Friday, July 29, 2011

Analogue broadcasts ends in most of Japan

Japan became the first Asian nation to switchover to digital TV broadcast today. 

Public broadcaster NHK has terminated its analogue broadcasts in all areas in Japan except for the three prefectures which were devastated by the 11 March earthquake and tsunami. Analogue broadcasts in the region will continue until 31 March 2012.

NHK President Masayuki Matsumoto and Michisada Hirose, President of the National Association of Commercial Broadcasters in Japan, held a joint press conference in Tokyo. 

Mr Matsumoto said: "As a public broadcaster with a mission of delivering its services throughout Japan, NHK has invested about 400 billion yen (US$5.1 billion) to implement necessary measures, including the construction of relay stations".

Analogue terrestrial television broadcasting in Japan was launched in 1953. NHK began its terrestrial digital broadcast in 2003 following a legal revision that stipulated that analogue transmissions be terminated by 24 July, 2011. However, after the 11 March earthquake, it was decided that digital switchover in the affected areas would be postponed until next March.

(Source : Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union)

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