All Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) channels will only be able to broadcast, on a mandatory basis, in high definition (HD) as of Wednesday, February 14. Channels in quality or standard definition (SD) will permanently disappear from the radio spectrum and will not be tuned. “With the completion of the transition to DTT in high definition, we will finish modernizing the television experience thanks to greater image and sound quality,” point out the Secretary of State for Telecommunications and Digital Infrastructures.
More image quality and surround sound are the main attributes of HD quality. To enjoy it, it is essential to have coverage, an adapted antenna and have HD-compatible equipment. “More than 98% of the devices already are,” they report from the Secretary of State.
Older televisions, however, may lack this option, so you should consider purchasing a new device that is compatible with HD technology or a decoder or tuner with HD capability. These devices connect to the antenna cable and the television and allow you to receive the DTT signal in high definition format. If the device is compatible and allows you to watch DTT in high definition, you will only have to reorder the channels.
To date, most audiovisual groups broadcast their offerings on DTT in SD and also in HD, what is known as “simulcast” broadcasts. The HD channels will not suffer any changes while the SD channels will disappear and must be replaced by HD channels, which must be searched for in the TV's channel list.
Some audiovisual groups have not waited for the February 14 deadline to adapt to the new regulations. RTVE (La 1, La 2, Canal 24 Horas, Teledeporte and Clan) already carried out the migration process of its television channels from SD to HD on February 6, while 3Cat (TV3, 3/24, Esport3 and SX3/33) did so on January 16.
In the case of the DTT channels of Atresmedia (Antena 3, La Sexta, Nova, Neox, Mega and Atreseries) and Mediaset (Telecinco, Cuatro, FDF, Divinity, Be Mad, Energy and Boing) they will be broadcast only on HD starting Wednesday.
