The definitive nationwide migration to Digitial terrestrial Television has begun in Portugal on 13 Februarymorning with the switching off of the Analogue transmitter at Palmela and the relays at Alcácer do Sal, Melides and Sesimbra.
Today's switch-off will affect 25 Portuguese municipalities in the districts of Beja, Setúbal and Lisbon.
Viewers who have already made the necessary preparations to receive DTT will not be at all affected by morning's switch-off with the entire national territory covered by digital television transmissions since December 2010. Subscribers of paid television services will also be able to continue watching television as before, without any change required.
Viewers who have not made preparations and who will be left without television from today will see a notice broadcast on their screen warning of the switch-off of analogue television and providing details of a free telephone helpline (800 200 838) and the website www.tdt.telecom.pthttps://tdt.telecom.pt/. These viewers will need to find a solution for their home. The first thing to do is to call the free helpline or go to the website to check if you live in an area with terrestrial coverage or satellite coverage.
- If you live in an area covered by the terrestrial signal, you will need to acquire a set-top-box compatible with the MPEG4 standard and connect it to your television set, and then tune the channels. Set-top-boxes can be acquired at retailers selling electrical goods. If your television set is already compatible with the MPEG4/H264 standard, you will only need to tune the channels. In some cases you may have to repoint your aerial.
- If you live in an area covered by satellite, you will need to acquire a DTH kit. To find out where to acquire a kit and the procedures to follow, call 800 200 838 or see details on the website www.tdt.telecom.pthttps://tdt.telecom.pt/.
Families on income support have a right to a subsidy equaling 50% of the cost of the equipment, up to a maximum of 22 euros, in the purchase of satellite kits or DTT set-top-boxes. Installation of a satellite dish, where necessary, cannot exceed 61 euros.
The next phase of the switch-off will take place on 23rd January, with the switch-off of the transmitter at Fóia (Monchique) and the relays at Santiago do Cacém, Cercal do Alentejo, Odemira, Odeceixe, Monchique, Aljezur and Silves.
Anyone who is not yet ready for digital television is advised by ANACOM to make the change to DTT as quickly as possible.
No payment is required to receive television with DTT and the free-to-air channels, RTP1, RTP2, SIC and TVI, will remain free for the whole population.
Related information on ANACOM's website:
- DTT switch-off https://www.anacom.pt/render.jsp?categoryId=336981
