"Third Action
Plan for the Promotion of Digital Broadcasting" Formulated
The "Third Action Plan for the Promotion
of Digital Broadcasting" was formulated as follows:
Third Action
Plan for the Promotion of Digital Broadcasting
April 15, 2003
Roundtable Conference on the Future
Aspects of Broadcasting in the Broadband Age
Within the government, the IT Strategic Headquarters
in the government adopted the "e-Japan Priority Policy Program
- 2002 (June 18, 2002)," stating that "in order to promote
digitalization of broadcasting comprising infrastructures of the IT
Revolution, and start terrestrial digital broadcasting in the three
major metropolitan areas of Kanto, Kinki and Chukyo by the end of
2003, and other areas by the end of 2006, the government takes measures
for change of analog frequency in line with the digitalization of
terrestrial broadcasting."
In addition in the "Second Section (Strategy for Revitalization
of the Economy)" of the "Basic Policies for Economic and
Fiscal Policy Management and Structural Reform 2002 (Cabinet Decision
of June 25, 2002)" they describe the necessity of the creation
of various IT businesses, including e-commerce from homes with interactive
TV programming, by promoting digitalization of broadcasting infrastructures
for supporting the IT Revolution at home.
As shown in the above-mentioned Cabinet Decisions, digitalization
of broadcasting will bring about revolutionary changes in ways of
watching programming, namely a shift from a one-way/passive mode to
a two-way/positive mode. Through provision of unprecedented, advanced
and multifaceted services (high-definition pictures, programming with
captions and descriptions for the elderly and people with disabilities,
reservation services via the Internet, TV reception via mobile terminals,
server-type broadcasting, etc.), viewers will be able to greatly benefit
from digitalization of broadcasting. At the same time, since the digitalization
has unprecedented significance in terms of ICT policy, all relevant
parties will make concerted efforts to implement the following measures
to promote the swift diffusion of digital broadcasting.
I. Concrete measures to be
implemented by relevant parties such as diffusion of digital TV receiver
units
1. Diffusion of digital TV receiver units
(1) Targets of diffusion of terrestrial digital TV receiver units
With respect to TVs, etc. for receiving terrestrial digital broadcasting,
the numerical targets are as follows. Relevant parties, including
the governments, broadcasters, manufacturers, etc. shall make concerted
efforts to realize these targets.
(i) Objects for numerical targets
From the viewpoint of maintaining the current viewing environments
for terrestrial TV broadcasting, objects for numerical targets shall
be "devices for viewing terrestrial digital TV broadcasts with
higher image quality at home than that of analog TV broadcasts."
(Note)
Note: Devices falling under the scope of objects for
numerical targets are thought to be the following devices at present:
- TV units with functions for receiving terrestrial digital TV broadcasting
- Set-top boxes for receiving terrestrial digital TV broadcasting
connected to analog TV units, etc.
- Video recorders with functions for receiving terrestrial digital
TV broadcasting connected to analog TV units, etc.
- PCs with functions for receiving terrestrial digital TV broadcasting
In the future, it is anticipated that, along with diversification
of broadcasting services and advents of unforeseeable viewing modes,
versatile and multifaceted devices will be put onto the market.
(ii) Numerical targets to be set forth
(a) Numerical targets on number of households
i. Final numerical targets
- All households (48 million households) to be covered by the beginning
of 2011
ii. Numerical targets for the time being
- 10 million households to be covered by 2006, at the time of the
2006 FIFA World Cup Germany ™
- 24 million households to be covered by 2008, at the time of the
2008 Beijing Olympic Games
iii Roadmap
- See Fig. 1.
(b) Numerical targets on number of devices
i. Final numerical targets
- 100 million devices to be diffused by the time of termination of
terrestrial analog broadcasting (July 24, 2011)
ii. Numerical targets for the time being
- 12 million devices to be diffused by 2006, at the time of the 2006
FIFA World Cup Germany (TM)
- 36 million devices to be diffused by 2008, at the time of the 2008
Beijing Olympic Games
iii Roadmap
- See Fig. 2.
