is taking place because Digital is now the best technology for broadcasting tv so by making the digital switch over it ensures that everyone can recieve it and is available and free everywhere.

However digital signals can only be switched on when the old analogue ones are switched off this could create a problem for people who have television which are not ready for the digital switch over.