How to Receive Free-to-air DTT?

In the process of migration from analogue to digital broadcasting, ATV and TVB will need to roll out their digital transmission facilities in phases. It thus takes time for them to achieve universal coverage for digital broadcasting. The target is to achieve by 2011 a digital coverage level comparable to the existing analogue one. Staged rollout of digital network is a worldwide practice in the migration to digital broadcasting.

Digital terrestrial television (DTT) was launched on 31 December 2007. The signals are transmitted by the principal transmission station at Temple Hill, which serves as the hub of the transmission network. The initial coverage includes northern part of Hong Kong Island, Kowloon Peninsula, part of Shatin and eastern part of Lantau Island (covering around 50% of the population). According to their plan, ATV and TVB will roll out five other principal transmission stations respectively at Castle Peak, Cloudy Hill, Golden Hill, Kowloon Peak and Lamma Island by August 2008 to achieve at least 75% digital coverage. Subsequently, they will further expand digital coverage by rolling out additional transmission stations at other locations to be determined later. Viewers in some areas will thus be able to receive DTT earlier than in other areas. The Government and the two broadcasters will provide digital coverage information for reference by the public in due course.

DTT reception occurs first at the building level and then at the premises level.

(a) Building Reception

At the building level, DTT signals are picked up and distributed to viewers by rooftop antenna and/or in-building communal aerial broadcast distribution (CABD) system. For the purpose of receiving DTT, an existing antenna in reasonably good condition should be capable of receiving DTT signals. The building management of multi-storey buildings will need to install appropriate amplifiers/converters in the in-building CABD system in order to receive DTT signals. New buildings to be constructed or under construction should also be installed with a CABD system capable of receiving and distributing DTT signals. OFTA has issued the specification and guidelines for the reception and distribution of DTT signals in buildings. The incorporated owners and building managers can check and, if necessary, upgrade their CABD for DTT reception if their buildings fall into the initial coverage areas of DTT broadcasting. For those receiving free-to-air television through standalone antennae, upgrading may not be necessary if the existing antennae are in good condition.

When first launched in end 2007, the DTT signals are transmitted by the main transmitting station at Temple Hill. The initial coverage includes Kowloon peninsula, northern Hong Kong Island, Shatin and eastern Lantau Island. Subsequent to more DTT transmitting stations to be completed by phases in 2008 and onwards, the DTT coverage will expand accordingly and the areas under coverage will be provided in due course.

(b) Premises Reception

At the premises level, because the existing TV sets are incapable of decoding digital signals, viewers will need to buy a digital set-top box and connect it to their existing TV sets, or buy an integrated digital TV set with a built-in digital decoder. The public can still receive the existing four free TV program channels in analogue form without changing or adding any equipment during the simulcast period.

ATV and TVB submitted proposals at end December 2006 to the Government for adopting the National Standard for DTT transmission. The Office of the Telecommunications Authority (OFTA) completed the evaluation of the proposals and the Telecommunications Authority (TA) has decided to adopt the National Standard as the transmission standard for DTT in Hong Kong. The technical specification for DTT baseline receiver requirements is published by the TA to facilitate the production of consumer electronics products.

DTT receivers comprises set-top boxes capable of decoding DTT signals and integrated TV sets capable of both decoding and displaying DTT signals. Receivers available in the market can be generally categorized into two tiers, the 'basic-tier' and the 'higher-tier'. The Government has devised a labelling scheme for voluntary participation by the suppliers of DTT receivers. For more details, please visit the Labelling Scheme.

How to Receive Free-to-air HDTV?

HDTV is one of the main features of digital TV. HDTV format includes the signal format of TV studio production/transmission such as resolution (e.g., 1920 x 1080i, 1280 x 720p) and aspect ratio (e.g., 16:9). Progressive and interlaced scanning are the two TV display methods. TV pictures using 720p or 1080i should yield compatible good picture quality under normal applications. Although TV set supporting 1080p (1080 lines using progressive scanning) should provide higher picture quality, it is comparatively more expensive.

TV sets for viewing HDTV (so called "HDTV Ready") should have at least the following basic features:

• having a wide screen aspect ratio of 16:9;
• supporting 720p (720 lines using progressive scanning) and 1080i (1080 lines using interlaced scanning) HDTV picture formats.; and
• having built-in HDTV input terminals like YPbPr.

Although some TV sets now available in the market have been marked "HDTV Ready", you should check with the retailer whether they support the above minimum requirements.

How to Receive Digital Pay TV?

Pay TV operators provide their subscribers with the necessary set-top boxes to receive their digital TV services, including HDTV programmes if any. Subscribers wishing to watch HDTV provided by pay TV operators should equip themselves with TV sets that are capable of displaying HDTV signals. Subscribers are advised to consult the pay TV operators concerned.