Italian RAI once again postpones migration to DVB-T2

The first real step towards the second generation of DVB, DVB-T2, by the Italian public broadcaster RAI It would have to occur next January, however it has requested a new delay in view of the small number of homes that have televisions compatible with the standard.

Today, a 35.2% of Italian homes do not have a DVB-T2 compatible television and, therefore, they would no longer see anything from the day of the transition to the new standard.

Last August, Adolfo Urso, Minister of Enterprise and Made in Italy, announced that before January 10 the RAI “must commit to broadcasting its own national MUX in DVB-T2 standard and to prepare the transition of the remaining MUXs to the DVB-T2 standard according to the roadmap prepared by the Ministry, in line with sector regulations.”

The minister's announcement came after months, if not years, of uncertainty about the actual date of transition from the old to the new standard, and after strong pressure from small local television editors, partners in Aeranti-Corallo, who have been making heavy investments for some time to update their broadcast equipment.

The change to DVB-T2 on MUX A, the main channel where the emblematic channels are broadcast, would mean a unsustainable audience loss for the RAI coffers. Even more so given that in 2024 two sporting events with wide audience following, with the consequent advertising revenue, will take place: the European Championship and the Paris Olympic Games.