As always, 2024 has been a bit of a busy year for those who just want to enjoy DTT channels. On the one hand, SD quality channels have long disappeared Programming that forces users to change the television or tuner if there is no channel compatible with HD resolution channels.

But this “DTT outage” is also It came with something we’ve been waiting for for years.: The arrival of new channels in 4K UHD. ‘La 1 UHD’ opened the season by presenting its programming in this resolution; This is something we have been able to enjoy first-hand, especially in the preliminary version at events such as the European Cup or the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

This significant jump will continue into 2025, so while there is a lot of talk about “dimming”, we must also take into account: DTT will make progress in image and sound quality in most of the rest of the grid channels.

First power outage caused ‘lightning’

A new realignment of the electromagnetic spectrum is planned from 2025. We must make room in every way possible so that the bandwidth we currently have in the DVB-T2 standard is sufficient to add more channels in the 4K UHD definition. Since more and more users have a television compatible with this resolution, it is important that the content also complies with the device’s specifications.

In September the Government published its new roadmap to the future National Technical Plan for Digital Terrestrial Television, a document that looks at the steps to be taken in the coming years. to migrate existing DTTWorking under the DVB-T standard, towards the more modern DVB-T2 standard.

The plan will have direct consequences on the picture and sound quality of the program, but progress will be gradual. Therefore, it is important that devices and adjusters are ready to take this step. Specifically, there will be two very different phases or phases:

• The first phase will be operational from 2025 It will consist in the reorganization of the spectrum with the arrival of new channels in UHD and HD. The RGE2 multiplex will be modified to broadcast with the DVB-T2 standard and the H.265/HEVC codec, so it will have space to accommodate 4 UHD channels, namely Antena 3, two for RTVE and the other two for Atresmedia and Mediaset. Tele 5 will have the opportunity to start broadcasting in UHD. There is also room for a new HD channel to be placed in the MPE5 area under the DVB-T standard (currently used).
• second stageThe real “blackout” will come later, at an as yet undetermined date, and all existing multiplexes and channels will be converted to the new DVB-T2 standard. So when this second phase begins, DTT will switch off the current DVB-T standard and start broadcasting everything over DVB-T2.

Although it may seem new, DVB-T2 is actually a telecommunications standard introduced in 2008 that improves codec and spectral efficiency by using HEVC or H265 instead of the previous MPEG-2 and MPEG4. Compression efficiency of this codec Provides up to 30% more capacity improving the quality of the channels they broadcast if they don’t want to host more TV channels or add new ones.

Between 2012 and 2013, this standard began to appear to offer compatibility with commercially available televisions and tuners; However, basic versions did not offer H.265 support.

If we want to continue watching existing DTT channels and forget about new channels coming in UHD, Nothing will need to be done in the first phase of 2025 If you are already seeing DTT programming correctly. As we have already mentioned, the first phase of the changes includes the arrival of new UHD channels with the new standard, but only 4 of them in total will have HD versions on other frequencies as well. So if we can currently watch DTT channels at home, next 2025 we will be able to continue watching existing HD channels as we do now, this will not change until there is a date for the second phase of the changes. not yet specified.

Of course, when new UHD channels arrive in 2025, You will need to go through a setting again The number of channels due to the rearrangement of the electromagnetic spectrum. So when the switchover of all those currently broadcasting to DVB-T2 occurs, we will need to re-adjust if we do not want the screen to go dark.

If you want to enjoy all channels in the future, including those broadcasting in 4K UHD such as ‘La 1 UHD’, You will need to make sure that you have a tuner prepared according to the DVB-T2 standard. It is also compatible with the HEVC or H.265 codec. This tuner can be integrated into your television, so in this case you will not need to buy anything. Also remember that if you want to get the most out of 4K UHD channels, your TV must be compatible with this resolution. Otherwise, the television will scale the signal so it can be seen on the TV, although we may not like this jump in quality.

Thus, we cause a “lightning strike” that will start after the power outage in question. Broadcasting new channels in 4K UHD qualityAnother step towards programming ultra-high definition content that will do justice to the technical capabilities of our television.

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