Tuesday, November 11, 2003
China plans universal digital TV
China is planing to switch all of its cable TV broadcasting to digital by 2010 and phase out analog broadcasts altogether by 2015, according to this report. This is a move that could potentially catalyze a worldwide shift towards digital broadcasting, given the sheer numbers in the Chinese market. Such a move is long overdue, given the opportunity cost to using all that analog spectrum (most of which TV broadcasters got for peanuts or less). Of course, U.S. law mandates that analog TV be completely phased out by 2006. I don't see any chance of that condition being met (the lobbyists will make sure there is an extension). Let's hope the Chinese have better luck with their deadlines. At the very least, give them credit for thinking in terms of freeing up valuable spectrum, not to mention providing better quality TV.
