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Business Digital Television

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Pay Less For Business Digital Television

The Switch To Digital Television Has Major Implications For UK Business. 

Huge amounts of detailed information is available about the implications to your business but what is not stressed enough is the fact that it means that "each and every television on your business premises will have to be converted to receive digital transmissions" which could prove a costly if you do not begin the process early enough.

Essentially the following information should be sufficient to explain how most businesses in the UK will be effected by the change to digital transmissions and why making the change early will help you to pay less now rather than wait until the change is forced on your company and the economics rule of "supply and demand" will surely come in to effect.

If you wish to find out out how your home will be effected by the digital television switchover and to view some of the available home digital TV options ... click here

Why Move From Business Analogue TV To Digital TV?

  • Digital technology provides a more efficient way to deliver television than with normal analogue transmissions. It enables the same services you now receive to be delivered in less space with greater clarity.
  • Sound and pictures are converted into a digital format and compressed, using as much less memory as possible to convey the information on a digital signal. This technique enables several television channels to be carried in the space used by the current analogue signals you now receive.
  • Digital signals can be received by standard aerials, satellite dishes or via cable but need to be decoded and turned back into sound and pictures by using a separate set-top box, or a decoder built into your television.
  • Eventually you will have no choice because over the coming years the analogue signal will simply be switched off in your area and you will then not have any choice but to change.

Which Businesses Will Be Affected By Digital Changeover?

Televisions in non-domestic settings such as schools, universities libraries, places of work, hospitals, day care centres, residential care and nursing homes, pubs, bars, airports waiting, bed and breakfast accommodation, youth hostels, government departments, prisons, hotels, armed forces establishments and many many more businesses across the UK.

Will I Only Need One Digital Connection ?

All of your existing TVs will need to receive at least the digital free to view broadcasts after digital switchover and each will need to be converted to digital via a digital receiver or replaced by an integrated digital TV (IDTV) carrying a digital adapter inside.

Equally VCRs, especially those aimed at continued timer recording or your recording of a different TV channel to that being viewed will also need to be updated or replaced.

Organisations that provide television viewing to customers or those in the process of purchasing new televisions will need to consider the impact of the Government's plans for switchover on their budgeting and purchasing decisions because making the correct decision now will ensure you pay less in the future.

Local Authorities and housing associations may also want to consider making very clear cost assessments before the change is forced on them.

Particular care should be taken to consider the quality of the existing TV cabling within establishments when planning budgeting or purchasing decisions. Many non-domestic installations are old and possibly based on connection to various switches, plugs and adaptors.

Will My Business Need A New Aerial?

A new aerial may be required as your existing aerials may be old or damaged, and in some parts of the country, digital terrestrial signals use a different frequency or transmitter to the one you normally use for your analogue reception.

If you want to opt for a digital satellite television you will need to have a dish installed on your business premises and have it connected to a set top box or integrated digital television.

In the case of TV'S which use a set top box attached to an aerial, an indoor digital tv antenna may be sufficient to receive the signals.

Where your business is situated and the age and condition of your existing aerial will determine whether you may require a new roof top or loft aerial.

My Business Aerial Is Communal How Will I Be Effected?

Communal television systems, where one aerial or dish serves a number of Business units and televisions in a building (or in some cases more than one building) will be affected by the switch to digital television. This includes systems in care homes, schools and other non-domestic settings.

Research carried out by the Digital Television Group (DTG) indicates that the majority of communal television systems set up to carry analogue terrestrial transmissions will need some attention if they are to work with a digital signal.

Will I Need A New Television Licence?

A normal Business Television Licence is all that is needed to watch analogue or digital television. A separate licence is not required to watch digital television services.

I Have A VCR, Will This Be Effected?

Each VCR has its own analogue TV tuner separate to that in the TV set so unless your VCR has an independent digital tuner you will not be able to record one digital channel whilst viewing another.

If this is important to you, you may need to invest in a new recording device before the digital switchover. A Personal Video Recorder (PVR) such as a Sky+Box provides this functionality and also avoids the need for a separate set-top box.

Other solutions include low cost digital adaptors and VCRs with an inbuilt digital tuner. With these products you will still need a separate set-top box for your TV set.

If you want to view more detailed information, we also recommend you view the government advice and regulations regarding business digital television (PDF).
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