PRESS: Ministry extends transition to digital TV till mid-Jan

MOSCOW, Oct 10 (PRIME) -- Russia’s transfer to digital television from analog television has been extended until the middle of January 2019, Deputy Digital Minister Alexei Volin said on Wednesday in an interview with the Izvestiya newspaper.

“I’d like to comfort careless citizens who won’t purchase by New Year digital TV adaptors and new TV sets capable of transmitting digital television that we prolong for them the process of switching off analog broadcasting of federal channels until January 14–15,” Volin told the daily.

“The cheapest digital adaptor now costs less than a block of cigarettes, or 700–800 rubles.”

In September, Volin said that about 10% of Russians still use analog television.

The country will fully switch to digital broadcasting from January 1, 2019. Under the federal program, the digital television network will cover more than 98% of population with two multiplexes by 10 channels each and three radio channels. The network will be put in operation after the completion of construction of all facilities at the end of 2018.

(66.4032 rubles – U.S. $1)

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