Between 2008 and
2012, all television in the UK has moved from analogue to digital. The old
analogue signal that used to carry all television broadcasts into homes through
terrestrial means has now been switched off in place of more cost efficient
digital television broadcasts that take up less space in the bandwidth and are
better resolution for viewers. Dual transmissions of both analogue and digital
were deemed to not be cost effective so over the four year period of the
analogue to digital switchover, all home had to upgrade to either having a
digital freeview box or an integrated digital television. This could be costly
but now all homes have a wider range of channels to choose from.
Film production
and exhibition has also moved from analogue or film based to digital in recent
years. Films used to be shot on 35mm film stock which was very expensive and
then it was edited and exhibited in the traditional ways with physically
cutting the film and then projecting it with a light shone through the rolls of
films. More recently many filmmakers have been turning to digital methods. This
means extremely lightweight and some very cheap cameras can be used to shoot
films. The footage can also be edited digitally with the aid of computers and
incredible software that allows people a great deal of flexibility and
creativity. Digital projectors in cinemas are now expected to completely over
take the old 35mm projectors by the end of 2013. Many argue the emergence of
digital technology in filmmaking has caused a democratisation of filmmaking,
along with websites like YouTube meaning anyone can distribute their film
cheaply to as many people as they want. Some consider digital formats to have
lower picture quality but this is constantly improving.
Next up in this series, I'll be looking at interactive and internet television.
More in this series:
Satellite and cable television
Interactive and internet television
HD, streaming, On Demand, Pay Per View, Digital Recorders
More in this series:
Satellite and cable television
Interactive and internet television
HD, streaming, On Demand, Pay Per View, Digital Recorders
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