Digital television in Argentina
Encyclopedia
Argentine
television broadcasting began in 1951 with the inaugural of then state-owned Canal 7, developed by Radio Belgrano executive Jaime Yankelevich
. Color television broadcasting, however, was not widely available until after 1978, when the government launched Argentina Televisora Color (ATC), now Canal 7 (Argentina's principal public television station). The prevalence of cable television, increasing steadily since the first CATV transmitter opened in the city of Junín
in 1965, is now the third-widest in the world, reaching at least 78% of households.
Argentina has adopted the Japanese standard ISDB-T, with the modifications done by Brazil. Initially Argentina had selected ATSC standard in 1998 (Res. 2387/98) which was backed by Grupo Clarin and promoted by the U.S. Embassy over DVB-T
promoted by the biggest incumbent telcos and European cellular phone manufacturers like Nokia. There had been experimental ATSC broadcasts since 1999 before the government overruled the decision.
There is an agreement between Brazil
and Argentina, signed in the light of Mercosur trade bloc, where both countries agree to share information, studies and efforts to select the same Digital TV standard.
By August 27th, 2009, Argentina government announced officially that Japanese standard was adopted, with Chile and Perú at the same time. The goal behind this political decision is to achieve a wide, free, high quality regional TV.
Major TV broadcasters, namely El Trece
and Telefe
had been showing off sample digital broadcasts at electronics and media sector shows like the CAPER exhibition, but they still haven't started to broadcast in the now official Argentina standard.
HDTV-ready TV sales are increasing in Argentina, with the first TVs made available since 2005 by local firm Philips
. The firm introduced back then three HD-ready (1080i) CRT TVs in 25, 29, and 33-inch versions. These tvs were manufactured in Tierra del Fuego
, Argentina and included Pal-N/B and NTSC analogue tuners, plus HD component video inputs. Only a single model, the 25-inch, 16:9 one featured HDMI
. As of 2008 the firm has switched to LCDs.
On November 2008, local cable TV firm Cablevision, which merged with Multicanal, started offering its "Cablevision HD" service. This rather expensive offering costs an additional $30 ARS
over the standard Digital-TV service price. It uses ATSC and the firm makes mandatory the purchase of its "HD Tuner with DVR" at a cost of around $200 US dollars. As of late 2008 most LCDs advertised as "Full HD" offer at least 1080i signal support.
. Currently, cable television is available in 5.5 million homes, the best ratio in Latin America and second in the world.
In the 1980s cable operators started operations in the absence of local regulations. Those earlier operators started a merged process which evolved toward the merge of Cablevision and Multicanal, the two biggest cable companies. The resultant company, named Cablevision, is owned by Grupo Clarin, the biggest newspaper in Argentina, who is also the owner of LS85-TV (the 2nd highest-rated TV station in Buenos Aires) TyC the owner of the monopoly of the soccer TV broadcast rights, thus turning into the dominant player.
Some small TV cable companies are operating, but the tendency now is that Cablevision will dominate this market in the future. Telecom Operator, Telefonica and Telecom, the monopoly in the fixed-cellular market is lobbying for opening the market towards the triple play. The Government is opening a window to allow the cable operators to enter in the telephony and extend internet coverage, before fully deregulating this market. In order to operate as a cable company in Argentina, a license from Comfer is required. This license is very difficult to get.
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
television broadcasting began in 1951 with the inaugural of then state-owned Canal 7, developed by Radio Belgrano executive Jaime Yankelevich
Jaime Yankelevich
Jaime Yankelevich was an Argentine engineer and businessman who was a pioneer in the development of his country's radio and television media.-Life and times:...
. Color television broadcasting, however, was not widely available until after 1978, when the government launched Argentina Televisora Color (ATC), now Canal 7 (Argentina's principal public television station). The prevalence of cable television, increasing steadily since the first CATV transmitter opened in the city of Junín
Junín, Buenos Aires
Junín is a city in the province of Buenos Aires, Argentina, and capital of the municipality of Junín. It has a population of 82,427 and is situated 260 km west of Buenos Aires.-History:...
in 1965, is now the third-widest in the world, reaching at least 78% of households.
Digital television
DVB-T
DVB-T is an abbreviation for Digital Video Broadcasting — Terrestrial; it is the DVB European-based consortium standard for the broadcast transmission of digital terrestrial television that was first published in 1997 and first broadcast in the UK in 1998...
promoted by the biggest incumbent telcos and European cellular phone manufacturers like Nokia. There had been experimental ATSC broadcasts since 1999 before the government overruled the decision.
