From Analog to Digital Television; Strategies to Promote Rapid Adaptation and Awareness

Europe is currently transitioning to digital terrestrial television and is aimed to replace all analog infrastructures by 2012. Besides replacing all broadcast- ing networks in Europe, the transition requires updating household televisions and antennas. As with any major change, public administrations must keep citizens in- formed and provide support, especially when dealing with a communication medium expected to support a new portfolio of services and information. State-of-the-art tech- nologies enable universal coverage in locations where television services are currently unavailable. This paper evaluates the transition to digital television in several Euro- pean regions and analyzes novel approaches and solutions to achieving universal access to digital television and citizen awarenes.