President Dmitry Medvedev said Wednesday that Russia would switch to digital broadcasting by 2015. “Huge funds - federal and commercial - have been allocated for that,” Medvedev told a European and Asian media forum in Moscow. The president said it would be good to synchronize the process within the Commonwealth of Independent States.
The first package of Russia’s digital broadcasters comprises eight TV channels and three radio stations. Work to activate a second package of digital channels reportedly would be finished in the near future.
Speaking to an audience of international journalists, Mr Medvedev also called for maintaining a permanently unbiased dialogue between European and Asian media. He said journalists must follow their mission by reporting the truth. “A journalist’s main responsibility is to speak the truth. But how you do it depends on you,” he said.
The fourth European and Asian media forum on Dec. 9-10, organized by Russia’s state-run news agency RIA Novosti, brought together members of about 150 media outlets from 14 countries.
(Source: Xinhua)
on Dec 9th, 2009 at 20:48
Great News to hear that Russia is moving forwards with Digital Broadcasting - but it will be VERY interesting to hear if Russia will take advantage of the numerous advantages available to it by adopting the Eureka 47 protocol.
If any one has details - please email me at tony.orwin@radioscape.com
on Dec 10th, 2009 at 10:27
When any president promises anything beyond his current term in office, you know that it’s wishful thinking at best. The Russian reports of this news don’t talk of any ‘pledges’ coming from Medvedev but rather of new approximate deadline being set.
on Dec 10th, 2009 at 10:37
OK, I have taken out the word ‘pledges’, which was Xinhua’s headline, not mine. I had not seen any other reports of this speech, so I appreciate the correction.
on Dec 10th, 2009 at 14:10
It’s of course about rolling out DVB-T. Certainly more details are around in the Russian cyberspace. Meanwhile, cf.
http://www.broadbandtvnews.com/2009/12/07/russia-costs-digital-switchover/