(iii) Upon implementation of the numerical targets for the number
of TV units, there is the necessity of overcoming a difficult hurdle
, that is, a huge number of TV units comparable to a gross demand
for the past 10 years (approximately 100 million units) are to be
diffused within seven and a half years (equivalent to a 1.3 times
bigger annual gross demand than before). Toward the realization of
such targets, an organization for implementing the targets (to be
described later in this Action Plan) will consider concrete measures
and make determined and concerted efforts of stakeholders to implement
the concrete measures. The implementing organization is to take measures
as early as possible for attaining the numerical targets by 2006 as
the first step toward the realization of the final numerical targets.
(iv) Henceforth, while confirming the implementation
status of the 2006 and 2008 numerical targets, toward the completion
of those targets, follow-ups shall be made on objects of the numerical
targets as based upon real viewing modes, methods for assessing the
progress status as well as promotion measures to be stressed.
(2) Promotion of receiving units for satellite digital
broadcasting, etc.
Diffusion of receiving units for satellite digital broadcasting, terrestrial
digital broadcasting, etc. shall be actively promoted. Especially,
with respect to common receiving sets for terrestrial digital broadcasting,
BS digital broadcasting and the 110-degree east longitude CS digital
broadcasting, promotion measures shall be taken for the diffusion
thereof utilizing its advantages.
2 Practical measures to be taken by each relevant
party
(1) Terrestrial TV broadcasters
(i) The Basic Broadcasting Plan states that i) terrestrial digital
broadcasting in the three metropolitan areas (Kanto, Kinki and Chukyo)
shall be commenced by the end of CY2003, ii) in other areas terrestrial
digital broadcasting shall be commenced by the end of CY2006, and
iii) the transition of analog TV broadcasting to digital broadcasting
shall be completed and analog TV broadcasting shall be terminated
in CY2011. In line with the Basic Broadcasting Plan, those targets
shall be smoothly implemented.
(ii) In particular, in keeping pace with the progress
in implementation status of measures for change of analog frequency
after commencement of terrestrial digital broadcasting, service areas
shall be sequentially expanded for penetrating terrestrial digital
broadcasting at an early stage. In the three metropolitan areas, service
areas shall be expanded in accordance with the following schedule:
At the initial stage: approximately 12 million households
By the end of CY2004: approximately 17 million households
By the end of CY2005: approximately 23 million households
[Reference] On measures for change
of analog frequency
With regard to measures for change of analog frequency to be taken
by the government, since August 2002, the measures have been taken
by broadcasters. At present about 81% (174 broadcasting stations of
214 stations) have been covered by the subsidization. Since February
9, 2003, the measures for change of analog frequency in the three
metropolitan areas commenced simultaneously for individual households.
As of April 10, 2003, the measures started in 41 areas of 14 prefectures,
and works for about 21,000 households in 19 areas of the 41 areas
were done smoothly.
(iii) At the beginning of terrestrial digital broadcasting
service, more than 50% of all air-time per week shall be high-definition
TV broadcasting, and after that the ratio shall be gradually extended
(in particular, at prime time [7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.]).
(iv) Broadcast programming with the advantages of
digital broadcasting including supplementary data broadcasting, interactive
programming, etc. shall be introduced one after another to increase
the number of programs; in parallel, broadcasting services in compliance
with mobile reception shall be developed and these shall be introduced
at the earliest possible stage.
(v) Broadcasting services friendly to the elderly
and people with disabilities, such as captioned broadcasting with
merits of digital broadcasting, shall be expanded.
(2) Terrestrial digital radio broadcasters
Commercial test broadcasting for providing multifaceted broadcast
programming with merits of digital broadcasting will be started in
autumn 2003 in Tokyo and Osaka, with the purposes of forecasting a
future demand for mobile reception of broadcasting and of contributing
to commercialization thereof.
(3) BS TV broadcasters
(i) BS TV broadcasters will further diffuse BS digital broadcasting,
by airing attractive broadcast programming and the implementation
of joint campaign to publicize the merits of digital broadcasting
such as high-definition and interactive programming.
(ii) BS TV broadcasters aim at broadcasting BS digital
programs using a transmission capacity of more than 22 slots, fully
utilizing the merits of digital broadcasting, for more than 75% of
primetime (four hours from 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.) by the end of
CY2003. These programs are mainly high-definition programs, and among
the others are interactive programs and program-based data broadcasting.
(iii) With regard to BS analog broadcasting, BS TV
broadcasters will adequately inform viewers in a correct and ascertained
manner of the time schedule that analog Hi-Vision broadcasting will
be terminated in CY2007 and other BS analog broadcasting by the end
of CY2011 in line with the termination period of terrestrial analog
broadcasting.
