Source: in-cyprus.philenews.com
Cyprus has pushed back its switch to a new digital terrestrial television platform by two months, giving viewers more time to prepare, the CEO of HELLAS SAT said on Tuesday.
Christodoulos Protopappas, speaking on ANT1’s midday programme, said the new deadline is July 1. The Deputy Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy has made the decision, though an official announcement had not been made at the time of writing, according to philenews sources.
The delay was prompted by minor technical issues and a need to give viewers who must buy new equipment more time, sources said.
Who is affected?
The switch affects viewers who receive their television signal via a rooftop or indoor aerial. Those on cable or satellite platforms do not need to do anything.
What do you need to do?
Whether you need to act depends on your television set.
If your TV supports DVB-T2, you only need to retune your channels — no new equipment is required.
If your TV does not support DVB-T2, you will need to either buy a DVB-T2 set-top box or purchase a new television set with DVB-T2 built in. Electronics retailers are already reporting strong demand for DVB-T2 decoders.
To check whether your TV supports DVB-T2, consult your television’s manual or settings menu.
Why is the platform changing?
Following an open tender by the Deputy Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy, HELLAS SAT was authorised to establish and operate a new digital terrestrial television platform in Cyprus.
The new platform replaces the existing one operated by Velister, which runs on the older DVB-T technology.
According to HELLAS SAT, DVB-T2 is the most up-to-date European standard for terrestrial digital broadcasting and is now used by most European countries. The company says it delivers better picture quality, more channels, and more efficient use of broadcast frequencies.