THE FIASCO WITH [CYPRIOT] TELEVISIONS IN PARLIAMENT - SIGNAL CHANGED SO CAN BE RECEIVED IN ALL HOMES - THE CHANNELS ARE FURIOUS - Filenews 16/7 by Despina Psyllou
A solution for the issues that fell on thousands of televisions in Cyprus after the problems of the transition to the new digital era of high definition, announced the Deputy Minister of Innovation Nikodimos Damianou at an extraordinary meeting of the parliamentary Committee on Transport.
As clarified by the Deputy Minister, they change the sensitivity to the new signal so that the facilities of the houses receive it. In other words, people will be able to watch other channels (as long as they have a set-top box or relatively modern televisions) in the same way that some people watch RIK today.
"The responsibility lies with our own Deputy Ministry for the transition. As far as profiteering is concerned, there are a lot of agencies involved," said Mr. Damianou and added that they never claimed that there were no problems, "nor did we try to reduce the issue and ignore the problems," he said.
The transmission of the signal to the homes, said the Deputy Minister, turned out to be the biggest issue that arose.
The planning, he said, both for the digital transition of high-definition television and for other projects, has a depth of time, going back 15 years. "We had a license, which was 15 years and was expiring. The previous platform could no longer respond," he said in relation to the transition.
The parallel transmission of the previous and the new signal, said Mr. Damianou, could become possible if it started in 2020. However, this scenario also entailed additional high costs for television stations.
"We are the last country in Europe," said the Deputy Minister in relation to the transition to high definition.
Regarding the actions of the Deputy Ministry, he said that immediately after the problems were identified, they asked the contractor to identify and provide solutions to the existing platform.
"Adjustments have been made to the network and will be implemented within the new week. The purpose is to change other parameters so that the houses with their existing facilities receive a signal. It is difficult to identify which houses have the problem. The prediction is that the problem will be solved to a large extent," he said and added that at this stage there is no help to the people, to the vulnerable groups.
However, an information campaign will follow.
In relation to the cost, he said that the existing contractor undertook to reopen the old Velister network for a transitional, parallel period of three months.
The channels are furious: "The state grabbed part of the frequencies like another usurer" – "Polyphony was murdered"
Representatives of the television stations expressed dissatisfaction and indignation at the problems that arose in the effort to transition to the new digital era of high definition.
On behalf of Sigma, Chrysanthos Tsouroulis said in a strong tone that the state collects but does not invest, it is waiting for private individuals to put their hands in their pockets. "The state took part in the frequency like 'another usurer' and sold it for €45 million. No reinvestment was made with this money for the sector. It is the companionship of the elderly and at the spearhead of information," he underlined.
"3 months are funny, in Greece it was 4 years"
Petros Petrou, on behalf of Alpha, underlined that "the joint broadcast of the 3 months is funny. In Greece, this transition lasted for 4 years," he said and added that people know the TV stations, "there is a cost to our image," he said, among other things. "The biggest problem of the television industry in our country is illegal boxes and we need to look into it, parts of the legislation need to change," he underlined.
Andreas Dimitriou, on behalf of Capital TV, said that when the state decided in 2011 "to leave the analogue and go to the digital age, it separated the private and state sectors into two platforms", he said and spoke of a crime that continues. "Polyphony has been murdered," he said, adding "In 15 years we have paid transition fees of more than €2 million."
Stelios Malekos, on behalf of Ant1, said that the transition to high definition was the right one. "To take advantage of the three months, to provide immediate solutions to catch up with the new season. We have to focus on informing the people properly."
From €18 to €50 the set-top boxes
The Consumer Protection Association received a number of complaints in relation to decoders. "We have received a three-digit number of complaints recently. From the €18 that started, today the cost is €50", complained a representative of the Consumers' Association. "There were too many complaints re price. Complaints in other cases that the set-top boxes were overheating."
They are preparing a list for technicians
The Deputy Ministry of Innovation, in collaboration with other competent bodies, will undertake to compile a list of professionals who are trained to solve problems on televisions.
This measure was decided after the placement of a representative of ETEK, as concern was expressed about the training of professionals, who did not even have the necessary tools, and either the problem was not improved, or the people were not charged without results.