(4) CS TV broadcasters
(i) CS TV broadcasters will carefully meet needs of viewers by providing
specialized broadcast programming with advantages of digital broadcasting
such as multiple channels.
(ii) CS TV broadcasters will i) facilitate program
selection for meeting individual needs of viewers through advancement
of platform and EPG functions, ii) increase the number of diversified
broadcast programs with merits of digital broadcasting (e.g., multiplexing,
multiangle, pay-per-view, two-way, supplementary data broadcasting,
etc.) and iii) promote diffusion thereof.
(iii) CS TV broadcasters will make efforts to improve
picture quality through standard definition broadcasting utilizing
broadband and introduce high-definition broadcasting, according to
broadcast programming.
(iv) CS TV broadcasters will provide information on
CS digital broadcasting and conduct dissemination thereon, through
joint efforts between platforms, cooperation with BS digital broadcasters
and TV manufacturers, for making CS digital broadcasting services
easily understood by the public.
(v) Platform operators will develop guidelines by
June 2003 for improving services and make them public, for facilitating
multifaceted CS broadcasting and for ensuring benefits of viewers,
through implementation of more adequate and efficient services toward
program-supplying broadcasters, etc.
(5) Cable TV operators
(i) Cable TV operators will i) expand retransmission of satellite
digital broadcasting through networking of cable TV operators, tie-ups
by shared use of head-end facilities, introduction of HITS (Head-end
In The Sky), promotion of integrated common antenna facilities, etc.,
and ii) start digital retransmission services at an earliest possible
stage in keeping pace with the launch of terrestrial digital broadcasting
in service areas.
(ii) Based upon the numerical target developed in
March 2003 on retransmission of terrestrial digital broadcasting by
cable TV operators, cable TV operators will retransmit terrestrial
digital broadcasting.
<Numerical targets for cable TV>
(a) Concept for numerical targets
As for the numerical targets of terrestrial digital broadcasting via
cable TV systems, the number of households, which will be enabled
to view terrestrial digital broadcasting through digital retransmission
with the transmodulation or pass-through systems, shall be set forth
as the numerical targets.
(b) Numerical targets to be set forth
i. Final numerical targets
- All households of cable TV (estimate: maximum 23 million) shall
be enabled to view by the beginning of CY2011.
ii. Numerical targets for the time being
- 2 million households of cable TV subscriber households in the three
metropolitan areas shall be enabled to view at the beginning of CY2004.
- 11 million households of cable TV subscriber households in the three
metropolitan areas shall be enabled to view at the time of the 2006
FIFA World Cup Germany (TM)
- 17.5 million households of cable TV subscriber households nationwide
shall be enabled to view at the time of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games
iii) Roadmap
- See Fig. 3.
Fig. 3 Numerical targets for terrestrial
digital broadcasting via cable TV (number of households able to view)
Note: "Number of households able to view with
transmodulation system" includes households that are enabled
to view with either transmodulation or pass-through systems.
Source: "Toward smooth retransmission of terrestrial
digital broadcasting via cable TV" Japan Cable Television Association,
March 2003
(iii) Based on the specifications for retransmission of terrestrial
digital broadcasting in April 2003, relevant manufacturers will swiftly
put set-top boxes in compliance with the specifications into the market,
and cable TV operators will actively introduce these.
(6) Manufacturers of receiving sets and retailers
(i) In order to accelerate diffusion of satellite digital broadcasting
and digital cable TV, manufacturers of receiving sets and retailers
will further lower prices of receiving sets and set-top boxes as well
as facilitate diffusion thereof.
(ii) In keeping pace with the start of terrestrial
digital broadcasting, and in compliance with high-definition broadcasting,
manufacturers of receiving sets and retailers will swiftly put common
receiving sets for satellite and terrestrial digital broadcasting
into the market and facilitate supply of lower-priced digital broadcast
receiving sets.
(iii) With respect to terrestrial digital broadcasting,
manufacturers of receiving sets and retailers will develop and introduce
portable receiving sets necessary for enabling mobile reception services
to be provided by broadcasters.
(iv) During the initial period of terrestrial digital
broadcasting, in order to facilitate transition of analog TV broadcasting
to digital broadcasting, manufacturers of receiving sets and retailers
will make efforts to install a function enabling receiving terrestrial
analog TV broadcasts on terrestrial digital TV broadcast receiving
sets and promote sales thereof.
