Digital TV testing begins

Hong Kong - Terrestrial TV groups TVB and Asia Television have teamed up with the Hong Kong Science & Technology Parks Corporation to establish a digital TV testing group as the launch of digital TV nears.

The Hong Kong Digital Terrestrial Television Local Testing Group (DTTG) launched yesterday and has been established to ensure a smooth transition from analogue to digital broadcasting and support the roll out of digital TV technology in Hong Kong, which kicks in from 31 December.

TVB and ATV will each launch four digital channels before the years end, including specific hight-definition channels. The Hong Kong government is expected to shut down analogue TV by 2012.

Late last year TVB said it had invested HK$2.2 billion in building a fully digitised TVB City in preparation for the introduction of digital TV in Hong Kong.

Choi Chung Hong, vice president engineering at ATV, said the migration to digital broadcasting was an important strategic move for ATV.

"Our participation in the DTTG will help us play a leading role in the growing digital broadcasting market," he said.