Friday, September 20, 2019
Terrestrial Digital Broadcasting Convergence and Implication
Terrestrial Digital Broadcasting Convergence and Implication Reza Tadayoni*, Knud Erik Skouby Center for Tele-Information, Technical University of Denmark, Building 371, DK-2800 Lyngby, Denmark Abstract This paper is a contribution to the development of analyses of the process of converging media and to theà clarification of the regulatory implications of this process. It is generally agreed that the process ofà convergence between telecommunications, IT and broadcasting through its technological, organisational,à and market/service aspects has far-reaching inßuence on the sectors involved and on future socio-economicà settings. The paper explores the preparation for introduction of terrestrial digital television in Denmark as anà aspect in the general process of convergence. The explorative analysis establishes an understanding of theà technological issues and drivers in the development, which in interaction shape a digital distributionà structure that is a concrete part of convergence. Based on this understanding, a model à the OSA-model à isà suggested for the techno-economic structure of distribution of terrestrial digital TV. The model is used toà dis cuss market prospects and regulatory implications, as these are derived from the interplay of traditionalà areas of regulation in the three sectors and areas emerging as candidates for regulatory activity based on theirà functionality. The discussion of the process of introduction of terrestrial digital TV in Denmark thus providesà a general analysis of convergence and its regulatory implications. ( 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rightsà reserved. Keywords: Terrestrial digital broadcasting; Convergence; DAB; DVB 1. Introduction During the past few decades the communication landscape has been subject to radical changes. Traditionally, communication has been divided in three sectors à telecommunication, broadcastingà and information technology (IT) à which cover dià ¤erent communication applications. The sectoralà 0308-5961/99/$ à see front matter ( 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved. PII: S 0 3 0 8 5 9 6 1 ( 9 8 ) 0 0 0 8 6 X 1 This work is a result of participating in two Danish research projects: Service development, Internationalisation and Competences (SIC) project. Distributed Multi Media (DMM) project. 2DAB and DVB is used for digital audio broadcasting and digital video broadcasting, respectively, without referenceà to the speciÞc European technologies/protocols-agreements using DAB and DVB as brand names.à Division has been based not only on dià ¤erent technologies being used in the dià ¤erent sectors but ità has also evolved in close interplay between political-regulatory interventions, economic considerationsà and technological characteristics. Understanding the dià ¤erent aspects of regulation in the information age requires a solidà understanding of the development in the communication landscape as well as of the ongoingà process of convergence between the traditionally separate forms of communication and of theà Ãâinformation fusionÃâ¢. Technological speciÞcity has not been determining for sectoral division and isà not determining for the convergence process but it has been a vital factor in this process. Technological innovations like digitalisation, audio and video coding technologies, computerisationà and broadband infrastructures à such as cable and satellite networks à make serviceà provision across the sectoral boundaries possible. This also imposes new political and regulatoryà challenges and makes re-thinking and re-designs of the existing regulatory framework for communicationà a necessity. This paper1 discusses digital broadcasting as an instance in the convergence process where this isà seen as a process with technological, economic/structural and regulatory aspects. Within digitalà broadcasting a focused area namely the terrestrial digital broadcasting in Denmark will be studiedà in details. Broadcasting is quickly moving into the era of digitalisation as digital audio broadcastingà (DAB)2 and digital video broadcasting (DVB) to replace traditional analogue broadcastingà technologies. Full digitalisation of the whole production chain, from recording and editing overà transmission media to receivers in the end usersÃ⢠homes, will be a reality in 10 to 15 years. This isà a challenging and extensive change that will face broadcasters, politicians and regulators in theà coming years. The main political and economic focus is generally on DVB and the transition hasà already started in some European countries, most notably the UK and Sweden. For users, DAB/DVB will oà ¤er many advantages over analogue broadcasting, such as betterà technical quality, more programs and services on a given set of frequencies, and the option ofà multimedia and interactive services. This development is an expression of converging media:à DAB/DVB will integrate elements from several dià ¤erent media, computers, telecommunicationsà and broadcasting. The shift to digital broadcasting is not simple, however, as it introduces a rangeà of interrelated political, economic and technical challenges. Some of these challenges are speciÞc toà the mode of distribution à satellite, cable or terrestrial with the latter having special problems andà potentials. As the basic technologies are now ready, solutions to two sets of regulatory issues are pertinentà for the development and dià ¤usion of terrestrial DVB. One set of issues is related to the concept ofà Public Service Broadcasters. In almost all countries, cultural policy considerations have givenà rise to privileges and obligations for a few broadcasters.
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