Great Britain is a pioneer in digital TV
By early January 2006, 16.2 of the 25.8 million British television households were already equipped with a digital connection.
The UK has the highest number of households in Europe that can receive TV programs digitally, as reported by the information service Funkkorrespondenz. At the beginning of January 2006, 16.2 of the 25.8 million British television households were equipped with a corresponding connection. At the end of 2004, the figure was 13.5 million. This means that the proportion of digital connections increased from 53.1 to 62.8 % within twelve months. Of the TV households with a digital connection, 7.9 million receive their programs via Rupert Murdoch's BSkyB satellite platform. 3.3 million use digital cable and a further 6.4 million are connected to DTT, also known as Freeview. With the rapid progress of digitization, Prime Minister Tony Blair's planned analogue switch-off date of 2012 is looking increasingly likely. Analog television channels are to be switched off gradually from 2009.
In Switzerland, Ticino is a pioneer in Digi-TV (see Newsmail of 01.02.2006). On July 24, 2006, the sunny canton will be the first region to switch to exclusively digital terrestrial reception. SRG plans to provide the entire country with digital coverage by 2008 and gradually discontinue analog terrestrial broadcasting by 2009.
In Switzerland, Ticino is a pioneer in Digi-TV (see Newsmail of 01.02.2006). On July 24, 2006, the sunny canton will be the first region to switch to exclusively digital terrestrial reception. SRG plans to provide the entire country with digital coverage by 2008 and gradually discontinue analog terrestrial broadcasting by 2009.
