Taiwan will complete the transition to digital television one year ahead of schedule in 2014, the National Communications Commission announced Feb. 1.
The switch from analog TV to digital TV will be completed in two main stages, according to NCC Commissioner Chen Cheng-tsang.
“During stage one, which will be completed this July, the nation’s five wireless TV stations will stop broadcasting in analog and will only transmit signals digitally,” Chen said.
Stage two of the process, he added, will be finalized when cable television stations also make the switch to digital broadcasting at the end of 2014.
The NCC said the public should be aware that a special set-top box, which can easily be purchased at all electronics stores, is needed to receive digital broadcasts.
Digital TV will give viewers more channels to choose from and provide better quality images, and is an irreversible trend, according to Chen.
The decision to move the digitalization process ahead of schedule is in accordance with a campaign promise made by ROC President Ma Ying-jeou during his recent re-election campaign, according to the NCC.
Taiwan still lags behind its neighbors to the north when it comes to digital television, Chen said, noting that in Japan 100 percent of all broadcasts are already made in digital format, while in South Korea the rate is 30 percent. (HZW)
Write to Aaron Hsu at pj1210meister@mail.gio.gov.tw