Analog TV broadcasting will end in 2012!

Korean government held the Cabinet Council on Friday 21 to deliberate and decide upon "A Special Act to Turn Analog Television Broadcasting to Digital Television Broadcasting and Popularize Digital Broadcasting" which will terminate ground-wave-based analog television broadcasting by the end of 2012.

The Act was first drafted by the Committee for Digital Broadcasting Development (co-chaired by Minister of Information and Communication and Chairman of Korean Broadcasting Commission) on May 26, 2007 and had been in legislative processes: deliberation in related agencies, legislative notification, and review by the Ministry of Government Legislation.

The following are major contents of the Act:

- Ground-wave-based television broadcasting providers terminate analog broadcasting on the date appointed by the President before the end of 2012.

- Install receiving equipments for digital broadcasting in television monitors and related electronic goods

- Attach a notice to television monitors and related electronic goods to let customers know about the termination of analog broadcasting and the receivability of digital broadcasting

- Prepare policies to smoothly provide television broadcasting services for low-income people such as welfare receivers fell under the National Basic Life Welfare Law

- Make recommendations to the National Assembly and related agencies about support programs to adjust television broadcasting fees and improve advertising systems in the consideration of cost burden that ground-wave-based television broadcasting service providers have to bear in order to turn analog broadcasting to digital broadcasting

- Prepare and carry out programs to improve receiving environments for digital broadcasting

The decision on the Act by the Cabinet council is expected to accelerate governmental efforts to turn analog broadcasting to digital broadcasting, which is relatively much delayed than foreign countries. If the National Assembly passes the Act, it will be an important opportunity to promote the turn to digital broadcasting.

As the turn to digital broadcasting of ground wave-based television broadcasting services proceeds, viewers will enjoy 6-7 times higher picture quality, clear sound quality, and various services including T-Commerce. It is also expected to produce many economic effects over related industries.

The Act is expected to be passed in the National Assembly before the end of this year.