Kazan will fully switch to digital television broadcasting in June 2019

(KZN.RU, February 11, Ksenia Shvetsova). The Republic of Tatarstan is included in the third stage of the transition to digital television broadcasting, which is scheduled for June 3, 2019. Earlier, Kazan residents could watch for free from 3 to 10 channels in analog format. Now, as part of the transition to digital broadcasting, residents will have the opportunity to watch two multiplexes, which consist of 20 public TV channels in digital quality, for free. Ilsur Metshin, the Mayor of the capital of the RT, today at the Business Monday ordered to develop a clear timetable for the transition, notify all residents of the city and help the elderly citizens to solve all issues of transition.

Rifat Khannanov, the head of the Information Technology and Communications Directorate, reminded that the Republic of Tatarstan was included in the third stage of the transition to digital broadcasting, which is scheduled for June 3, 2019, among 56 constituent entities of the Russian Federation. According to the radio and television transmission center of the RT, Kazan is 100% covered by the digital broadcasting signal today.

Regional and municipal TV channels after the transition to the digital will continue to broadcast in analog format. “If you see the letter “A” on the screens of your TVs next to the logo of the federal channels “Channel One Russia”, “Russia-1”, “NTV”, “Channel 5”, this means that you are watching analog television broadcasting”, explained the speaker. He added that in order to switch to digital broadcasting, it is necessary to clarify whether the TV supports the digital standard. You can find this information either in the TV passport or by its name, brand, and model on the website of the radio and television broadcasting center. In order to watch the channels in digital format, the residents need to connect it to the general home broadcasting system and the owner of private households to the antenna with the appropriate level of the broadcast signal. If it turns out that the TV does not support the standard, you must purchase a console. If there is no letter “A” on the TV screens, this means that the connection to digital broadcasting has been done automatically.

The transition to digital broadcasting does not affect subscribers connected to paid cable television systems, IP television, cable, satellite television, as well as broadcast television subscribers.

Residents of apartment buildings with a common system of collective television reception can apply for a connection to digital on-air television in “Open Kazan”. According to this application, assistance is provided in setting up the TV, and if necessary, repairs are made to all-house equipment systems. “In order to inform the public, a step-by-step instruction has been developed for setting up and receiving digital television, which is posted on the websites of the City Hall, the Ministry of Information and Communication of the RT, the radio and television broadcasting center of the RT, and a single federal information center”, said R. Khannanov.

The work of volunteer groups has been organized in order to help Kazan citizens with setting up the equipment. They will soon be trained and will start working with the public. “All volunteers will receive certificates and a distinctive form, and information about them will be available on the website of the Kazan City Hall”, added the speaker.

Infrastructure for the transition to the digital is almost ready throughout the city, noted Ilsur Metshin, the Mayor of Kazan. He added that the most difficult and urgent issue today is to conduct explanatory work with citizens. “There is an older generation that needs help to figure it out. In this case, apartment visiting is the right decision. I ask you to prepare a clear timetable, be sure to notify the population, to work together with colleagues from the Ministry of Social Protection. It is especially important to help lonely elderly people to switch to digital broadcasting”, instructed I. Metshin.

On November 15 last year, a plan for the transition to digital broadcasting was approved at a meeting of the government of the Russian Federation. It includes the phased disconnection of the analog signal in the regions of the country. On December 3, analog television broadcasting was turned off in the Tver Oblast in the pilot mode. Today, the first stage of the transition to digital television broadcasting starts in 7 regions of Russia.