Digital Television (DTV) uses digital signals to transmit audio and video information, unlike the older technology of analog signals used by analog television. The UK, like many other countries are supplanting their analog television systems by digital over a period of time. This is so that the extensive radio bandwidth used by the analog system can be re-used for other transmissions.
A number of technologies have developed to deliver digital television. There are x different services available for consumers. Firstly, Digital terrestrial television includes around 100 television and radio services, some of them interactive, able to be accessed by a standard TV aerial. Most of them are free-to-air. They are often referred to as Freeview, the brand name of the broadcasters of these services. The programmes are received through a Freeview box. Then there are digital television services delivered via a satellite signal into a satellite box, and those delivered by underground cables into the home with a cable TV management box.
Growing more popular is the fourth alternative method of receiving digital TV services – Internet Protocol television. This is a system using specialised electronic components and software connected to the internet via a computer.
Latest developments of digital television services include not only live television viewing and interactive TV, but also time-shifted storing of programmes to view them later and high definition services.