Johannesburg - SA consumers with analogue TV sets will have to fork out R700 for a decoder to view digital transmissions.
The digital signal will be switched on on November 1 2008 and the analogue signal switched off on November 1 2011, allowing a three-year period in which both signals will be transmitted.
"The move to digital will enable enhanced services," said SABC acting CEO, Gab Mampone, adding that there will be improved audio and picture quality and fewer reception problems.
It offers potential for special interactive services to cater for people with visual and hearing impediments like audio description and subtitles.
Digital also removes constraints on the amount of content delivered under analogue transmission, so viewers will also start to see more channels available on top of the four TV channels - SABC 1, 2 3 and e.tv.
The switch to digital will allow for more channels to be broadcast in the same bandwidth as one current analogue channel uses. SABC estimates that up to eight new video channels can be provided in the same bandwidth as one analogue channel.
The migration from analogue to the digital terrestrial TV will release a "valuable spectrum" which can be utilised for other services.
According to the Department of Communications, between November 1 2008 and November 1 2011 both analogue and digital signals will be available and no set top box (STB) needed.
The STB will allow users to decode the broadcast digital video stream and convert it into a signal that can be displayed on analogue TV sets.
After November 1 2011, the analogue signal will not be available.
"A set top box will be needed to convert the digital signal to analogue for the television sets that would not be digital compliant. It will therefore only be required after November 1 2011," the department said.
Communication Minister Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri said the department would have a scheme-for-ownership-support of set top boxes for the poor, thus increasing universal service and access to such services by vulnerable communities and individuals.
"The set top box will be sold for around R700 - of which R400 will be subsidised by government for poor households," she said.
On November 1 2008, broadcasters SABC, e.tv and M-Net in association with signal distributors Sentech and Orbicom will start technical trials of digital terrestrial television, so that it can iron out any technical issues before making it available to the public.
The industry is migrating to digital TV in accordance with the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) directive, according to the Department of Communication, to "ensure ongoing co-ordination and protection from interference".
"The protection that all countries enjoy will come to an end by the year 2015. It is therefore crucial to complete migration before 2015," it said.
This migration from analogue to digital sees SA joining countries like the United Kingdom, New Zealand, United States, France and Mauritius that are already advanced in their migration process.
-Fin24.com