Full steam ahead for digital broadcasting

The Korean government said yesterday that it would launch a task force to push the use of digital broadcasting services. The task force will consist of government officials and experts from related industries such as broadcasters and other private-sector figures, the Ministry of Information and Communication said. The task force could be led by a government minister, the ministry said, adding that the time frame and other details have yet to be decided. The task force is part of a ministry plan to boost the number of users of digital broadcasting services. Under the plan, the ministry will oblige all local television manufacturers to include digital tuners in their products to encourage consumers to buy more digital sets. To do so, the ministry plans to closely consult with local electronics companies, since the move could increase the price of sets by 100,000 won ($103). The ministry will also submit legislation that would clear the way for the wide-scale use of digital broadcasting. The ministry expects such measures to lead to a wider use of digital televisions and digital broadcasting, which in turn could replace analog broadcasting by 2012. Digital broadcasting promises to provide interactive, higher quality and more diverse broadcasting contents. As of the end of 2005, the penetration rate for digital sets in Korea was over 3 million, nearly 18 percent of total television use. The figure is far lower than Britain’s 66 percent and the United States’ 56.9 percent, the ministry said, citing a foreign report. The ministry says digital TV broadcasting is likely to generate 19.2 trillion won in production and around 130,000 new jobs by 2010, emerging as a cash cow for the nation’s economy.