This document discusses key considerations for the migration from analog to digital TV broadcasting in South Africa, including: 1) Implementing digital broadcasting will require network rollout, distribution of set-top boxes, and consumer education campaigns. 2) Compelling content that attracts viewers is essential to encourage consumers to adopt digital TV and switch from analog. 3) Careful implementation planning is needed across many areas like coverage, receiver installation support, availability of subsidies, and ensuring quality content offerings on digital platforms.

1. This document is offered compliments of
BSP Media Group. www.bspmediagroup.com
All rights reserved.

2. MIGRATION OF TV BROADCAST
SERVICES TO DIGITAL
Input to CTO Digital Migration Switchover Forum
Southern African Digital Broadcasting Association
(SADIBA)
22 February 2012
1

3. Overview
• Digital Migration
• The Home Environment
• Implementation planning
• Digital Migration Time-lines
• Content - the key incentive to migrate
• Conclusion 2

4. Drive for Migration to Digital
Broadcasting
• Requirement for greater
spectrum efficiency Ref -31 dBm Att 5 dB
* RBW
* VBW
100 kHz
100 Hz
SWT 15 s
Marker 2 [T1 ]
-54.22 dBm
554.000000000 MHz
– Spectrum Congested -40
Marker 1 [T1 ]
-52.68 dBm
586.000000000 MHz A
– No growth without digitisation 1 AP
CLRWR -50 2
1
– Increased spectrum efficiency (in -60
8 MHz) -70
-80
• Yielding a digital dividend -90
– Huge demand for spectrum -100
– Huge potential for new services
-110
-120
– Other users and services -130
Center 554 MHz 15 MHz/ Span 150 MHz
• Consumer message
– Better Sound and Pictures
Date: 18.JUL.2007 16:36:41
UHF spectrum - Johannesburg, South Africa
– More channels (services)
– Enhanced viewer experience

5. Defining the desired outcomes
• Spell out the desired
outcomes
– Interrogates broad policy
statements
– Gives focus
– Gives clarity on goals to
be achieved
– Assists in setting priorities
– Informs implementation
plans
• Universal access

6. The Steps in Digital Migration
• Network roll-out (Digital)
• Integrated Digital Receiver /
Set Top Box Digital Switch-on
– Specification
Analogue Switch-off
– Manufacturing
– Distribution
– Retail Analogue TV (CH21) Digital TV (CH24)
– Installation
• Dual illumination Digital TV (CH24)
• Uptake
2015
• Analogue Television Switch- time
off Dual Illumination
• Yield Digital Dividend
• After sales support

7. The Home Environment
Digital Terrestrial Television
Set-Top Box or Integrated Digital TV
Analogue Television required

8. The Home Environment
Analogue Television Digital Terrestrial Television
• At edge of coverage or with • Set-Top Box or Integrated Digital
TV required
poor antenna “some” • Unless sufficient signal is
picture still viewable available no service is decoded or
displayed
• Many TV households today – Poor / old antenna may not work
– use poor antennas – No “marginal” reception
• DTT will be on frequencies not
– rely on marginal analogue TV necessarily covered by current
reception antennas
• New antenna and installation
may cost more than the STB
• Antenna and installation as
important as STB – both to be
considered in incentive schemes /
subsidy

9. Migration is all about the
Home Environment
AFRICA DIGITAL TV REVOLUTION: - Granny's House, published on-line at You Tube, by ThePremiumComedy, 8 March 2011
(see link at http://www.sadiba.org/pages/home/multimedia.html)
8

10. Implementation planning
Transmission
Coverage Standard
availability Implementation
and grade Network
coverage Channel
Authorisation
Installer
support
More
Do-it yourself Compelling services and
information Receiver
Information and content quality
installation
offering channels
Availability
Communication
of receive
*General Info 2-3 years before ASO
antenna *Detailed info 6 months before ASO
per specific area STB Standard
Ownership
incentive Integrated digital
scheme Compelling television receivers
Receiver
receiver
acquisition
solutions STB Manufacturing
9
*Guidelines for the transition from analogue to digital broadcasting, ITU, 2010

11. How long has migration taken in other markets
Phil Laven, DVB Project office, DVB World 2011, Nice, France, 7 March 2011
10

12. Content is King
• The viewer has been promised more
channels
• Great content = the biggest incentive
to migrate
• See report and video on SOWETO trial
(www.sadiba.org)
• If what is available on DTT is neither
compelling nor attractive migration
will stall
– Slow / no uptake of STB
– Self-funding gap significant
– Retail might be stuck with STB not
moving
– Could result in manufacturing stalling
– Risk of negative consumer sentiment SOWETO DVB-T2 trial update March 2011,
Video available at www.sadiba.org
towards migration and digitisation
• STB (even if given away for free)
unlikely to move from retail, get
installed and used if no compelling
content available 11

13. Regulatory and Content
• Regulatory
– Content regulation
• Channel Authorisation
required
• Must be simple and quick
process
– Networks and Multiplexes
• Paradigm shift required
• Sharing capacity
• Content
– Filling the capacity with quality
Number of channels on DVB-T2 trial in SOWETO = 21
content
– SD / HD
– Compelling No compelling content
= no or slow uptake
12

14. Aspects of DVB-T/T2 planning
configurations to consider (GE-06)
Aspect Element (GE-06) Additional DVB-T2 Elements
Fixed
Portable outdoor Consider multiple PLP and different
Reception Mode
Portable indoor coverage modes per PLP
Mobile
70%
Coverage Quality (in terms of Consider multiple PLP and possible
95%
% of locations covered) varying coverage quality per PLP
99%
MFN (single Transmitter)
MFN (single Transmitter)
SFN
Network structure SFN
Dense SFN
Dense SFN
New SFN dimensions possible
From QPSK 1/2FEC to 256 QAM 5/6 FEC,
DVB-T/ T2 system variant From QPSK ½ FEC to 64 QAM 7/8 FEC
Pilot Patterns, carrier mode
Band III Band III
Frequency Band Band IV Band IV
Band V Band V
13

15. Typical National Rollout
• Trial
– Engineering skills
– Impact on the home
– Trial participants –closed group of representative citizens
• Plan and prioritise the rollout
• Install transmission infrastructure and prepare for switch-on
• Have a coordinated roll-out and switch-on
– National switch-on requires national DTT network on-air
– Regional switch-on requires stepped approach and detailed
communication
• Dual illumination
– Retail, consumer education, receiver and platform marketing
• Switch-off
– National
– By region
– By site
14

16. Conclusion
• Migration is about the consumer and the home environment
• The receive antenna is as important as the STB (Antenna
subsidy?)
• All implementation factors must be considered and in place
to ensure success
• Implementation planning is critical
• Migration has typically taken more that 6 years
• In markets where the majority of the population relies on
terrestrial reception migration has taken more than 10 years
• Retail and installer capacity is likely to be a key bottleneck /
opportunity to create jobs
• Content is key to consumer uptake of DTT and successful
migration. It is essential that compelling content drives
uptake
• No compelling content = No or slow migration 15

17. Migration is about the home
AFRICA DIGITAL TV REVOLUTION: Is the Doctor Home, published on-line at You Tube, by ThePremiumComedy, 8 March 2011
(see link at http://www.sadiba.org/pages/home/multimedia.html)
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