Maltese TV goes totally digital on 31 October

During the last three months, the four TV stations were transmitting simultaneously in both analogue and digital. As from 1 November, they will transmit solely in digital.

This event –known as ‘analogue turn-off’ – marks the end of the digital switchover and the beginning of a new era of all-digital TV broadcasting.

Digital TV offers Maltese viewers a better picture and sound quality, as well as a wider variety of free-to-air TV channels. The line-up now consists of TVM, Education 22, Favourite Channel, Net TV, ONE and Smash TV. The six TV channels are transmitted in digital and unencrypted form (i.e. free-to-air) over UHF channel 66 (834 MHz) using the DVB‑T transmission standard and MPEG-2 coding technology.

Digital TV also offers an electronic programme guide (EPG) which viewers may access to read programme schedules as well as information on current and upcoming programmes.

To watch the six TV channels, viewers need a UHF aerial, which they may already have, and a digital decoder or a digital TV set. These are available from most shops selling electronic equipment. Shops displaying the Digital Switchover logo are trained on the switchover and will tune the decoder before the buyer takes it home.

Further information may be obtained by calling freephone 153 or by visiting www.dso.org.mt.