Digital TV reception changeover to affect 26,500 households

During a press conference announcing the start of a national awareness campaign promoting the changeover from analogue technology to digital technology, Malta Communications Authority Chairman Philip Micallef said that TVM will kick off the changeover – following “successful trials.”

The analogue system – that which is currently in place – will be switched off on June 1, during which time there would have been a four-month transition period where both analogue and digital reception will be available. He emphasised that 130,000 households that do not rely on free-to-air reception and instead have only digital pay TV will not be affected by the changeover.

Those 16,000 households currently using an analogue system will have to purchase a digital decoder box or SCART adapter, costing between €20 and €50 - unless they had a contemporary television set which often feature incorporated digital decoders.

While the current analogue system features one channel per frequency, with the new digital system Malta will be allocated one frequency, which will feature a maximum of six channels.

Of these six, the first preference will be given to ONE, NET, and Smash, Mifsud said. He added that given that Malta presently has seven channels and there will be only six available, one will need to go through GO or Melita’s channels to be able to broadcast.

The remaining channels will be allocated to stations according to an expression of interests. Mifsud added that PBS has been appointed as the responsible entity for the operation of the broadcasting platform in Malta.

In the meantime, Mifsud said, a public awareness information campaign will be targeting a wide range of households informing them of the changeover and what conforming to the new technology would mean.

He encouraged the public to call on free phone number 153 for more information.