The Impact of Digital TV on audiences and TV companies Essay Example for Free

The Impact of digital TV on earreachs and TV companies EssayFifty years ago, TV was the current thing that would resurrect our lives. Even up to this day, we still captivate ourselves to this evolving culture which has had such an impact to us. Just imagine if nonpargonil of the worlds greatest events would not have been shown in TV (imagine spate across America not observance the twin towers f totally-what impact would it have on other people?).But these recent judgment of convictions, the advent of digital Television is another step towards the progression of idiot box itself. It opens a whole window of possibilities- to a greater extent beams, more choices, better interactivity. Even the television companies itself will be formn a new challenge by introducing this new technology to its current and future customers. It is up to them however to find the gap in the securities industry to gain full advantage of Digital TV.When there is progression, so will be regressio n. Digital TV will not just catch on and be the next best thing instantly. in that location will be some people who will oppose to the idea and the companies will try and compete over viewing rights of conduct.A recent Ofcom report said more than 60% of UK households now happen digital TV.With a digital switchover planned to take place from 2008-2012, should the governing body say yay or nay?Let us imagine ourselves when the digital switchover has taken place. What ar the advantages and disadvantages of from each one?First off, let us discuss the advantages of digital TV. It has a great appeal to the bulk of people. Even though the cost of gaining access code to one is still expensive experts say that the price of present digital subscriptions and hardw ar will cast dramatically after a few years. However, the cheapest free view set-top-box presently is as low as 25.00. Another advantage is that digital TV could allow the audience to pause record their programmes without th e use of tapes. It is to a fault said to be quicker and impartialr process than the old VCR.In line with digital TV, the actual television set is changing. thither are now ones that are called HDTV (high definition TV). This technology coupled with digital TV provides us with high quality video and sound that is dramatically noticeable. In more simple terms, pictures and sound will have more consistency and less interference.Digital TV has also embraced the crossroad of interactivity. Extra information and interactive features now accompany almost programmes. Compared to analogue TVs teletext, digital TVs interactivity takes it to a new level. It is more user-friendly and makes the viewer more involved. There is even an electronic programme guide which gives you farthermost more information about programmes content. This hands-on approach is what makes digital TV unique.Of course, these advantages over the audiences equate to the benefits that companies and the governance bewi tch. At the moment, there are 3 main ways to go digital Satellite (SKY, groove +, RAI, etc.), Cable (NTL and Telewest) and Freeview. At the moment, Satellite access is ahead in terms of market share with 7.1 one million million subscribers (Sky subscribers), followed by 3.9 million homes supplied by freeview and 2.5 million subscribers get their digital TV through cable. These statistics suggest that challenger is fierce at the moment. It said up to 1.5 million boxes had been sold in the lead-up to Christmas, with 190,000 sold in each of the two weeks before the holi geezerhood.There might be fierce competition, but this is deemed to be a sizable competition. There will be a time when real sales are starting to nookie off. The introduction of the switch off will be a seizing opportunity for them to increase their sales. These opportunities are enhanced services-which adds value to a subscription (or in the case of freeviews, a sharp increase in set-top boxes and HDTVs-which is already happening). Recently, Sky has recently offered a new free satellite service called Sky FreeSat. It allows access to one hundred forty non-subscription channels for a one-off fee.Even the likes of BBC and ITV are to launch a free-to-view satellite TV service to run for viewers unable to receive Freeview digital coverage-and to rival the monopoly that Sky has.Also, in line with the HDTV technology, the BBC aims to bugger off 100% HD programmes by 2010.The government will also have some advantages over the switch off. When all the analogue signals have been switched off, those signals could be sold to telephone, communications or aerospace companies to make use of the cleaned up space.The countrys go steady is also on the line. It essentially propels the country into the digital age in order to gain a more competitive advantage.Furthermore, there are more opportunities for a better efficiency of the operation of government services reducing costs and keeping down taxes.I ha ve used the word majority because there are people who are not in full favour of digital TV. There are also drawbacks for the companies and the government.Digital is an all or nothing technology. The pictures are either crystal unclutter or absent. In heavy rain or snow an analogue signal might give a grainy but watchable picture. Digital signals are more robust and will tolerate a high level of interference but, when conditions become besides bad, both the picture and the sound will vanish. In addition, because all the work is done by an internal com deputeer, it sometimes makes mistakes and the picture can disappear in a maze of coloured squares or simply freeze on the screen. However, this trade off among pictures which might always be grainy and crystal-clear pictures which occasionally disappear will be preferable to most people.Digital provides just one channel from the set top box at a time (the same as existing satellite TV receivers). You cant watch one digital channel a nd record another unless you1. Have more than one set top box2. Keep your existing analogue satellite receiver3. Continue to use analogue terrestrial TV (as long as the transmissions last about 5 10 years is anticipated)In a survey, when asked to identify the disadvantages of digital television, a third (32%) state that it is too expensive, 9% that you have to pay for a subscription, and 8% that there are too many channels and choice.Also, the 40% who do not have digital television yet will discover that the present cost of service is not attainable in their opinion. Of course, without the funding that the BBC get from the TV license lowered, they would obviously look to increase the cost threefold.The increase in the number of channels isnt without disadvantages. For viewers, the absence of original programming can lead to a feeling of nothing being on across hundreds of channels. Event programmes are also under threat virtually gone are the days when 30 million people tuned int o the same programme. For channel owners selling advertising time is increasingly difficult. nook broadcasters may be advantageous in terms of reaching a specific target audience but many have official audience shares of 0%.There was even a ruminate made by Dr Jeremy Klein claiming that Millions of people are not using digital TV because they find it too confusing. He says that Elderly and short-sighted people find it laborious and demanding changing channels. It is said that two million people are affected by this problem. As a result, the elderly and people with low-income will be put off with this news. They feel that it will be better to stick with the old and what they are used to.Companies are also having trouble with the changes.