Digital Switchover Strategies '09

How has the UK's switchover programme gone so far? What methods have been used to convey the concept of digital switchover? Do consumers understand the implications of the switch and what help is proving most effective?

Europe is just four years away from most member states completing switchover. What progress has been made and what lessons have broadcasters, regulators and consumers learned so far? What problems will be encountered as we approach the European Commission's target date of 2012?

Italy is getting its switchover strategy back on track following setbacks over receiver subsidies and delaying the deadline for the switch. How has it developed a strategy for switchover and what challenges have been overcome?

Europe is leading the way in the transition to digital. Will other parts of the world have the same success or will they accept analogue TV in the long term? What foundations has Europe built to launch new, innovative services after switchover and will this act as an incentive for other continents to make the switch? How are other platforms taking advantage of the switch?

The USA plans to switch off analogue signals on June 12, 2009. How did consumers react and what measures were put in place to ensure a smooth switchover?

Finland's terrestrial switchover was widely regarded as a success but how did it extend the process to cable? Are consumers and industry happy with the outcomes of switchover?

Many countries have developed "freesat" services to target homes outside of DTT coverage areas. To what extent can satellite be used and when is more cost effective than terrestrial?

• Contribution for DTT
• Feeding transmitters over IP
• Local Program Adaptation

Chair Person - Stewart Clarke

Different approaches have been adopted to help vulnerable consumers through the switch to digital. Should funding be available to countries that need it and how can the sale of spectrum help finance the switch? And how much does "targeted help" cost and can too much "hand holding" be counter productive?

The switch to digital so far has not been as environmentally friendly as it could have been. How can industry work to ensure that energy efficiency is equipment is promoted and countries avoid analogue TV “mountains? Which uses of freed up spectrum are best for the environment?

In February 2008, Sweden completed its switchover. How the country adapted to the switch one year on and what has has happened to other TV distribution platforms?

How will regulators decide how to allocate precious spectrum freed up from switchover? Should auctions decide who wins the frequencies or can broadcasters justify the need for new capacity? How will economic conditions impact the approach to releasing spectrum?

The list of candidates to bid for digital dividend spectrum grows ever longer, with TV channels, HD, mobile TV and wireless broadband all valid contenders. Which companies will be vying for spectrum and what are their chances of winning? Which services will deliver most public good and how should frequencies be allocated?

Can the use of the digital dividend be harmonised? After the analogue switch-off, will the digital spectrum landscape be harmonised across European countries? Which are the consequences of harmonisation?

Consumer electronics companies and internet players are pushing for spectrum to exploit the "white space" within UHF spectrum to launch unlicensed services. Is this technology viable and what services can be offered?

The digital dividend presents a number of opportunities for industry to launch new, advanced services but what do consumers want? What uses for spectrum will offer countries most jobs and economic welfare?

Optimization of DVB-T SFN networks project development and installation is the key-solution for both decreasing capital and operating expenditures and acceleration of DVB-T nationwide network roll-out, especially in terms of the global economic crisis. Solution for transformation of the existing nationwide networks for analogue broadcasting into many DVB-T SFNs will help to achieve the described task.

Hundreds of channels have launched in the explosion of multichannel TV over the last decade. Is multichannel the salvation for large-scale national broadcasters? Can local broadcasters make it work post DSO, or does sustainability in the multichannel world require entirely new business models?

Japan's digital switchover will ensure that broadcasters are guaranteed HDTV channels in the future. How will Japan carry out its one-step switchover and what implications are there for the digital dividend?

After early failures, DTT is now establishing itself as a viable technology for building pay-TV. How are operators creating successful pay-TV businesses on DTT and how are they differentiating against cable, satellite and IPTV. Can advertising support new DTT channels?

DTT must be developed and improved to remain a competitive technology in the future. Does the answer lie in better compression and transmission standards or does DTT have to be combined with broadband to maintain its appeal in the connected world?