The term is well known to all: TV switch-off. And that’s the only thing that makes us agree. Indeed, not even her, because some prefer to write it without a hyphen: TV switch off.
For the rest, also thanks to a television advertising campaign that is a bit too little explanatory, a certain chaos reigns. AND a good chunk of Italians do not know what will happen from Wednesday 20 October, the day on which the start of the first phase of the transition to the new digital terrestrial was announced, which will probably end in 2023.
The very concrete question that many of us are asking is more or less this: will I have to rush to change the television? And the one connected to it: how do I know if my device will continue to receive all channels from 20 October?
Let’s answer these questions and let’s clarify the various phases of the transition to the new digital terrestrial. Finally, let us recall what the two bonuses consist of which can be used by those who will have to change their television set in the coming months.
TV switch off: what will happen on October 20
From Wednesday 20 October we will switch from Mpeg-2 to Mpeg-4 encoding.
If you allow us a little simplification, from that date you will be able to see only the channels in HD.
What does this mean? Meanwhile, it means that with a very simple test you can see in an instant whether your television needs to be replaced or not. Tune your device to any channel in high definition: for example 501 for Raiuno Hd, 505 for Canale 5 Hd and 507 for La7 Hd. Do you receive them? Good. You won’t have to change your TV at all starting October 20, just retune the channels.
This first step will affect a limited number of TV sets: those sold before 2010.
Switch off tv of 20 October: which channels will it involve
Furthermore, from next 20 October Rai and Mediaset will not suddenly black out all channels that are not in high definition. To give everyone who owns an old device the opportunity to buy a new one, there will be a gradual transition.
That is, from 20 October onwards anyone will still be able to see the main Rai and Mediaset networks. Specifically, Rai Uno, Rai Due, Rai Tre and RaiNews 24 for state television. And Canale 5, Italia 1 and Rete 4 for Mediaset.
TVs that do not support high definition will no longer receive the signal from some thematic channels. Fifteen, to be precise: nine from Rai and six from Mediaset. For Rai it will be Rai 4, Rai 5, Rai Movie, Rai Yoyo, Rai Sport + HD, Rai Storia, Rai Gulp, Rai Premium and Rai Scuola. And for Mediaset we are talking about TgCom24, Mediaset Italia 2, Boing Plus, Radio 105, R101 TV and Virgin Radio TV.
The second stage of transition
The switch off of the TV will instead affect a greater number of devices in the second phase, that of the transition from the Dvb-T system to the Dvb-T2, which provides for the shutdown of all channels for unsuitable televisions.
But when will this step begin, and which devices will no longer be usable?
As for the date, today we are talking about the start in January 2023. Let us instead dwell a little more on the type of televisions to be changed in the second phase of the transition to the new digital terrestrial.
The appliances involved
Television sets not suitable for the Dvb-T2 transmission system are those purchased before December 22, 2018 (and which, as we will see shortly, fall into the scrapping bonus).
Ma how to find out if your TV is suitable or not? By tuning into one of the two test channels: 100 for Rai and 200 for Mediaset. If you read “Test HEVC Main10” on these two channels, the TV is compatible with the new digital terrestrial. Before carrying out the test, however, make sure you see Rai 1 and channel 5 correctly. If this is not the case, you must re-tune the channels: vice versa you will not even see the test channels.
Il bonus tv 2020
As we said, the Mise has made available two different bonuses to change the TV in view of the switch off to the new digital terrestrial.
The first, from 2020, can be combined with the most recent one. It is about an incentive aimed at those with an income of less than 20,000 euros per year. It entitles you to a discount of 30 euros for the purchase of a decoder or a TV compatible with the Dvb-T2 system.
He bonus 2021
The 2021 bonus is a scrapping bonus by means of which it is possible to replace television sets purchased before 22 December 2018.
Anyone residing in Italy and up to date with the payment of the TV license can apply for the incentive. Each household is entitled to only one bonus.
The incentive entitles you to a 20% discount, up to a maximum of 100 euros, on the purchase of a TV compatible with the new DVB-T2 system. It will expire on 31 December 2022 except for subsequent refinancing.