Conversion to digital television not yet complete everywhere
Since Monday, an astonishing number of Swiss people no longer have Sven Epiney or Beni Thurnher in their living rooms. The reason: since the beginning of the week, domestic TV channels in German-speaking Switzerland can no longer be received with just a house or room aerial.
Since Monday, an astonishing number of Swiss people no longer have Sven Epiney or Beni Thurnher flickering in their living rooms. The reason: since the beginning of the week, domestic TV channels in German-speaking Switzerland can no longer be received with just a house or room aerial. However, as many have waited until the last moment to switch to digital television, they are now faced with long waiting times of between one and a half and two weeks for the satellite access cards required for satellite reception, confirmed Peter Kaufmann, responsible for DVB-T communication in German-speaking Switzerland at Schweizer Fernsehen, in an article in the NZZ am Sonntag on Monday.
However, this waiting time only applies to those customers who order the tickets in writing. Electronic orders via the Internet are processed within one to two days.
Demand for satellite television has risen sharply since the beginning of the year, Kaufmann continued: up to this point, around 3,000 households per month had switched to the technology. In the summer, the number had risen to 6,000 to 8,000 households per month, and in October to around 11,000. For November, Kaufmann expects 15,000 to 20,000 customers.
However, switching to satellite is not the only way for existing antenna users to continue watching television in the future. With a connection device between the antenna and the television, a so-called set-top box, the four national channels can continue to be received.
However, this waiting time only applies to those customers who order the tickets in writing. Electronic orders via the Internet are processed within one to two days.
Demand for satellite television has risen sharply since the beginning of the year, Kaufmann continued: up to this point, around 3,000 households per month had switched to the technology. In the summer, the number had risen to 6,000 to 8,000 households per month, and in October to around 11,000. For November, Kaufmann expects 15,000 to 20,000 customers.
However, switching to satellite is not the only way for existing antenna users to continue watching television in the future. With a connection device between the antenna and the television, a so-called set-top box, the four national channels can continue to be received.
