Checking on DTT in South America

Tuesday September 23, 2008

South Americais off to a slow start in getting digital terrestrial TV (DTT) off the ground. Multiple transmission standards are being chosen and receiver costs are high in a region where price sensitivity is a primary factor. Brazil is the first country to finally begin the process, and it chose a slightly modified version of Japan’s ISDB-T standard. To date, no other South American country has chosen this standard, which calls into question how much cohesion can exist in the region.

Last week Colombia announced that they have chosen the European-centric DVB-T as its standard, with the hope that other countries would go that route as well.

To date, set-top receivers in Brazil carry price tags up to $800 a box. But that barrier is set to be cleared as suppliers say they are readying affordable set-top boxes for shipment in late 2008. As prices drop, shipments of DTT set-top boxes to Brazil will increase about 77% between 2008 and 2009.

Source: DTC

Will smaller undecided countries follow Brazil or Colombia as they evaluate transmission standards? Or, will they follow their Northern neighbors, Mexico and U.S., and consider the ATSC standard? Many countries are in the undeclared camp. Right now it looks like South America could be left with a mixed bag of standards.