DiTV vs DTV

What is Digital TV?

By 2012, the traditional analogue TV broadcasts will have been replaced by digital signals, which will provide more choice of TV and radio channels, better quality of signal, fairer access to all channels and deliver enhanced interactive services.

Currently over 87.2% of homes have access to digital TV. This figure will only rise as the UK moves towards complete analogue switch-off, a process which has already begun. The timetable of the analogue switch-off can be seen by clicking here.

What is Interactive DTV?

Interactive Digital TV (DiTV) allows viewers to interact with a range of organisations providing services and content in much the same way that an internet website does – they use their remote control, or in a minority of cases a keyboard, to access pages of information, enter data and receive responses via their TV.   Today, 56% of homes in the UK have access to digital interactive TV and this figure is set to rise to at least 65% by 2012.  

What do people need to be able to access DiTV?

To enable this two-way communication, a phone line or broadband connection between the TV receiving equipment is typically required.  This connectivity is standard for Satellite (Sky) and Virgin Media (formerly NTL / Telewest) subscribers. There are a number of Freeview boxes that have a broadband connection now available including BT Vision and Netgem iPlayer 6640 boxes. A number of further models are set for launch in the coming months.