Introduction of digital television in Brazil

After thorough testing and careful studies, the Brazilian Government issued Decree No. 5.820 of June 29, 2006, which provides regulations for the implementation of a series of technological standards for the transmission and reception of digital terrestrial television signals, guaranteeing the general public unrestricted and free access to these signals.

The above-mentioned Decree’s main attribute is the adoption, as its base, of the signal standard of the Integrated Services Digital Broadcasting–Terrestrial (ISDB-T) for digital television in Brazil, incorporating technological innovations that are deemed relevant by the Brazilian Government and whose technical specifications should facilitate the following:

I – high-definition digital transmission (HDTV) and standard-definition digital transmission (SDTV);

II – simultaneous digital transmission for fixed, mobile, and portable reception; and

III – interactivity.

For the adequate delivery of digital television service in Brazil without the interruption of analog signal transmission, in order to facilitate the transition to digital technology, for each generator and translator station that is operating, a radio channel with a six megahertz broadband shall be allocated to permit the simultaneous transmission of programming in analog and digital technologies. The allocation of the digital transmission channels shall be given time-limits of up to seven years and shall observe the following order:

I – television broadcasting stations in the capitals of the States and the Federal District;

II – television broadcasting stations in the other municipalities;

III – television translator services in the capitals of the States and the Federal District; and

IV – television translator services in the other municipalities.

Decree 5.820 also defines the maximum time-limits for the installation and functioning of the digital signal transmission station granted to broadcasters interested in signing the allocation document of the digital channel; these time-limits are indicated below:

I – six months, as of the signing of the channel allocation contract, for presentation of the project of installing the digital station; and

II – 18 months, as of the approval of the project of installing the digital station, for the broadcaster to start up its digital transmissions.

The period of transition from the analog transmission system to the digital transmission system, which shall be broadcasting programming simultaneously in analog and digital technologies, has been set at ten years. After this period, the channels used for analog transmission shall be returned to the Brazilian Government. Furthermore, as of July 2013, the television service operation permits in Brazil shall be granted only for transmission in digital technology.

Finally, Decree 5.820 allocates at least four digital radio channels with a broadband of six megahertz each for direct operation by the Federal Union, which shall be able to develop digital television service for the transmission of the following contents:

I – Executive Channel: for the transmission of ceremonies, work, projects, sessions, and events of the executive branch of government;

II – Education Channel: for transmission aimed at the development and fine-tuning, among others, of distance education for students and teacher training;

III – Culture Channel: for transmission aimed at cultural productions and regional programs; and

IV – Citizenship Channel: for transmission aimed at local community programming, as well as for the dissemination of ceremonies, work, projects, sessions, and events of federal, state, and municipal public authorities. This channel can also offer electronic government applications for federal, state, and municipal public services.

Digital Television Forum

Decree 5.820 envisages the establishment of a Forum to generate subsidies to the Brazilian Government for policymaking and laying the technical groundwork to incorporate technological innovations, formulate specifications, and develop and implement digital TV in Brazil. This Forum shall promote the definition, development, planning, and implementation of optional or mandatory technical standards.

Brazil’s Digital TV Forum shall be comprised, among others, of representatives of the radio broadcasting sector, the industrial sector, and the scientific or technological community, with common interests for the development of the digital terrestrial TV platform.

Provisionally, by means of Portaría (ministerial decree) No. 571 of August 8, 2006, the Executive Chamber was established, aimed at implementing the digital television system Forum in Brazil. Likewise, the Executive Chamber must identify and draw up the guidelines for the incorporation of technological innovations, specifications, development and implementation of the digital television system in Brazil.

The Chamber’s goal is to launch the Forum in October 2006 for its complete start-up in December 2006 on which occasion the Chamber shall be dissolved.

ANATEL-Brazil