IMDA to offer digital TV kit to 400,000 households

The Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) will offer a DTV Starter Kit to all Singaporean HDB households which do not subscribe to pay TV. This will allow such households to enjoy local free-to-air TV programmes after analogue TV signals are switched off on 31 December 2018.

With DTV, viewers will enjoy a better free-to-air viewing experience with high
definition pictures and sound, alongside interactive features such as multilanguage subtitles and
electronic programme guides. DTV also allows viewers with Toggle Red Button-registered TV sets to access Mediacorp TV shows, Toggle Original content and Catch-Up TV.

Each DTV Starter Kit will allow some 400,000 households to either redeem an indoor antenna and digital set-top box for free (including free delivery and installation), or enjoy S$100 off selected DTV equipment at participating electronics stores.

Eligible households will receive a letter explaining how the DTV Starter Kit can be used. Letters will be sent out in batches from April to June 2018. Redemption of the DTV Starter Kit will end on 31 December 2018.

Singapore will cease analogue TV broadcasts on 31 December 2018. Starting 1 January 2019, free-to-air TV programmes will only be shown in digital format. Three quarters of Singapore households are already watching DTV either over-the-air, or through their pay TV subscription. Viewers who currently see the “Analogue” channel logo below on the top-right hand corner of their TV screens however will need to switch over to DTV.

IMDA launched its DTV Assistance Scheme in 2014 to help low-income households switch to DTV. The DTV Starter Kit is an expansion of the
DTV Assistance Scheme to help more households make the switch to DTV.

Singapore’s switch to DTV also frees up scarce radio frequency spectrum, which will be used to provide better quality and higher mobile broadband speeds.