The transition

DVB-T2: the digital terrestrial revolution and what's new for Italian TV viewers

From 28 August, the transition to the new DVB-T2 TV transmission system begins, with improved viewing quality and new high-definition channels

by Gianni Rusconi

28 August 2024

Rear view of family watching tv in living room

4' min read

Many Italians will probably not even realise it, but 28 August marks the start of the transition to the new TV broadcasting system for digital terrestrial television, DVB-T2 with HEVC encoding, the standard that will further improve viewing quality by broadening the spectrum of programmes accessible in high-definition and simultaneously freeing up the 700 MHz band in the ether to be reserved for 5G mobile technology.

Announcing the news was also the Minister for Economic Development, Adolfo Urso , on his X profile, pointing out that the transition is 'a further significant leap forward towards the future of digital communication and the national television system'.

Which channels will be affected by the migration right away? Does the TV set currently in use have to be replaced? Is there still a possibility to benefit from the decoder bonus? Here is what changes and what you need to know.

Channels changing

The first Rai channels affected by the change are those broadcasting exclusively in high definition via DVB-T2, namely Rai Storia HD (position 54), Rai Radio 2 Visual HD (202) and Rai Scuola HD (57). In order to continue watching these three free-to-air channels on digital terrestrial television, it is therefore necessary from today to have a receiver compatible with the new standard.

The other channels of the national broadcaster's offer (Rai 4, Rai Premium and RaiNews 24, but also Rai 1 HD, Rai 2 HD and Rai 3 HD) will for the time being still be visible both with the new T2 standard and in simulcast mode and in standard definition with DVB-T technology (and decoders), so that they can also be reached by those with obsolete equipment, thus avoiding cutting off a slice of viewers from the broadcaster's main programming.

The journey towards the new generation of digital terrestrial television has therefore officially begun and will soon affect the entire programme schedule of the main broadcasters.

Antenna does not change, watch the age of your TV

For the majority of Italians, and this is the main information to be aware of, there is no need to carry out any work on their system, in view of the fact that the existing antennas for receiving the DVB-T signal are (or at least should be) already compatible with the DVB-T2 standard: the only requirement is for the TV set, and for those purchased after 22 December 2018, the problems do not exist because they are also enabled to operate with the new format.

For those who have an appliance in their homes older than this date, the obligation to equip themselves with a new decoder has instead been triggered: the characteristics and models suitable for receiving the DVB-T2 signal are described on the website of the Ministry of Enterprise and Made in Italy (Mimit), where the details of the Bonus Decoder at home initiative are also illustrated, which remains in force for the benefit of the over-70s with an annual pension of a maximum of 20,000 euro and fee payments in order until next 31 October.

Once you have ascertained that you have the appropriate requirements, and therefore even if your TV set or decoder is compatible, you must automatically retune the channels to continue viewing the Rai networks correctly (after this operation and only on DVB-T2 receivers, RaiNews 24 in HD will be available on channel 48).

How to do the test

The Mimit website also lists the steps to be able to independently verify that you are ready for the migration. There are two possible options that are specified in order to ascertain that the appliance or decoder supplied supports the new standard: check that the manual and/or the technical data sheet of the television set indicate DVB-T2 and HEVC, or go to channel 200 and make sure that the words 'Test HEVC Main 10' appear.

If this does not happen, it is advisable to repeat the check after retuning the TV or decoder. If only channel 57 (Rai Scuola HD) is correctly displayed, this is proof that the device is set up to receive DVB-T2 broadcasts but is not compatible with HEVC encoding.

Italians who have yet to migrate to the new system

In the homes of Italians, according to an Auditel Censis report updated to November 2023, there are over 43 million television sets, of which only 52.4 per cent are already compatible for the DVB-T2 standard and the remaining 47.6 per cent therefore not capable of encoding the new formats.

The risk that many users may be cut off from small screen programming (RAI in primis) is however considered modest due to the fact that there are several TV sets in several homes and at least one can be assumed to be recent and therefore ready to support the migration to the new broadcasting standards.

According to the report, in fact, at least 64.8% of households own at least one compatible device, and the segment of the population that is not currently enabled to switch to DVB-T2 constitutes the remaining 35.2%, i.e. about 8.4 million households. Perhaps an excessive number to speak today of a 'technologically advanced and connected country'.