There is an agreement between Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
and Argentina, signed in the light of Mercosur trade bloc, where both countries agree to share information, studies and efforts to select the same Digital TV standard.
By August 27th, 2009, Argentina government announced officially that Japanese standard was adopted, with Chile and Perú at the same time. The goal behind this political decision is to achieve a wide, free, high quality regional TV.
Major TV broadcasters, namely El Trece
Canal 13 (Argentina)
El Trece is an Argentine television network and the flagship station of the same network, located in the capital of Argentina, Buenos Aires.- Foundation :...
and Telefe
Telefe
Televisión Federal S.A., best known as Telefe and later as TLF, is an Argentine television network. Formerly known as Canal Once , a state-run network, it was privatised and established as Telefe in 1989, when and News Corporation took over the channel...
had been showing off sample digital broadcasts at electronics and media sector shows like the CAPER exhibition, but they still haven't started to broadcast in the now official Argentina standard.
HDTV-ready TV sales are increasing in Argentina, with the first TVs made available since 2005 by local firm Philips
Philips
Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. , more commonly known as Philips, is a multinational Dutch electronics company....
. The firm introduced back then three HD-ready (1080i) CRT TVs in 25, 29, and 33-inch versions. These tvs were manufactured in Tierra del Fuego
Tierra del Fuego
Tierra del Fuego is an archipelago off the southernmost tip of the South American mainland, across the Strait of Magellan. The archipelago consists of a main island Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego divided between Chile and Argentina with an area of , and a group of smaller islands including Cape...
, Argentina and included Pal-N/B and NTSC analogue tuners, plus HD component video inputs. Only a single model, the 25-inch, 16:9 one featured HDMI
HDMI
HDMI is a compact audio/video interface for transmitting uncompressed digital data. It is a digital alternative to consumer analog standards, such as radio frequency coaxial cable, composite video, S-Video, SCART, component video, D-Terminal, or VGA...
. As of 2008 the firm has switched to LCDs.
On November 2008, local cable TV firm Cablevision, which merged with Multicanal, started offering its "Cablevision HD" service. This rather expensive offering costs an additional $30 ARS
Argentine peso
The peso is the currency of Argentina, identified by the symbol $ preceding the amount in the same way as many countries using dollar currencies. It is subdivided into 100 centavos. Its ISO 4217 code is ARS...
over the standard Digital-TV service price. It uses ATSC and the firm makes mandatory the purchase of its "HD Tuner with DVR" at a cost of around $200 US dollars. As of late 2008 most LCDs advertised as "Full HD" offer at least 1080i signal support.
Cable
Cable television had its origins in the 1960s, when a CATV service started to operate in Junín, Buenos AiresJunín, Buenos Aires
Junín is a city in the province of Buenos Aires, Argentina, and capital of the municipality of Junín. It has a population of 82,427 and is situated 260 km west of Buenos Aires.-History:...
. Currently, cable television is available in 5.5 million homes, the best ratio in Latin America and second in the world.
In the 1980s cable operators started operations in the absence of local regulations. Those earlier operators started a merged process which evolved toward the merge of Cablevision and Multicanal, the two biggest cable companies. The resultant company, named Cablevision, is owned by Grupo Clarin, the biggest newspaper in Argentina, who is also the owner of LS85-TV (the 2nd highest-rated TV station in Buenos Aires) TyC the owner of the monopoly of the soccer TV broadcast rights, thus turning into the dominant player.
Some small TV cable companies are operating, but the tendency now is that Cablevision will dominate this market in the future. Telecom Operator, Telefonica and Telecom, the monopoly in the fixed-cellular market is lobbying for opening the market towards the triple play. The Government is opening a window to allow the cable operators to enter in the telephony and extend internet coverage, before fully deregulating this market. In order to operate as a cable company in Argentina, a license from Comfer is required. This license is very difficult to get.
National networks
- El TreceCanal 13 (Argentina)El Trece is an Argentine television network and the flagship station of the same network, located in the capital of Argentina, Buenos Aires.- Foundation :...
- TelefeTelefeTelevisión Federal S.A., best known as Telefe and later as TLF, is an Argentine television network. Formerly known as Canal Once , a state-run network, it was privatised and established as Telefe in 1989, when and News Corporation took over the channel...
- América
- Canal 9Canal 9 (Argentina)Canal 9 is an Argentine television network based in Buenos Aires. It is a general entertainment station which offers news, soap operas, talk shows, and movies.-History:...
- Canal 7