Welcome to the Government's digital TV website, which contains information about digital TV and how you can switch to digital.

Digital TV improves reception, offers better picture and sound quality, yields higher spectrum efficiency, and enables new applications such as high-definition TV (HDTV), interactive TV and datacasting services.

Digital TV is being offered by all pay TV operators in Hong Kong via cable, satellite and broadband network. As for terrestrial TV, the Government announced in July 2004 the implementation framework for digital terrestrial TV (DTT). The existing two terrestrial TV broadcasters, Asia Television Limited (ATV) and Television Broadcasts Limited (TVB) are required to launch DTT by 2007 and achieve at least 75% of coverage in 2008. Subject to further market and technical studies, the Government aims to switch off analogue broadcasting in 2012.

Digital switchover is the process where the terrestrial TV broadcasters launch DTT services and viewers equip themselves at their own costs with the necessary devices (e.g., set-top boxes or integrated TV sets) to receive DTT. Ultimately, DTT will replace analogue TV broadcasting. The community as a whole is set to derive enormous benefits from digital switchover:

• It will solve reception problems (e.g., snowing or ghosting);
  
  
• It will enhance programming choice and improve audio-visual quality for viewers;
  
  
• Broadcasters will be able to explore more business opportunities and test out new services on the digital platform;
  
  
• The consumer electronics industry will benefit from consumer demand for digital products; and
  
  
• Analogue switch-off will free up spectrum for more TV and other communications services, commonly referred to as "digital dividend".

The success of digital switchover hinges on the cooperation of all stakeholders, including consumers, broadcasters, consumer electronics industry, and the Government, etc. The Government is collaborating with the relevant industries to ensure a smooth launch of DTT in 2007 and a seamless switchover process in subsequent years.