(v) Upon sales of receiving sets, in line with the
schedule of transition to digital broadcasting and termination of
analog broadcasting under the Basic Broadcasting Plan, will make efforts
at an adequate timing to inform consumers (the public) of the schedule
of terrestrial broadcasting and BS analog broadcasting termination
periods in a correct and ascertained manner, for instance, including
the schedule in catalogs, affixing of seals to receiving sets and
posting of notice at shops.
(7) Local public organizations
(i) Upon promotion of e-local governments, local public organizations
will make the most of terrestrial digital broadcasting, e.g., use
thereof in PR programs of local public organizations, and make efforts
to address the following initiatives for realizing provision of local
information.
(a) Digitalization of local information and multiple use of material
data
(b) Wide area collaboration of local public organizations
(ii) With regard to digitalization of terrestrial
broadcasting and measures for changes of analog frequency, local public
organizations shall make awareness campaigns for local residents.
II. Promotion of publicity
campaigns, etc.
1) All relevant parties will make efforts in cooperation to conduct
publicity activities, such as efforts listed in the Action Plan of
Publicity Campaigns for Terrestrial Digital Broadcasting (Annex 2).
2) (Omitted)
III. Efforts of the government
In order to contribute to smooth implementation of the above-mentioned
efforts, the government will implement measures, such as publicity
activities for the public on merits and schedules of the digitalization
as a national policy, active support measures, such as measures for
change of analog frequency, that facilitate the digitalization, promotion
of digitalization of cable TV and common receiving facilities, and
actual proof experiments of the provision of administrative services
utilizing terrestrial digital broadcasting, which will contribute
to promotion of e-local governments, in a timely and appropriate manner.
Upon promotion of digital broadcasting, further collaboration among
the relevant office and ministries is vital.
IV. Establishment of an organization
for promoting digital terrestrial broadcasting and follow-up to the
Action Plan
With regard to terrestrial digital broadcasting in the implementation
stage, an organization for promoting terrestrial digital broadcasting
consisting of top leaders from various fields will be set up by May
2003, with the purpose of facilitating the digitalization of broadcasting.
This Action Plan shall be implemented ahead of the schedule, as possible.
Follow-ups to the accelerated Action Plan on a regular basis are required.
Licenses for Terrestrial Digital
Television Broadcasting Stations Granted
On April 16, 2003, MPHPT received
a report from the Radio Regulatory Council (Chair: Prof. YASUDA
Yasuhiko, School of Science and Engineering, Waseda University)
that states it is appropriate that as in the inquiry from the
Minister for Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications,
pre-permits shall be granted to terrestrial digital television
broadcasting stations for which applications for licenses were
submitted by NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corp.) and 16 private broadcasters
in the Kanto, Chukyo and Kinki metropolitan areas. Upon receipt
of this report, MPHPT granted pre-permits to those broadcasters
on April 18, 2003.
1. On April 16, 2003, MPHPT received a report from the Radio Regulatory
Council (Chair: Prof. YASUDA Yasuhiko, School of Science and Engineering,
Waseda University) that states it is appropriate that as in the
inquiry from the Minister for Public Management, Home Affairs,
Posts and Telecommunications, pre-permits shall be granted to
20 terrestrial digital television broadcasting stations. NHK had
submitted applications for four key stations (for General and
Educational Broadcasting of Tokyo, and for General Broadcasting
of Nagoya and Osaka) of terrestrial digital television broadcasting
stations, and 16 private broadcasters in the Kanto, Chukyo and
Kinki metropolitan areas had submitted applications for licenses
for 16 key stations of terrestrial digital television broadcasting
stations.
2. Upon reception of this report, MPHPT granted
pre-permits to those applicants listed on the following table
on April 18, 2003. With regard to two applications for licenses
for relay stations (NHK Educational Broadcasting of Nagoya and
Osaka) of terrestrial digital television broadcasting stations,
submitted at the same time of applications of these applications,
Tokai and Kinki Regional Bureaus of Telecommunications granted
pre-permits to two relay stations on April 18, 2003.
| Service area |
Applicant |
Attendant
at the Granting Ceremony |
| General |
Kanto metoropolitan area, Aichi
Prefecture, Osaka Prefecture |
NHK (Japan Broadcasting
Corporation), President EBISAWA Katsuji |
President EBISAWA
Katsuji |
| Educational |
Nationwide |
| Kanto metoropolitan
area |
Nippon Television Network Corporation
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
UJIIE Seiichiro
|
Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer
UJIIE Seiichiro |
Tokyo Broadcasting System, Inc.
