From analog to digital: a slow switch off. Auditel-Censis report
How is the transition from analogue to digital going according to the Auditel-Censis report
The pandemic and the ensuing confinement caused greater attention to be paid to housing, the quality of everyday objects and the home lifestyle. This also had an impact on the increased demand for technological equipment and connections. The “ 4th AUDITEL-CENSIS Report – Multiscreen Italy ” tries to identify how the pandemic has affected the technological consumption of Italians.
Italians and connection: the numbers
Since 2020, purchases of technological devices for the use of entertainment content have increased. "The screens inside homes are 119 million and 400,000 (+ 6.2% in the last two years), families with internet connection are 90.2% of the total (+ 3.6% from 2019 to today) and those who have both a domestic and mobile connection are 59.4% (+ 6.2%) ”, reads the report. Smart TVs are also growing, "which in 2021 exceeded 15 million and respond to the new modes of use that are emerging and the needs imposed by the transition to second-generation digital terrestrial". The report also highlights how the ways in which people are in front of the TV have changed. " Over 7 million Italians watch television programs on the internet that are broadcast simultaneously on linear TV and 4.2 million do so using their smartphone, 24 million connect to the internet and use specific applications, free or paid, to watch content / movies / programs and 16 million and 600,000 individuals do it often, ”the report continues.
The digital gap within Italian families
The data portrays a positive path that has not yet involved all Italian families. “There are still over two million families, 9.8% of the total, who are not connected; to these are added more than 7 million families, 29.9% of the total , who only have a mobile line, and 5 million families who connect only from smartphones, a device that, obviously, is not able to sufficiently support the new ways of studying, working and living that are emerging ".
From analog to digital
The digital gap concerns not only the internet connection but also the quality of the TV screens. At the end of 2023 there will be the definitive transition to second generation digital terrestrial, DVBT2, which will replace the "old" DVBT. From that moment on, only devices with DVBT2, with a HEVC coding system or an external decoder capable of tuning with the new digital band will be usable. The transition concerns "almost 12 million families and 27 million and 700,000 televisions".
The first step: all channels in HD
The transition to digital was divided into two stages. On 20 October, all digital terrestrial channels switched to high definition (HD). "Based on the basic Auditel survey, this step involved about one television out of five, 8 million and 400 thousand sets that are found in the homes of 3 million Italian families, equal to 12.8% of the total", reads the report of the Censis.
The second step: 12 million families affected
The second step will have an even more important impact. The new "DVB-T2 standard with the new HEVC Main10 coding system" will affect approximately 27 million and 700,000 televisions (64.2% of the total), approximately "12 million households, equal to 51.2% of the total" will adapt to the new standard required.
The incentives for technological switch off
The budget law of 2019 had provided for a " TV bonus " of 50 euros to encourage technological renewal. The incentive was intended only for families with Isee below 20,000 euros. This incentive, however, was not very successful, it went better with the scrapping bonus , introduced with the Sostegni decree. Those who decide to get rid of a device purchased before 2018 may be entitled to a 20% discount on the purchase price of the new TV , up to a maximum of 100 euros. The government has allocated a fund of 250 million euros for this bonus. You can apply for the bonus until December 31, 2022, unless the fund is sufficient for everyone. The bonus does not require income requirements but you only need to be resident in Italy, hold an electricity contract on which the TV fee is charged, want to scrap an old TV purchased before 22 December 2018 and fill in the replacement declaration downloadable from the Mise website . Scrapping takes place by delivering the old appliance to the point of sale or by presenting the certificate of withdrawal of an ecological island.
This is a machine translation from Italian language of a post published on Start Magazine at the URL https://www.startmag.it/economia-on-demand/dallanalogico-al-digitale-un-lento-switch-off-rapporto-auditel-censis/ on Sun, 21 Nov 2021 11:52:59 +0000.