What You Need to Know About the Analog-to-Digital Television Transition in Canada

Transcription

1 TEMPORIBUD AUTEM QUINSUD ET AUR Canada s Office of Consumer Affairs What You Need to Know About the Analog-to-Digital Television Transition in Canada THE TRANSITION WHAT IS THE AUGUST 31, 2011 DEADLINE? The Canadian Radio-television Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) set a final deadline for digital (DTV) transition of August 31, Most over-the-air television stations will continue broadcasting in analog (present television) until that deadline, at which time, all analog emissions have to switch to digital (DTV). Conventional (analog) television sets (sets that don't have a digital tuner) receiving over-the-air television will require a set-top converter box to change the digital signal to analog. WHY ARE WE SWITCHING TO DIGITAL TELEVISION (DTV)? DTV is a more flexible and *spectrum-efficient technology than analog television. DTV also allows a broadcaster to provide a high definition (HDTV) program or multiple standard definition DTV programs instead of a single analog program. The number of programs a station can transmit on one digital channel depends on the resolution of the picture of each program. Most developed countries are switching to DTV between 2009 and Since digital television is more spectrum-efficient than analog television, conversion to digital will free up parts of valuable airwaves for other important services, such as advanced wireless and public safety services (police, fire departments, etc.) that will benefit Canadians. * Spectrum refers to the Radio Frequency (RF) Spectrum, which is the entire range of electromagnetic communications frequencies, including those used for radio broadcasting, cellular telephone, radar, and television.

2 WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ANALOG TELEVISION AND DIGITAL TELEVISION (DTV)? Compared to analog, digital broadcasting is capable of significantly increased resolution of images, and provides for better quality multi-channel sound. For viewers, this means sharper pictures and improved sound. DTV also allows for more channels to be delivered, and supports HDTV. WILL THE UNITED STATES TRANSITION, SCHEDULED FOR FEBRUARY 17, 2009, AFFECT CANADIANS? Canadians using a conventional (analog) television to receive over-the-air broadcast signals from the United States will require a set-top converter box to continue to do so after February 17, However, all Canadians will continue to receive Canadian over-the-air broadcast signals with a conventional (analog) television until the Canadian transition date of August 31, MY TELEVISION WILL MY TELEVISION SET STILL WORK? Once the transition takes place, Canadians with analog televisions using over-the-air signals will have to add a set-top converter box, or use a television with a built-in (integrated) digital tuner, to continue to view over-the-air broadcasts. Canadians who already have televisions with a digital tuner or who subscribe to cable or satellite services should see no change. HOW DO I KNOW IF I HAVE AN ANALOG OR DIGITAL TELEVISION? To find out if you have an analog or digital television, you need to check your television set to identify whether you have an analog or a digital tuner. To do so, start with your owner s manual. If it is not listed in the manual, contact the retailer where you originally purchased the television. Note that your manual may not use the terms digital tuner or analog tuner. A digital tuner could also be listed as ATSC tuner. An analog tuner could also be listed as NTSC tuner. 2

3 Sets with integrated digital or digital/analog tuners will continue to receive over-the-air digital television once the transition has taken place. Sets with an analog tuner will no longer receive over-the-air television once the transition takes place without the addition of a set-top converter box. If your set does not have a tuner at all, then you have a monitor rather than a television. Monitors may be labelled as Digital or DTV Monitor, High-Definition or HDTV Monitor, Digital or DTV Ready or High-Definition or HDTV Ready. These sets can receive and display digital signals if they are attached to an external tuner, such as a cable box or satellite receiver or an over-the-air digital set-top box (see DTV Tuner box below). Some of the newer, flat-screen computer monitors may also be capable of working with an external tuner. If you plan to use an external tuner with a monitor, ensure that it has a built-in digital tuner. (Note: this box is different than a set-top converter box, used to convert digital over-the-air broadcast signals for viewing on an analog television set.) SET-TOP BOXES WHAT IS A SET-TOP CONVERTER BOX AND ARE THERE OTHER TYPES OF SET-TOP-BOXES? A Set-Top-Box is an external device that can process or convert a received signal that is not compatible with the television receiver. In the context of over-the-air digital television, there are two types of set-top boxes: Converter Boxes: A basic converter box that receives and converts an over-the-air digital TV signal to analog for display on a standard analog television. DTV Tuner Boxes: A set top box that receives an over-the-air digital TV signal for display on a Digital/HD-Ready or a Digital/HD-Compatible screen. Some DTV boxes may also have basic converter box functions. WHERE CAN I FIND A SET-TOP CONVERTER BOX AND HOW MUCH DO THEY COST? The set-top converter boxes should be available starting in 2009 and should be in most retail stores by By the 2011 deadline, set-top converter boxes are expected to cost less than $100. 3

4 BUYING A TELEVISION WHAT DO I NEED TO KNOW IF I AM BUYING A NEW TELEVISION? If you do decide to purchase a new television set, be sure to do your research first. Talk to television retailers, read consumer magazine reviews, for example Consumer Reports and Protégez-Vous and be sure to shop around. Think about the following: Remember that Digital or HD Ready and Digital or HD Compatible does not mean that the television includes a digital (ATSC) tuner. You will still need to purchase a settop box to view digital or High-definition television. If you choose to purchase a set with an integrated tuner, look for a set with a digital (ATSC) tuner. Remember that you do not need to rush out and purchase a new television immediately. Your analog television is good on its own until the transition takes place. Take the time to shop around and make a well-informed decision. Decide how you plan to use your television set. Think about things such as the size of your room does your room size allow you enough distance from the screen? Is there enough space for the size of screen you want? For example, with a 127 centimetre (50 inch) screen, a minimum viewing distance of around 2.1 metres (7 feet) is optimal. Do you want to receive high-definition television (HDTV)? Then find out what equipment you need to do so. For example, to view HDTV via cable or satellite you will need to get an HD set-top-box from your provider. Before making your purchase, make sure you completely understand what you are buying and how it works. IS DTV THE SAME AS HDTV? HDTV (High-definition television) and DTV (digital television) are not the same. HDTV is one of the formats of DTV. The common formats of DTV are Standard Definition Television (SDTV), Enhanced Definition Television (EDTV) and High Definition Television (HDTV). Each format offers a different picture quality which varies depending on the resolution and number of pixels displayed. Resolution is a measure of the density of lines and dots per line which make up a visual image. Usually, the higher the numbers, the sharper and more detailed the picture will be. In terms of DTV, maximum resolution refers to the number of horizontal scanning lines multiplied by the total number of pixels per line. 4

5 Each format has a specified number of active horizontal scanning lines in either an i-interlaced or a p-progressive display used to create a television picture. The difference between interlaced and progressive display is that interlaced display scans only every other line per frame, whereas, progressive display will scan all horizontal lines per frame, resulting in a greater number of pixels and a higher picture quality. A set's frame rate describes how many times it creates a complete picture on the screen every second. DTV frame rates range from 24p (24 frames per second, progressive) to 60p (60 frames per second, progressive). SDTV displays a resolution defined as 480i (interlaced, 640pixels x 480lines), EDTV displays 480p (progressive scan, 852x480). HDTV is displayed in one of three high resolution formats, 720p (progressive scan, 1,280x720) or 1080i (interlaced 1,920x1,080) or 1080p (progressive scan, 1,920x1,080). HDTV provides the highest resolution and picture quality, and SDTV the most basic level, very similar to the display quality of analog television. 5 Cat. No. Iu23-21/2008E-PDF ISBN