It was undoubtedly a wise decision for Colombia to adopt the second version of the European digital television model. This prevented that when the analog blackout occurs they are already with an obsolete model.
By Richard Santa S.
In December 2011, the National Television Commission of Colombia updated the digital terrestrial television model it had chosen three years ago, the DVB – T for the DBVT – T2, after a process of consultation with the country's television channels.
But this decision, which had been rumored since August, generated discomfort among some sectors, especially those companies that had been working to produce equipment under the first version of the European model and that were not consulted.
Among the companies affected are TV manufacturers, which were incorporating the set-top box into their new equipment, and set-top box manufacturers for the same model. One of them is Energy & Electronics, which in July 2011 launched the first decoder for digital terrestrial television under the DVB-T model, with 100% Colombian design.
Santiago Espinal Tobón, general manager of the company, explained to TV Y VIDEO that they have a great detriment, because they had begun to work on the decoder based on a decision that the Colombian government had taken and that they were confident in its seriousness.
"The Commission never told us that there was a possibility of having a change of the model in such a short time, not even the much-mentioned analog blackout has occurred and we already have a new one," he said.
Change or update?
One of the discussions facing the industry with the regulator has to do with the definition of what was done. While the National Television Commission assures that it is an update, the directors of Energy & Electronics assure that it is a change of the model.
"You can't talk about updating when the acquired technology can't be used with the new model and people would have to make a new investment, losing the previous one," said Santiago Espinal Tobón.
Another criticism it makes is the lack of clarity in the technical specifications of the new model. They add that the decoder they launched has a cost in the market of $ 150,000, and that they do not understand how from the National Television Commission they say it would cost $ 80,000. Now, with the new version, the cost could double.
The demand
"We seek to have a mourner of decisions like these, which are taken lightly, without taking into account the implications of the decisions. That's why we sue," said Santiago Espinal Tobón.
He added that at this time they filed the lawsuit with the National Television Commission, seeking to be answered for the nearly US $ 2 million they have invested in the development of the set-top box, and that he hopes that soon some television manufacturers with whom they are talking about the issue will join.
For now, Energy & Electronics is studying the possibilities of manufacturing a decoder for the new model, but they are waiting to learn more about the plans of the government and the Commission.
Don't start late
The director of the National Television Commission, Jaime Andrés Estrada, responded to the criticisms made of the process. He explained that the proposal to update the digital television model was made by television channels, both public and private, taking advantage of the fact that only 25% of the coverage was available with DVB-T at the beginning of 2011, that is, Bogotá and Medellín.
"Based on this proposal, the Commission carried out technical, economic and legal analyses in 2011, which showed the feasibility of the update. For cities that already have the first model of digital television, a period of three years was established in which the two models work at the same time DVB-T and DVB-T2 and so those who have already acquired the technology of the first version have more time to use and change it, "he said.
As part of the upgrade agreement, the private channels committed to bear the cost of changing the equipment for digital television again, as they had already acquired them under the DBV-T model for 25%.
With the adoption of the DVB-T2, the goal of the analog blackout set by the Colombian government for the year 2019 is not modified. By December 2012, 50% of the territory must be covered by the digital signal of public and private channels.
To this end, RCTV is advancing the purchases of the necessary equipment for the Colombian public network: Channel 1, Institutional Channel, Señal Colombia and the eight regional channels.
Prepare defense
Regarding the lawsuit filed by Energy & Electronics, Jaime Andrés Estrada maintained that they are aware that it was filed, but they do not yet have information about the process.
"The updating process was discussed in the work tables that we did throughout the country, to socialize the project with all sectors of the industry. On account of the investments made by a single company, the country cannot be condemned to be behind in its digital television model, the general interest prevails. These were some of the arguments that the board took into account to make the decision," he added.
On the legal process, he did not want to advance further details, only indicated that they are preparing the defense with the legal department of the entity.
Subsidized set-top boxes?
As part of the process of adopting digital television, several Latin American countries, including Argentina, have subsidized set-top boxes for the population of the lower strata. Will this happen in Colombia?
From the government it has been mentioned that they will be subsidized, but so far there is no concrete plan to do so and the cost of a decoder in the market does not fall below 150 thousand Colombian pesos.
In this regard, the Director of the National Television Commission said that the possibility is being studied that with resources from the Television and Content Development Fund, this transition can be supported for households in the lower strata by subsidizing decoders.
DTT in Latin America
The countries of Central and South America are currently advancing the processes of implementation of digital television. Between 2015 and 2020, the goals for the analog blackout are established.
Some countries, such as Mexico and Colombia, are looking to bring forward that target date by a few years. Mexico has already done so, as it lowered the goal by five years, since it was initially set for 2020 and now in 2015. For its part, the Colombian government wants to reduce it in two or three years, but has not yet defined.
The dates of the blackout in the countries of the region are as follows:
Country Blackout Date Model
Argentina 2018 ISDB-T
Bolivia 2019 ISDB-T
Brazil 2016 ISDB-T
Chile 2016 ISDB-T
Costa Rica 2017 ISDB-T
Cuba 2020 ISDB-T
Ecuador 2017 ISDB-T
Nicaragua 2017 ISDB-T
Paraguay 2016 ISDB-T
Peru 2020 ISDB-T
Uruguay 2015 ISDB-T
Venezuela 2020 ISDB-T
Colombia 2019 DVB-T2
Panama 2020 DVB-T
Dominican Republic 2015 ATSC
El Salvador 2019 ATSC
Honduras 2017 ATSC
Mexico 2015 ATSC
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