Campus TV, the channel of the University of Talca (signal 25.1) in 2013 began broadcasting in digital. Then they received their first permit for experimental television and have renewed to complete the experience and become one of the new operators when digital television is displayed permanently in the country.
The channel is one of 46 that, according to the Department of Telecommunications (Subtel), has achieved a permit for testing. Only in the regions of O’Higgins and Aysen it has not been interested in perform.
The experimental demonstration signals (of channels now operate in a manner analogous) and (new channel) already cover 48% of the national population and it is expected that by 2020 the deployment of digital television in Chile it is complete, when the final switch will cause the complete disappearance of the antennas on the houses.
Today the channels are in the process of migration to new technology and since 2016, the National Television Council ( CNTV) will be called to grant concessions to new channels. Under the law, in 2017 the national channels with broadcasts in at least eight regions shall transmit high definition (HD) and reach all the regional capitals.
“It was a good experience,” says Rodrigo Ramirez, program manager TVD Subtel. “Through experimentation you leave the installed intellectual capital, technicians who know what is digitization, change equipment, antennas. All this stage generates knowledge, has been positive. From image quality to the reception of citizens, “he adds.
Although there are 46 permits issued, today about 40 channels are actually transmitted. Others like GVision, School E-423 Gabriela Mistral Take, for example, now it transmits content created by and for children by the cable and streaming has not begun testing.
According to Wilfredo Zelada, coordinator of the canal, Subtel resolution never reached them, they learned that they could perform the test a few weeks ago, but I can not do them because his term expired six months. Will have to await the opening of the final awards for being a digital channel next year.
“We are prepared for any time to convey experimentally. Our tech teams are run by children, “he says.
Long Road
Getting to this point was not easy. The law of digital terrestrial television spent six years in Congress, was enacted only in May 2014 and in April published its rules. “Before there were only experimental or demonstration channel signals, in fact, in some regions and Santiago were among the few where you could watch digital TV,” says Peter Huichalaf, Undersecretary of Telecommunications.
During the America’s Cup digital channels in 17 cities broadcast the matches live and in high definition, replicating the signal TVN.
Campus TV was one of the parties and transmitted by Liliana Guzman, executive director of the channel, the initiative helped them to come forward. In the days before and explained how gave tuning antennas, because “people do not know that the remote has to press ‘air’ or ‘TV’, because it is no longer done,” he says. He adds that digitization is to accept the philosophy that the TV is for everyone. “We felt we were tools to accomplish that. You remember that was before free TV. Now, if you have cable does not see anything, “he says.
There are people meter, but surveys know they have a reception of 1,500 to 5,000 people. “People like it, it has permitted television from a regional perspective, with local news. People would like to be and that it allows digital TV channel, “emphasizes.
Ramirez agrees with the premise. “We always say that digital television was late, but I stand in front of that, because the analog television in Chile is a service that does not get to everyone. National channels (TVN, C13, CHV, Mega TV Network, UCV, Telecanal) are only in two locations: Santiago and La Serena-Coquimbo, they grew up watching all channels, but most of the population only leads to two or three. Our promise is to have the first public service that covers 100% of the country, “he says.
user
Felipe Martinez created the web GuiaTVD. cl in 2013, where users updated with reports of the deployment of the TVD in the country.
departed for his new TV had the logo “TVD”, but then did not understand its meaning. “Search the Internet, and while there was a page dedicated to the topic Subtel was very outdated and the information was not understandable for a user who does not know the issue,” he says. The thousands of daily visits has its website says, “show us that the lack of information dissemination and education on the subject is real,”
At your page get questions like:. ‘Where do I pay to use this? ‘or’ I bought a LCD and says TVD … serves me my satellite dish? “he says. “We got to meet a lack of information and do it with something that has no official website: interactive sections and very intuitive.” Your web offers from coverage maps created with reports of users, to a step by step to tune HD channels open and free guide. “We even have video tutorials on YouTube, where we teach to make easy and inexpensive to capture the open digital TV antennas homemade” he says.
Mobile and interactive
One of the characteristics of the selected TV standard (ISDB-T Japanese) is its ability to be mobile and interactive.
The first, or One Seg, is already being tested. “In principle, we are giving space for the channels or companies to be creative and develop specific devices channels, but this is associated with the need to begin to arrive to capture the digital signal, whatever it does,” says Pedro Huichalaf, Undersecretary of Telecommunications.
Some channels already have special signals (or replicate their main signal) for mobile devices, tablets, smartphones, portable DVD or MP4, among others, that capture the open signal (there are 16 compatible models in the country, according to Subtel).
Rodrigo Ramirez, program manager TVD Subtel, said that One Seg worked very well. He himself was responsible for testing while traveling to Talca and notes that mobile TVN, for example, captures beyond Rancagua. “The One Seg signal is very robust. Mega, C13 and CHV are perfect to San Fernando “he says. “Chile is a pioneer in streaming content or a specific channel for cell phone,” he says.
On the interactivity adds Huichalaf who are working with Brazil for the development of applications, because they are much more advanced. Ramirez says there have developed applications on issues of health and employment, for example, can apply for jobs through the TV, receive training or make an appointment with the doctor. “That is the value beyond better picture and sound or multiprogramming. Is to provide new services to television, “says Ramirez To Huichalaf.
that ability will come in handy in times of emergency. “We developed the system to work with Onemi for further messages (SMS) alerts sent by digital television,” he says.