Digital television in Belgium
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[edit] Cable
In Belgium, over 94% of all households have cable television.
Telenet, the main cable operator in Flanders (the northern region of Belgium) has around 25 analogue TV channels which are also available digitally (MHP over DVB-C). In total about 80 TV channels are available digitally. This includes some TV channels that were already available in analogue and digital form: Canal Digitaal (in Dutch) or BeTV (in French) are pay-TV operators broadcasting several SDTV channels over one DVB-C multiplex. Telenet is however pushing for their DVB-C channels as interactive Digital TV, using their cable network for uplink purposes. Current cable customers do not need to pay an extra subscription for about 35 digital channels, but they must purchase a set-top box in order to view these digital channels and use the interactive services. HDTV was expected from summer 2006, to coincide with the 2006 FIFA World Cup, but has not materialized. Despite Telenet, the main cable operator in Flanders (the northern region of Belgium), confirmed as part of its launch announcement of "Telenet Digital TV" on June 16, 2005 that it would sell HDTV set-top-boxes as of June 2006, HDTV capable set-top boxes for telenet interactive digital TV are not yet available in early 2007.
From July 2005 Integan, a cable provider in the outskirts of the city of Antwerp, is offering HDTV.
[edit] Terrestrial
The two Belgian public TV networks, VRT (on the Flemish side) and RTBF (on the French-speaking side), also broadcast their channels in DVB-T. VRT can be received all over Flanders. RTBF launched its DTT platform on 30 November 2007, which is now available to most of French-speaking Belgium. RTBF also launched a new channel exclusive to DTT called La Trois, and they added a fourth channel to the multiplex, namely Euronews, a pan-European news channel. TV5MONDE and Arte are expected to be added before 2009. Analogue terrestrial TV transmissions of VRT will end on 3 November 2008. The RTBF plans to shut down the analogue transmitters within the timespan regulated by the EU, in November 2011.
[edit] Satellite
TV Vlaanderen supplies DVB-S satellite television to the Flemish market, broadcasting (encrypted, Seca 2 / Irdeto 2) via the Astra 1G satellite. It has more than 30,000 subscribers.
VRT and RTBF both have international channels on digital satellite (DVB-S) called BVN (as a cooperation between the Flemish VRT and the Dutch NOS) and RTBF Sat. (See also Euro1080).
[edit] Mobile
With the advent of mobile digital receivers (DVB-H), Belgacom is showing some interest in building a DVB-H network.
[edit] IPTV
Belgacom is offering digital television on ADSL. Its offering has been extended with two optional bouquets: one providing movies and one selection for families (including cartoons, National Geographic, etc)
The Belgian commercial TV stations are currently only available on cable, satellite and ADSL. Terrestrial broadcasting is limited to public service TV stations. This is due to the high adoption rate of cable (94%) in Belgium which makes it unnecessary to broadcast commercially.
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