It is well known that over the past few years, our country has achieved widespread simultaneous broadcasting of high-definition and standard-definition television. In recent years, with the upgrade of television transmission technology and the popularization of ultra-high-definition content production, the country has continued to promote the implementation of various ultra-high-definition standards, encouraging the accelerated formation of the ultra-high-definition industry chain. Accelerating the development of high-definition and ultra-high-definition television is currently a focal task for the broadcasting and television industry.
Recently, Beijing Gehua Cable Television Network Co., Ltd. announced a channel adjustment plan, stating that it will make channel adjustments on April 23, 2024. According to the announcement:
To implement the directive spirit of the "Implementation Plan for Accelerating the Development of High-definition and Ultra-high-definition Television in Beijing," Gehua Cable plans to stop transmitting analog broadcast television programs:
11) Stop transmitting six analog television programs: "CCTV-1 Comprehensive, CCTV-5 Sports, CCTV-13 News, BRTV Beijing Satellite TV, CETV-1, Hunan Satellite TV."
22) Stop transmitting analog television programs from the media centers of nine districts: Mentougou, Fangshan, Tongzhou, Shunyi, Daxing, Huairou, Pinggu, Miyun, and Yanqing: "Mentougou Channel 2, Fangshan Channel, Tongzhou Channel, Shunyi Channel, Daxing Channel, Huairou Channel 1, Pinggu Channel 1, Miyun Channel, Yanqing Channel."
33) Stop transmitting eight cable FM radio programs: "Voice of China, Music Voice, EASY FM, News Broadcast, City Broadcast, Traffic Broadcast, Art Broadcast, Music Broadcast."
In fact, on December 22, 2023, Gehua Cable also released a channel adjustment announcement, deciding to take offline the analog channels "Chaoyang," "Haidian," "Fengtai," "Shijingshan," and "BRTV News."
This time, Beijing Gehua Cable has further advanced the task of stopping the transmission of cable analog broadcast television programs within a few months. The underlying reason is not complex; it is essentially to address past broadcasting legacy issues and ensure the execution of new plans in the new phase.
Analysis of the Digital Conversion Rate of Beijing Cable Television
In fact, the proportion of analog signals has rapidly declined many years ago, and the country has already achieved a high level of cable television digital conversion. In some provincial administrative regions, the proportion of cable television digitalization has reached 100%, while other provinces can generally maintain above 95%.
According to data released by the National Bureau of Statistics, in 2023, the actual number of cable television users was 202 million, of which the actual number of cable digital television users was 193 million. Based on this, DVBCN calculated that last year's cable television digitization rate was 95.54%.
As for the exact status of cable television digitization in Beijing, I have not yet found any official published data. However, according to Gehua Cable, the main cable television operator in the Beijing area, the company has been actively promoting the transition of cable television "from analog to digital, from one-way to two-way, from standard definition to high definition, and from merely watching TV to using TV" in recent years.
In line with the evolution of digital, IP-based, and intelligent technologies, Gehua Cable has adopted various access technologies to establish a two-way network covering all users in the city, continuously promoting the construction, renovation, and upgrading of high-speed internet access, data network transmission, distribution network access, and the overall operational support systems. The functionalities of the iBOSS mobile terminal, grid mobile terminal, and economic distribution mobile terminal have been enhanced, and the upgrade and renovation of the data center systems have been advanced, providing strong support for the operation and maintenance of the two-way network. Additionally, the shutdown and transition of analog signal optical nodes have been promoted, increasing the digitalization ratio of cable television in Beijing.
Of course, Beijing has not fully achieved "one network," but the number of users connected to the Aerospace Network through Gehua Cable is relatively small. Currently, both parties have signed an integration agreement, and the work on network integration and user transition is also underway.
Additionally, there are some data for reference. According to the 2023 statistical bulletin from the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Statistics, there were 6.14 million actual cable television users in Beijing that year, including 3.25 million actual high-definition television users and 2.13 million actual ultra-high-definition (4K) users.
Therefore, it can be understood that in 2023, the proportion of actual users of high-definition and ultra-high-definition cable television in Beijing is 87.62%. In fact, the promotion of high-definition and ultra-high-definition is predicated on the complete shutdown of analog television signals. High-definition and ultra-high-definition cable television users are essentially digital television users. The standard-definition users include both cable digital and cable analog users. However, considering that the current proportion of cable analog users is already quite low, the digitalization ratio in Beijing should also be at a very high level.
The wireless analog to DTMB conversion is also actively being promoted.
