The Moldovan Government has approved the draft program of transition to digital television

According to a press release of the Ministry of Information Technology and Communications (MITC), the Moldovan Government approved the draft program of transition from analog television to terrestrial digital television. However, the opinions about the need to develop digital television vary.

The MITC announcement says that the state enterprise “Radiocomunicatii” is responsible for ensuring transition from analog to digital television. Authorities claim that the digital technology will be implemented within the previously established time frame, i.e. by June 2015.

Transition to terrestrial digital broadcasting involves a change in technology, which will lead to the modernization of television. Theoretically, after 17 June 2015 no TV operator will be able to broadcast in analog format. By that moment, the standard DVB-T2 (Digital Video Broadcasting - Terrestrial) should be functional, and it should allow creating a “multiplex” on a single frequency – a sub-channel that can transmit up to 15 TV channels of superior image and sound. The TV signal will be received by means of devices called “set-top boxes,” which can be connected to any TV set. Also, some models of TV sets have such receiving devices built in.

The implementation of digital television and creation of opportunities for informing from several radio and television sources at the national, regional and local level was one of the commitments of the Filat 2 government and of the Leanca government. Earlier, according to the study “Reforms in the Field of Mass Media in the period of 2009–2013: between promises and facts” („Reformele în domeniul mass-media în perioada 2009-2013: între promisiuni şi fapte”) the draft program of transition to terrestrial digital television was analyzed by media experts. They found some deficiencies in the draft, such as inclusion of private television providers with significant coverage and audience into the first multiplex and preferential conditions at the time of creation of multiplexes. According to experts, these provisions are contrary to the European recommendations concerning the use of multiplexes for the purpose of ensuring diversity and pluralism and for prevention of monopolization and concentration of mass media. Some of the experts’ recommendations were later accepted. Media experts suggested to Government representatives to improve the draft program of transition to terrestrial digital television, so that its implementation can reach its main goal – bring the benefits of the information society to every family.

In an interview for Media-azi.md on this topic, the chairman of the parliamentary committee on mass media Chiril Lucinschi said that in his opinion the digital system of multiplexes is outdated, and that he would prefer developing television by means of satellite or fiber-optic network.

A similar opinion shared the general director of the StarNet company Alexandru Machedon. He said that the process of digitalization is too expensive and outdated. Machedon pleads for optical fiber for economic reasons. “We want pluralism of opinion, encouragement and modernization of mass media, but we don’t understand that our mass media are too poor to afford investments into expensive and old technologies,” he wrote in his blog.

Meanwhile, the Government should adopt a legal framework in the context of transition to digital television. Experts insist that it is necessary to adopt a new Broadcasting Code, adjusted to European standards, so as to avoid the need to make numerous amendments to the current code.

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