Deutsche TV-Plattform

WG Digitisation
The Working Group Digitalisation of the German TV-Platform founded at the end of April 2009 is chaired by Jörg-Peter Jost (Hessischer Rundfunk/ARD ). Previously, he had successfully chaired the Working Group DVB T [DTT] since 2006. The results of the former Working Group DVB-T and iTV (interactive Television), which dealt with the introduction of interactive television, will contribute to the work of the new working group. The working group Digitisation will also closely co-operate with the new working group Hybrid End User Devices with regards to conditional access systems such as CI/CA, its more recent version CI Plus, and digital rights and content protection systems (DRM). 

The new Working Group Digitisation supports and promotes the transition from analogue to digital of the two means of transmission that have not yet been completely digitised: cable and satellite. These two means of transmission are used by more than 90 per cent of the German households and thus represent the basis of television programme supply in Germany. Analogue satellite transmission is going to be discontinued in the next phase of the digital switchover. This process also has an important dimension for cable network providers, since the broadcasting signals for cable transmission on the network layers 3 and 4 are often received over cable TV head stations via satellite. Therefore, Cable network operators currently discuss the possibility of re-converting digital TV signals received by Satellite to analogue signals in order to further transmit these via cable. Even though it does not seem reasonable, this procedure might not completely be avoided in the first phase due to the low digitisation rate of cable networks in Germany and the business model of the regional network operator. The working group Digitisation aims at developing a road map and set out a catalogue of measures in co-operation with all stakeholders, to ensure that the complete transition of satellite transmission from analogue to digital is completed successfully.

The WG Digitalisation also focuses on the promotion of digitisation in cable transmission. Concretely, the Working Group deals with scenarios for the gradual reduction of analogue households, favouring digital and broadband cable households, and foreseeing other necessary steps. Minimum requirements for receivers and end user devices play a major role in the interest of the consumers. This is another focus of the working group. Technical aspects of the signal transport and the extraction of DVB standards for cable and satellite (DVB-C2, DVB-S2) are also relevant for programme providers and network providers. The high efficiency of high-definition television (HDTV) opens up new perspectives. Thus, HDTV could become the driving force of digitisation in cable and satellite. This is the reason why the WG Digitalisation and the WG HDTV of the German TV-Platform will closely cooperate.

“We take it for an incentive that the digital roll-out of terrestrial television has been completed so fast, efficiently and successfully in Germany. Now, we want to consequently tackle the digitalisation of the two major means of TV transmission: cable and satellite“, said Jörg-Peter Jost, chair of the Working Group Digitisation and member of the Board of Directors.“ This is by far not that simple, considering the large number of stakeholders and their diverse interests. However, due to its large membership the Deutsche TV-Plattform is the appropriate forum to support digital switchover in the interest of viewers and consumers.”