ARMENIA TO FULLY TRANSFER TO DIGITAL TV AND RADIO BROADCASTING TILL

ArmInfo
2009-11-12 18:00:00

ArmInfo. Armenia will fully transfer to the digital TV and radio
broadcasting till 2015, Economy Minister of Armenia Nerses Yeritsyan
said at Thursday briefing.

According to him, this provision is based on the concept of transfer
to the digital television and radio broadcasting approved by the
Armenian government on November 12. N. Yeritsyan also said we shall
have to refuse of the analogue technologies by that time, as they
are not able to assure further development of the broadcasting system.

Digitization will allow to efficiently use the radio frequencies and
significantly extend the technical capabilities of broadcasting.

Moreover, it will make the Internet- communication more available
and will assure high-quality video image and sound. Interactive
broadcasting technologies will also be implemented due to digitization,
the minister said. As he said, by preliminary estimations, Armenia
will need about $200 mln to fully transfer to the digital TV and
radio broadcasting. Part of funds will be invested by the state and
another part will be attracted due to the technical assistance by
the donor-countries and international organizations, Yeritsyan said.

According to the minister, it is scheduled to organize public debates
till late, 2009, as well as pass alterations to the current legislation
till summer, 2010, develop a technical plan and licensing terms. The
minister said that it is scheduled to preserve 6-10 TV channels and
some Radio channels free-of-charge within the frames of the social
package, while the rest will be paid. It is scheduled to start the
first stage of digitization by the grant funds at late, 2010, as well
as implement HDTV experimentally, the minister said.