Digital UK says that the first stage in the digital switchver has been successfully completed.
Whitehaven in Cumbria made broadcasting history, becoming the first town in the UK to start switching to digital-only television services.
An initial group of five digital terrestrial channels started broadcasting at 2.37am. Following the second stage of switchover in four weeks’ time (Nov 14), a total of 20 Freeview channels will be available to 25,000 homes in the Cumbrian town and surrounding communities. Ford Ennals, Chief Executive of Digital UK, said: “This is a big day for Whitehaven and for UK broadcasting. Switchover is a complex engineering project and I’m delighted that after many years of planning, the first stage went well. For thousands of households, today delivers a first taste of the
additional choice and interactivity that digital television provides. In just four weeks’ time, their old four channel terrestrial line up will have been fully replaced with 20 free channels and digital radio.”
The first Freeview channels are being broadcast using airwaves freed up by turning off the BBC Two analogue signal. The first digital services are BBC One, BBC Two, BBC Three, BBC News 24 and CBBC. A further 15 channels, including ITV and Channel 4 digital services, will replace the remaining analogue services from November 14. The same process will be followed region by region across the UK from 2008-2012 extending coverage of Freeview channels to 98.5% of households, up from 73% today.
Mr Ennals added: “This is just the first stage of switchover. Our research suggests more than nine out of ten households are ready¹. We know some have yet to convert their analogue television sets to digital. Others may need help, advice or practical assistance installing or getting used to using new equipment. Our priority today and in the coming weeks will be to remind late converters of the final deadline on November 14 and making sure plenty of help is available.” (more…)
Sony will launch 15 new LCD TV models in Japan, including a 70-inch set that is it’s largest yet. The company has also introduced nine new 1080p Bravia LCD TVs. These new models all feature 1,920 x 1,080, 10-bit panels and, in s,ome cases 120Hz frame rate technology and extended gamut colour capability.
In related news, Sony is planning to combine two LCD ventures that the company set up with an affiliate of Toyota Motor Corporation. The two ventures have combined production capacity of 65,000 panels a month, mainly for use in smaller screens such as mobile phones.
LG.Philips LCD and TMDisplay both plan to launch 13.3-inch LED notebook panels in the second half of 2007 while Samsung has scheduled a 12.1- to 17-inch notebook panel lineup for 2007. Panel-makers AUO and CMO have entered volume production of 12.1-inch and 13.3-/ 15.4-inch LED-based notebook panels, respectively…
CPT has announced the signing of a binding MOU with LG.Philips LCD regarding the cross license of all past and future uses of their respective patents…
IPS Alpha, the joint venture company comprised by Hitachi and Toshiba will benefit from a 9 billion yen investment to increase production of liquid-crystal displays and meet demand for slim televisions…
CMO has announced it will add investment at its OLED and LED subsidiaries, and will establish a new subsidiary for LCD module production for small- to medium-size panels.CMO will participate in the upcoming rights issue of Chi Mei EL Corporation (CMEL). CMEL plans to issue a total of 60 million shares. The raised funds will be utilized to fund operations and add new equipment purchases…
The flatpanel TVs in the Japan market totaled 489,000 units in August, up 28.8 per cent on year. LCD TV shipments accounted for 82.7 per cent of overall flat panel TVs during the month with 37-inch and above segments reaching 120,000 units, adding that PDP TVs reached 57,000 units in August, up 36.6 per cent on year. Samsung has kept its position as the world’s leading maker of televisions in 2Q07. The Korean giant had 12.4 per cent of the global TV market in the April-June quarter, according to iSuppli, followed by fellow Korean manufacturer LG Electronics with 11.4 percent and Dutch group Philips with 7.1 percent…
Samsung has partnered with six companies including Matsushita and Philips to share patents for digital TVs.
News courtesy of Witsview
