Key stakeholders have set the ball rolling on SA`s migration to digital radio and TV broadcasting.
A Digital Migration Working Group (DMWG) was formed at a meeting in Fourways recently, to drive the digital migration process.
Comprising representatives of the broadcasting industry, the regulator (the Independent Communications Authority of SA), government, civil society, organised labour and consumer groups, the DMWG aims to develop a strategy and timelines for SA`s move to digital broadcasting.
Digital broadcasting, the group says, is in line with global developments and will allow for a "better and broadened" broadcasting service.
Joe Mjwara, official spokesman for the working group and director-general of the Department of Communications, says it is too early to say when SA will have digital broadcasting.
"The working group is still developing a draft strategy on how to go about introducing digitalised systems, and that includes a decision on a policy framework," says Mjwara.
He says it is expected that initial decisions on the development strategy will be finalised by March next year, with the government having to approve the draft strategy first.
New receivers or two broadcast streams?
Commenting on how the migration will affect consumers, Mjwara says: "For digital TV specifically, it might be necessary for consumers to acquire communications equipment that will enable them to receive digitalised TV."
He says the working group has identified two possible options: "To introduce digital radio and TV 'as soon as possible` or to have broadcasters carry on providing traditional ways of radio and TV, while gradually switching to digitised media."
Mjwara says the digital migration of broadcasting systems is not only a local strategy but is in line with guidelines from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), a body responsible for setting international standards for telecommunications and broadcasting.
"The ITU has had international regional meetings, where decisions regarding standards for the migration of broadcasting systems are discussed," he says.
Mmathapelo Lengosane, head of broadcasting policy development at the Department of Communications, says perhaps SA will see both radio and TV provide better service in terms of quality, programme choice and scope due to digitalisation.
"The migration will ensure that SA is able to provide better and broader broadcasting service, which is able to cater for the diverse needs of South Africans in terms of language, culture, lifestyle and more," says Lengosane.
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