Digital satellite receivers could make television cheaper for millions of people living in Dubai when all analogue broadcasts end in 2013.
In an article by The National, the announcement by the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) that stated that most people would be switching to digital aerials, could mean that actually watching and receiving television channels could be a lot more cheaper.
The article also claims that this could be very welcome news to the millions of residents who are currently subscribing to expensive cable channels.Having digital satellite receivers, will allow Dubai residents to watch a number of free terrestrially broadcasted digital television channels.This switchover, due to take place in two years, may also give people access to a faster mobile internet service according to the report in The National.
So what are the benefits of having digital channels as opposed to traditional analogue? On the whole, broadcasts that are received through digital receivers are clearer with less ‘fuzz’. There may be less interference and the pictures will seem sharper. In addition, there may be a greater number of channels available, offering consumers greater choice and variety.
Although, digital television is already available through cable and satellite channels, these free channels may appeal to more people due to there being no added cost.Speaking to The National, the managing director of Channel Sculptor (a television consultancy in Dubai) Nick Grande said that this digital switch would, “offer consumers more choice on where they will be able to get their television from.”
This opinion was also shared by Santino Saguto from Value Partners consultancy. He believes that consumers will be more interested in the type of variety and number of new channels they will have available to them, rather than actually thinking about the new technology on offer.