Digital switchover is a territory-wide project that will impact every household and benefit the community as a whole. It essentially requires the involvement of the Government with respect to technical trials, frequency planning, policy formulation, broadcasting network and service licensing, network construction, standards setting and promotion of consumer take-up, etc.

In the late 1990s, the Government conducted technical trials of DTT with ATV and TVB and coordinated frequency planning with the Mainland authorities. The Government then consulted the public on the implementation framework for DTT in 2000 and 2003 respectively. In July 2004, the Government announced the policy framework for DTT implementation, after taking into account the responses to the second consultation.

We adopt a market-led approach to the selection of DTT technical standard. ATV and TVB submitted to the Government for approval their proposals for DTT transmission standard at end December 2006. They propose to adopt the National Standard announced by the Standardization Administration of China (SAC) in August 2006 which is named "GB 20600-2006: Framing Structure, Channel Coding and Modulation for Digital Television Terrestrial Broadcasting System". 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 TA Statement setting out the TA's decision is available on the OFTA website.

The TA has published the technical specification for DTT baseline receiver requirements (HKTA 1108) to facilitate the production of consumer electronics products. OFTA has also revised the broadcasting specification HKTA 1104 "Performance Requirements for In-building Coaxial Cable Distribution System (IBCCDS)" to incorporate the reception and distribution of DTT signals. In addition, OFTA published the "Guidelines for Upgrading the In-building Coaxial Cable Distribution System for Reception of Digital Terrestrial Television".

In order to promote consumer take-up of DTT, the Government will closely collaborate with the relevant industries (e.g., broadcasters, consumer electronic industry, CABD operators, etc.) to promote DTT in the community by facilitating building reception and raising the public's awareness of DTT.

The Government is assisting ATV and TVB in network construction and has set up working groups to facilitate the roll out of a territory-wide DTT network.

In order to promote consumer take-up of DTT, the Government collaborates closely with the relevant industries (e.g., broadcasters, consumer electronic industry, CABD operators, etc.) to promote DTT in the community and raise the public's awareness.