High-definition television in Singapore is currently in early adoption phase.
Although many households in Singapore own HD ready or Full HD television sets most of the free-to-air channels in Singapore still broadcast in SDTV. There are plans to increase the number of free-to-air high-definition channels in Singapore when the analogue channels are discontinued following complete digital switchover between 2015 to 2020. In 2007, Singapore's national broadcaster MediaCorp announced plans to broadcast all its channels in high-definition by 2012.
On Friday, 1 December 2006 based in Singapore officially began HDTV trials. Two Singaporean broadcasters were involved, MediaCorp (broadcasting HD in DVB-T) and StarHub Cable Vision (DVB-C). Both broadcast in 1080i, but at 50 Hz, in line with the traditional PAL frequency Singapore uses. Triallists were selected from applicants who had applied prior to 22 December 2006 and there are a total of 1000 participants in the trial. These trials closed at the end of 31 December 2007.
MediaCorpTV HD5 is Singapore's first over-the-air HDTV channel simulcasting HD version of MediaCorp TV Channel 5 programming in 1080i. It is the first terrestrial broadcast HD channel in South East Asia and also first in the world to use MPEG-4 AVC compression.
StarHub TV a Singapore cable television provider currently airs more than a dozen HD channels.
|