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Technical Review | January-March 2012


Industry Debate: All Systems Go for Decision Making


A panel comprising experts from all sections of the industry gave a clear go-ahead to the broadcasters for positive decision making towards implementation of digital broadcasting infrastructure and new services.


Commencing the debate, the question on the table was whether this was an opportune time for decision making by the stakeholders in respect of implementation of new technologies and new services.


Mike Dallimore, Vice President, Broadcast Australia, responded that in respect of digital TV and digital radio, so far the major focus had been standards and information gathering and training. The time was now appropriate for the ASEAN countries and others to decide on implementation in the near term and on the types of applications, HBBTV being among these.


of survival as equipment obsolescence would come in. The broadcasters should no longer hesitate to take decisive action.


Phil Laven, Chairman DVB, was all for taking decisions and said, “The sooner you start, the sooner you will finish the transition.”


Nils Ahrens, Regional Broadcast Manager, Rohde & Schwarz, said that the planning, infrastructure development and setting up of networks was the requirement now. Describing the status of the industry, he said that equipment and the best technologies are available and broadcasters should take advantage of that.


The panel then debated a second question on whether the industry was equipped adequately to support implementation of the new technologies and new infrastructure.


Ruxandra Obreja, Chairman DRM, said that broadcasters should meet the expectations of the listeners and that keeping the listeners in the analogue domain would not be acceptable in the market. The time had come for Asia to go for digital radio, taking advantage of lower power requirements.


Rich Redmond, Vice-President of Harris, put forward the thought that the ‘future is now’. He said all the key drivers have been put in place, new synergies are developing in the market and the consumers need a bigger experience. If the industry does not go for it, they will all be left behind.


Azlina Mohd Yusof, Director, Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission said that the regulators have made things easy for the broadcasters in many ways to implement digital infrastructure and services. Definitely the time is opportune to take decisions and reduce pressure on the spectrum. She said that the industry wants to move forward.


Presenting a perspective from commercial broadcasters, Tan Kwong Meng, General Manager, TV3, Malaysia, said that technical facilities need to create business opportunities. If implementation now can enhance business, commercial broadcasters are all for it.


Andrew Yeo, Publisher and Director, Asia-Pacific Broadcasting, observed that going digital would soon become a question


Among the messages that emerged was that the development of equipment was done and the industry could meet all the needs. Affirming that the industry-wide supply base is capable of delivering the requisite inputs to the broadcasters more now than ever before, it was crucial to be successful in the transition to digital and also address spectrum issues. Indicating that the industry was equipped to implement the change, Ruxandra Obreja said that there were no problems in hardware supply and that software was upgradeable. Noting that experience of early implementers is available to the industry, the region would benefit the upgrade of technology.


Deeming it important to engage audiences, the industry is ready to support digital implementation, as had already happened in several countries in the region. The trend was towards adoption of new technology and mitigating infrastructure obsolescence. Most broadcasters have embraced digital and HDTV and implementation should not be any burden to them.


Several questions were asked from the floor which focused on some of the aspects that were raised by the debate.


Wrapping up the session, Sharad Sadhu, who moderated the debate, said that the overwhelming opinion among the industry leaders was that the time was right for the broadcasters to decide upon implementation of digital infrastructure and services. The industry was fully equipped to service the requirements of the broadcasters at all stages.


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