Does the shutdown of SD via satellite mean the end of “standard definition”? No, at least not in Austria. Because ORF1 and ORF2 are still available in SD and even without encryption.
How to receive ORF1 and 2 in SD?
It would be better to say where you can watch the two most important Austrian public TV programs. Namely only in and around Austria. Specifically about the digital antenna television DVB-T2. As far as its signals reach into neighboring countries, including the south of Bavaria and up into the Bavarian Forest, you can receive the two Austrian TV channels.
Why are ORF1 and 2 spread in SD?
All four ORF television programs are transmitted in HD via DVB-T2. However, encrypted. Which means that suitable reception equipment is required. Either in the form of a module or a receiver or television that already has the required decoder built in.
More news about ORF here.
There are several reasons for the additional unencrypted transmission of ORF 1 and 2. Years ago it was said that these unencrypted SD broadcasts were used to be fed into Bavarian cable TV networks. In fact, this gives the neighbors, especially in southern Bavaria and eastern Switzerland, the opportunity to continue watching the Austrian TV channels ORF1 and 2. This goes back to a decades-long tradition. However, the neighbors are not happy, especially with ORF2 in SD. Because only the Vienna regional version is broadcast freely throughout Austria. It would be much more important for residents to see the neighboring ORF2 regional version in order to see what is happening just across the border.
Is ORF in SD also interesting for Austrians?
Absolutely. Austrians do not have the luxury of receiving all public broadcasting programs freely via DVB-T2 as they do in Germany. Instead of an average of 18 programs in HD in Germany, Austrians can only receive two programs in SD with not exactly inspiring picture quality. In some cases you can also see the private ATV2, which is also distributed unencrypted. However, with less good network expansion.
The free transmission gives Austrians the chance to get at least two programs with every DVB-T2 tuner and television. The focus here is also on mini TVs, which are usually only available without a decoder.
How long will the SD distribution of ORF1 and 2 last?
According to the current state of affairs, there are no known plans to switch off ORF1 and 2 in SD via DVB-T2. In any case, the likelihood that the encryption of the HD versions will be abandoned is virtually nonexistent. Then you would no longer need parallel SD broadcasting.
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Source: www.digitalfernsehen.de
