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2022 is approaching and with it the frequency refarming that will wipe out many local broadcasters: here’s what’s happening to the channels these days and how it is happening in Sardinia
Broadcasters’ dance on Digital Terrestrial is back, with a few changes in recent days at both regional and national levels. In particular, there have been several changes to the LCN numbering in the implementation of the recent decree of the Ministry of Economic Development that made the official new list of channel numbers.
The new numbering is mainly due to the preparation for the next technical change in January, when the now famous “700 band” frequencies will be released in many regions of northern Italy, with the equally famous “frequency refarming”. In Sardinia, refarming is already underway, with a tight schedule of frequency and channel changes that unfortunately also includes the shutdown of historic broadcasters such as Olbia TV, which has been broadcasting since 1978. Telegi, Canale 12, Tele Radio Maristella and Super TV were also closed earlier. A similar scenario could occur from January in northern Italy, where there are too many local broadcasters to all fit into fewer frequencies available from 2022.
Digital Terrestrial: What’s New at the End of November
At the national level, these are mainly changes in the LCN numbering of channels (here we explain what LCN means), sometimes accompanied by the sender’s transition from one MUX to another.
In MUX Tymb 3, for example, Paramount Network and Super! they enter numbered 27 and 47. In MUX Timb 1 the Juwelo channel moves from 510 to 526 (but remains visible on LCN 133 in MUX Rete A 2). The Italian / Romanian broadcaster IT Channel (formerly Rochannel Diaspora) is now present on LCN 221, inside the MUX Retecapri.
New features also for radio channels: the RDS Social TV duplicate is coming to MUX Timb 2 and the Radio Padania Libera duplicate is coming to MUX Canale Italia.
Digitale Terrestre: what’s going on in Sardinia
Although this is only interesting for the people of the region, given the insular nature of Sardinia, it is interesting to summarize the situation on Sardinian digital terrestrial television. This is because what is happening in Sardinia these days will take place from January 2022 and with different dates depending on the region, also in other parts of Italy.
As we know, TV broadcasters must release frequencies already auctioned by the state to telephone companies that will use them to build a 5G network. By switching from the Mpeg-2 to Mpeg-4 codec, it is possible to transmit more than one broadcaster on the same frequency, but in many parts of Italy the remaining frequencies will still be too low.
For example, in Sardinia, TV repeaters broadcasting on frequencies in the 700 MHz band are switched off from November 15 (and until December 2). In most of the island this process is now complete, only the territories of Ogliastra and Sarrabus remain.
There were 42 applications from local Sardinian broadcasters for new frequencies, but only 29 were approved by the Ministry of Economic Development.
