Press release 29 November 2010
From 1 to 28 December 2010, MTVN HD and Animal Planet HD can be viewed for free via DNA’s terrestrial network. For viewing, all that is required is for you to be in the network's coverage area; have an HD-Ready or Full HD TV set equipped with a MPEG4 tuner; and a VHF antenna directed at DNA’s transmitter.
DNA’s terrestrial network is in the process of rapid expansion. By December, it will extend to cover municipalities in the Helsinki metropolitan area, Eastern Uusimaa and the Turku district. The network will continue to expand throughout December.
The free broadcasts that utilise the current DVB-T standard can be viewed by over a million people in the transmitters’ coverage area on VHF channels. The channel package broadcast on this frequency will include Animal Planet HD and MTVN HD: they will be tuned to the next available channels on the TV or digibox, or to channels 251 and 252.
- With these free broadcasts, viewable with existing equipment, viewers can confirm they’re within the coverage area and their antennas are correctly aligned well in advance of the upcoming commercial broadcasts, says Pekka Väisänen, VP in charge of DNA’s TV business.
Antenna realignment is required in some cases, as DNA's TV transmitters are at different locations to those of the current TV network.
Impact of VHF broadcasting on current TV reception
DNA’s high definition services will be available on the VHF TV frequencies that were freed by TV digitisation. To be able to guarantee best quality reception for both high-definition and traditional broadcasting, modern antenna systems need to process VHF and UHF signals separately.
New DVB-T2 standard introduces changes to home terminals
From the turn of the year onwards, high-definition broadcasting can no longer be received with current DVB-T equipment: instead, viewers need a digital adapter compliant to the DVB-T2 standard, and a DNA viewing card. The DVB-T2 tuner can be integrated either to a TV set or a digibox. If it is integrated to the TV set, a separate digibox will not be needed.
If the TV set is DVB-T2 compliant, viewers will, in addition to a VHF antenna, need a CI+ card module, available from TV retailers, and a DNA viewing card, available from DNA stores. The DNA viewing card is connected to the CI+ module, which is then connected to the TV set. As TV sets are not equipped with a slot for the viewing card, the card needs to be connected with a connector.
The DNA viewing card is assigned to the customer's digital equipment. The DNA retailer can take care of this for the customer when the card is purchased. The card can also be assigned by DNA Customer Service.
If the household has a Full HD or an HD Ready TV set, and there is no other need to replace it, it is possible to purchase a DVB-T2 digibox in addition to the VHF antenna and DNA viewing card. In this case, a separate CI+ card module is not needed, as digiboxes have a slot for the viewing card.
More information to viewers:
For further information on high-definition coverage areas, VHF antennas and DVB-T2 terminal equipment, go to www.dna.fi
More information for the media:
Pekka Väisänen, Vice President, Consumer Business, DNA Oy, Tel. +358 (0)44 0400 168, pekka.vaisanen(a)dna.fi
DNA Corporate Communications: Helena Sukuvaara, Communications Manager, DNA Ltd, tel. +358 (0)44 044 4201, Helena.sukuvaara(a)dna.fi