Terrestrial Digital Broadcasting Convergence and Implication

Terrestrial Digital publicize Convergence and importReza Tadayoni*, Knud Erik SkoubyCenter for Tele-Information, Technical University of Denmark, Building 371, DK-2800 Lyngby, DenmarkAbstractThis paper is a piece to the development of analyses of the process of converging media and to theclarification of the restrictive implications of this process. It is gener all in ally hold that the process ofconvergence between telecommunications, IT and broadcasting through its proficient, organisational,and market/ armed service aspects has far-reaching inuence on the sectors involved and on future socio- scotch laytings. The paper explores the preparedness for introduction of routine digital television in Denmark as anaspect in the general process of convergence. The explorative analysis establishes an understanding of thetechnological issues and drivers in the development, which in interaction shape a digital dispersionstructure that is a concrete part of convergence. Based on this understanding, a model the OSA-model issuggested for the techno-economic structure of distri howeverion of terrestrial digital TV. The model is employ todiscuss market prospects and regulatory implications, as these are derived from the interplay of traditionalareas of formula in the three sectors and areas emerging as candidates for regulatory activity base on theirfunctionality. The discussion of the process of introduction of terrestrial digital TV in Denmark thus providesa general analysis of convergence and its regulatory implications. ( 1999 Elsevier scientific discipline Ltd. All rightsreserved.Keywords Terrestrial digital broadcasting Convergence splattering DVB1. IntroductionDuring the past few decades the communication landscape has been subject to revolutionary changes.Traditionally, communication has been divided in three sectors telecommunication, broadcastingand information engine room (IT) which cover dierent communication applications. The sectoral0308-596 1/99/$ see front matter ( 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.PII S 0 3 0 8 5 9 6 1 ( 9 8 ) 0 0 0 8 6 X1 This work is a result of participating in dickens Danish research projects usefulness development, Internationalisation and Competences (SIC) project.Distributed Multi Media (DMM) project.2 pat and DVB is apply for digital speech sound recording broadcasting and digital telly broadcasting, respectively, without referenceto the specic European technologies/protocols-agreements using DAB and DVB as tarnish names.Division has been based non only on dierent technologies being used in the dierent sectors but ithas also evolved in close interplay between policy-making-regulatory interventions, economic considerationsand technological characteristics.Understanding the dierent aspects of regulation in the information age requires a solidunderstanding of the development in the communication landscape as well as of the ongoingprocess of convergence between the traditi onally separate forms of communication and of theinformation fusion. Technological specicity has not been determining for sectoral division and isnot determining for the convergence process but it has been a vital factor in this process.Technological innovations like digitalisation, audio and video coding technologies, computerisationand broadband infrastructures such as cable and beam networks make serviceprovision across the sectoral boundaries possible. This also imposes new semipolitical and regulatorychallenges and makes re-thinking and re-designs of the existing regulatory framework for communicationa necessity.This paper1 discusses digital broadcasting as an instance in the convergence process where this isseen as a process with technological, economic/structural and regulatory aspects. Within digitalbroadcasting a focused area namely the terrestrial digital broadcasting in Denmark will be studiedin details.Broadcasting is quickly moving into the era of digitalisation as digital audio broadcasting(DAB)2 and digital video broadcasting (DVB) to replace traditional parallel broadcastingtechnologies. Full digitalisation of the whole production chain, from recording and editing overtransmission media to receivers in the end users homes, will be a reality in 10 to 15 years. This isa challenging and colossal change that will face broadcasters, politicians and regulators in thecoming years. The main political and economic focus is generally on DVB and the transition hasalready started in some European countries, most notably the UK and Sweden.For users, DAB/DVB will oer many advantages over analogue broadcasting, such as break-dancetechnical quality, more programs and services on a given constitute of frequencies, and the option ofmultimedia and interactive services. This development is an expression of converging mediaDAB/DVB will integrate elements from several dierent media, computers, telecommunicationsand broadcasting. The shift to digital broadcas ting is not simple, however, as it introduces a rangeof interrelated political, economic and technical challenges. nigh of these challenges are specic tothe mode of distribution satellite, cable or terrestrial with the latter having special problems andpotentials.As the basic technologies are now ready, solutions to two sets of regulatory issues are pertinentfor the development and diusion of terrestrial DVB. One set of issues is related to the concept ofPublic Service Broadcasters. In almost all countries, cultural policy considerations have givenrise to privileges and obligations for a few broadcasters.