Digital television in developing countries?

Reflections from the Commonwealth Broadcasting Association’s Asia-Pacific conference in Tonga

• Michael Starks
• International Journal of Digital Television

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11 December 2009There can be few more exotic locations to gather for a broadcasting conference than the South Pacific Island Kingdom of Tonga, where the Commonwealth Broadcasting Association (CBA) held its Asia-Pacific regional conference in February 2009.

Whilst the transition to digital TV in the Pacific Islands is likely to be some years out, it would be strategically beneficial for the Pacific Forum of Leaders to consider establishing a working group to agree a common pan-Pacific approach to digital transition and standards, so that the Pacific can reap the benefits of standardization and economies of scale.

Some sort of harmonization with Australia and New Zealand would also make sense, so that technical support, equipment supply etc. can continue to be provided in the same way that TVNZ has supported the analogue services in the Pacific over the past several years.