Everything is ready for the historic “Analogue Switch-off” scheduled for the 1st July 2011, according to officials participating at the 3rd Infocom.cy 2011 conference, that was held Wednesday in Nicosia.
In his remarks to the meeting, Commissioner of Electronic Communications and Postal Services Polis Michaelides, of the Office of The Commissioner of Electronic Communications and Postal Regulation (OCECPR), said that in 23 days from today, the historic switch off will take place and Cyprus will irrevocably enter digital technology.
He said that digital technology provides flexibility to providers and the benefits over analogue include excellent picture and sound quality, use of the Electronic Program Guide [EPG] that provides the viewer with programme information such as titles, start and finish times, program duration/ description and better signal reception (compared to analogue reception).
There are two licensed Digital Terrestrial Platforms broadcasting in Cyprus, CyBC and Velister Ltd that have undertaken the broadcast of TV programs in Digital form.
The following digital TV/radio Channels/Programs are currently broadcast:
– CyBC: TV FTA Channels: CyBC1, CyBC2, ERT World, Euronews
– CyBC: RADIO Channels: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th CyBC Radio Programs.
– Velister Ltd: TV FTA Channels: MEGA TV, ANT1, SIGMA, PLUS TV, EXTRA TV and any other TV content provider licensed and elects to be transferred from this platform.
Michaelides urged consumers, whose television sets require the connection of an external receiver/decoder to receive digital broadcasts to obtain MPEG-4 decoders to watch Free-To-Air (FTA) Terrestrial TV. Alternatively, they can subscribe to any of the two Digital Terrestial Platforms.
The OCECPR has already started an information campaign, boosted by the operation of a public information telephone line – 151 toll free number, while a special flyer was prepared to inform the Cypriot public about the impending Analogue Switch-Off, the whole range of digital television options available to consumers in Cyprus and in general to provide answers to simple frequently asked questions.
“The aim of our office is the successful transfer from analogue to digital technology, so that every Cypriot will be able to enjoy the fruits of digital television”.
On his part, Neofytos Epaminondas, Director of the Cyprus Radio Television Authority, said the Authority has managed to secure the amendment to the existing law, allowing the authority to monitor the content of the television stations that will register in the digital platforms.
He said that any television channel that has not secured a license from the Authority, will not be able to operate under any platform.
Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation Director of Technology, Gregoris Maliotis, said by 1st July, 90% of Cyprus will be covered by the digital platform through CyBC, while special arrangements will be made for inaccessible areas “so that no area will remain without programmes”.
He said CyBC is planning to introduce thematic channels for children and news.
Maliotis also said CyBC will not abandon the frequency UHF 33 where it broadcasts the digital platform, even if the illegal Turkish Cypriot television station in the northern Turkish occupied north of the island is broadcasting digital programmes, interfering in its broadcast.