Just a small mention.
The shutdown of analog television has been a topic of ongoing discussion. In fact, the regulatory authorities have established a multi-phase timetable for the cessation of analog television signals and have placed a strong emphasis on advancing the coverage of digital terrestrial television (DTMB).
It was originally planned to cease broadcasting analog television signals in 2015. Ultimately, during the CCBN in 2015, the leaders of the State Administration of Radio and Television announced a new goal to establish a nationwide terrestrial digital television broadcasting coverage network by 2020, while also discontinuing terrestrial analog television signals.
As is well known, in 2019, China's broadcasting and television authorities confirmed their participation in the construction of the 5G wireless communication network, leading to the comprehensive and formal launch of the 700MHz frequency migration work. The prerequisite for this was the shutdown of terrestrial television signals operating on the 700MHz band, which facilitated the orderly migration of frequency channels and user transitions. A frequency clearing plan was quickly developed and put into action.
According to a report from the National Radio and Television Administration, China has initiated the largest ground digital television 700MHz frequency migration project globally, involving the highest number of stations, with 6,900 radio transmission stations participating in the frequency migration. This project is massive, and within just two years, thousands of technical personnel from the broadcasting and television departments have united their efforts, overcoming numerous challenges to accelerate the migration process. By December 2022, the frequency migration work for the 700MHz band had been largely completed. By 2023, the 700MHz frequency migration and single-frequency network construction had been fully completed, further achieving the overall acceptance of the 700MHz frequency migration project.
Of course, considering the public service of broadcasting and television and its certain role in defense readiness, the wireless analog signals have not yet been completely shut down. However, efforts will continue to promote the coverage of DTMB and gradually achieve digital conversion.
Timely promotion of the development tasks for HD and UHD
As mentioned earlier, the promotion of HD and UHD is predicated on the complete shutdown of analog television signals. Therefore, companies like Gehua Cable have referred to the policy directives in the "Implementation Plan for Accelerating the Development of HD and UHD Television in Beijing" in both of their notifications.
According to the Beijing Radio and Television Bureau's "Smart City Planning and Three-Year Action Plan for Smart Broadcasting and Television in Beijing (2023-2025)," there is a need to accelerate the development of HD and UHD television, enhance the production and broadcasting capabilities of ultra-high-definition video, promote the simultaneous broadcasting of high-definition and ultra-high-definition content, and continuously meet the public's demand for higher quality audiovisual experiences.
The work priorities for the Beijing Radio and Television Bureau in 2024 also mention that this year, Beijing's broadcasting and television sector will accelerate the end-to-end full-chain popularization of HD television, vigorously promote the optimization and upgrading of the entire ultra-high-definition audiovisual industry chain, research and formulate several measures to support the high-quality development of the ultra-high-definition audiovisual industry, and advance pilot policies in areas such as the concentrated development of ultra-high-definition audiovisuals, innovative integration, and the creation of an industrial ecosystem.
According to the National Radio and Television Administration's "Opinions on Further Accelerating the Development of HD and UHD Television," it is proposed that by the end of 2025, all provincial-level and above television stations, as well as qualified county-level television stations, will have fully completed the transition from standard definition to high definition, with standard definition channels largely shut down, making high definition the basic broadcasting mode. The supply of ultra-high-definition television channels and programs will be scaled up, and the transmission coverage network for broadcasting and television will significantly enhance its capacity to support HD and UHD television, with HD and UHD receiving terminals becoming widely popular.
The specific task arrangements also include a systematic timetable:
"All levels of cable television network companies should actively carry out upgrades and renovations of cable television networks, accelerate the promotion and popularization of HD and UHD set-top boxes, and prioritize the listing of HD channels in the transmission channel table. Starting from July 1, 2022, any new television channels added to the cable television network should be HD or UHD channels. Cable television network companies with the necessary conditions may gradually stop transmitting standard definition channel signals in their networks based on local circumstances; starting from January 1, 2023, any new set-top boxes added to the cable television network should primarily be ultra-high-definition smart set-top boxes; by the end of 2025, the penetration rate of HD and UHD set-top boxes in the national cable television network will be significantly increased."
Overall, the comprehensive promotion of high-definition and ultra-high-definition broadcasting and television will be a key focus in the coming two years. The existing analog cable television signals will be completely phased out, while wireless analog signals will further transition to DTMB. The very few areas that still retain small-scale analog cable networks, especially those in unintegrated regions, will require significant efforts to address their digital transformation.
Reposted, source: DVBCN