President INOUE Hiroshi
|
Chairman SUNAHARA Yukio |
Fuji Television Network, Inc.
President & COO MURAKAMI Koichi
|
Chairman & CEO HIEDA Hisashi
|
Asahi National Broadcasting Co.,
Ltd.
President & CEO HIROSE Michisada
|
President & CEO HIROSE Michisada |
Television Tokyo Channel 12,
Ltd.
President SUGAYA Sadahiko
|
President SUGAYA Sadahiko |
| Tokyo Prefecture |
Tokyo Metropolitan Television
Broadcasting Corporation
President GOTO Wataru
|
President GOTO Wataru |
| Chukyo greater area |
Chubu-Nippon Broadcasting Co.,
Ltd.
President YOKOYAMA Kenichi
|
President YOKOYAMA Kenichi |
Tokai Television Broadcasting
Co., Ltd.
President ISHIGURO Taizan
|
President ISHIGURO Taizan |
Nagoya Broadcasting Network Co.,
Ltd.
President KUWASHIMA Hisao
|
President KUWASHIMA Hisao |
Chukyo Television Broadcasting
Co., Ltd.
President IWAMOTO Yukimasa
|
President IWAMOTO Yukimasa |
| Aichi Prefecture |
Aichi Television Broadcasting
Co., Ltd.
President KAJITA Susumu
|
President KAJITA Susumu |
| Kinki greater area |
Yomiuri Telecasting Corporation
President IZUMI Iwao
|
President IZUMI Iwao |
Asahi Broadcasting Corporation
President NISHIMURA Yoshio |
President NISHIMURA Yoshio |
Mainichi Broadcasting System,
Inc.
President YAMAMOTO Masahiro |
President YAMAMOTO Masahiro |
Kansai Telecasting Corporation
President IZUMA Michio |
President IZUMA Michio |
| Osaka Prefecture |
Osaka Broadcasting Corporation
President KURATA Susumu
|
President KURATA Susumu |
Telecommunications Council Compiles
Report on Digital Mobile Communications System in Airports
On April 21, 2003, MPHPT received a
report from the Telecommunications Council (Chair: Mr. AKIYAMA Yoshihisa,
Chairman of Kansai Electric Power Co., Inc.) in response to Inquiry
No. 2012 on technical requirements for a digital mobile communications
system in airports.
[Background of the Inquiry]
At present, radio communications is used in airports in relation
to passengers, baggage and cargo transportation, for communications
concerning such matters as aircraft maintenance, passenger guidance
and airport security. In particular, airport radio telephones using
the multi-channel access (MCA) system have been installed and are
in use as the main communications system in domestic airports starting
with the New Tokyo International Airport (Narita).
However, the growth in airport business resulting from increased
air traffic in recent years has led to increased demand for wireless
communications. For ensuring smooth communications, there has been
growing demand for the introduction of a digital mobile communications
system with outstanding efficiency in terms of frequency usage,
and the ability to offer services such as data communications and
image transmission. Taking this situation into consideration, the
Telecommunications Council has been deliberating upon "technical
requirements for digital mobile communications systems in airports"
since September 2002, and submitted its report.
[Outline of the Report]
Technical requirements for digital mobile communications
systems in airports
| Items |
Technical requirements |
| Frequency bands |
400 MHz bands |
| Carrier interval |
25 kHz |
| Access methods |
TDMA *1 |
| Number of multiplexing |
4 |
| Communications methods |
Following semi-duplex communications systems:
Base station to mobile stations: TDM *2
Mobile stations to base station: TDMA |
| Modulation method |
π/4 shift QPSK |
| Transmission speed |
More than 32 kbps |
*1 TDMA: Time Division Multiple Access
*2 TDM: Time Division Multiple
[Schedule]
MPHPT will, paying due consideration to this Report, prepare relevant
ministerial ordinances.
For details refer to the Japanese website
http://www.soumu.go.jp/s-news/2003/030421_2.html
