The digital switch-over in four countries : an overview

Many countries are converting their terrestrial television services from analog to digital transmission. Several different policy approaches have been adopted with different apparent results. Conversion to digital transmissions will considerably improve efficient use of the radiofrequency spectrum by releasing much of the spectrum tied up in analog transmission for other highly valuable uses. In this paper we examine the digital TV conversion policies and progress in the UK, USA, Australia and Italy, which have adopted different processes to achieve the switch-off. Each of the four countries decided to mandate the digital conversion late in the last decade adopting policies with similar planned periods of transition and similar targets to complete the process. We look at the policies of each and the progress achieved to date to see what features appear to be enhancing or slowing down the achievement of the switch-over target.