National Radio and Television Administration: Orderly Promote Replacement of SD Set-Top Boxes with HD and UHD Set-Top Boxes for Live Satellite TV
CCTV.com: On the 21st, the official website of the National Radio and Television Administration issued the Opinions on Further Accelerating the Development of High-Definition and Ultra-High-Definition Television. It stipulates that by the end of 2025, all prefecture-level and above TV stations, as well as qualified county-level TV stations, will complete the transition from standard-definition to high-definition broadcasting. SD channels will be basically shut down, HD TV will become the basic broadcasting mode, and the supply of UHD TV channels and programs will reach scale. The capacity of radio and television transmission networks to carry HD and UHD TV will be significantly enhanced, and HD and UHD TV reception terminals will be widely popularized.
The document urges accelerating the HD and UHD upgrade of live satellite TV programs, encouraging qualified TV stations to transmit UHD channel signals via live satellite. All channels of CMG and major provincial channels shall gradually achieve full HD transmission via live satellite. Starting July 1, 2022, newly added TV channels transmitted via live satellite shall be mainly HD and UHD channels, and newly supplied set-top boxes shall be HD or UHD smart set-top boxes. Meanwhile, the replacement of SD set-top boxes with HD and UHD ones will be promoted in an orderly manner. By the end of 2025, the number of HD and UHD channels transmitted via live satellite will increase substantially, and the penetration rate of HD and UHD set-top boxes will rise significantly.
Opinions of the National Radio and Television Administration on Further Accelerating the Development of High-Definition and Ultra-High-Definition Television
To thoroughly study and implement Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, fully and faithfully apply the new development philosophy, deepen supply-side structural reform in radio and television, further enhance the influence and competitiveness of mainstream radio and television media, support economic and social development, and better meet the people’s new needs and expectations for a better audio-visual life, these opinions are formulated in accordance with the Outline of the 14th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development and the Long-Range Objectives Through the Year 2035 and the 14th Five-Year Plan for the Development of Radio, Television and Online Audio-Visual Services.
1. General Requirements
(1) Guiding Ideology. Guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, we will fully implement the spirit of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China and the plenary sessions of the 19th Central Committee. Focusing on the new development stage, new development philosophy and new development paradigm, we will promote high-quality development, accelerate the HD and UHD upgrade of radio and television, enrich content supply, improve network transmission capacity, strengthen audio-visual service support, accelerate in-depth media integration, consolidate and strengthen the publicity and public opinion positions of radio and television, and better serve the development of a strong cultural country, digital China and cyber power.
(2) Basic Principles. Uphold the Party’s leadership and maintain the correct political, public opinion and value orientation. Adhere to the people-centered approach and take meeting people’s needs for better audio-visual life as the starting point and goal. Pursue innovation-driven development, promote the application of new technologies, models and forms of business, and boost the vitality of HD and UHD TV. Provide targeted guidance and advance in an orderly manner, adapting to local conditions and implementing precise policies.
(3) Overall Objectives. By the end of 2025, all prefecture-level and above TV stations and qualified county-level TV stations will complete the full transition from SD to HD broadcasting. SD channels will be basically shut down, HD TV will become the standard broadcasting mode, and the supply of UHD TV channels and programs will reach scale. The capacity of radio and television transmission networks to support HD and UHD TV will be notably enhanced, and HD and UHD reception terminals will be widely popularized.
2. Key Tasks
(1) Accelerate the Construction of HD and UHD Production and Broadcasting Capacity
Strengthen UHD content production. TV stations and film and television production institutions at all levels are encouraged to produce TV dramas, documentaries, animations, sports, variety shows and other programs in UHD format. Qualified TV stations are supported to launch UHD channels and increase UHD program supply year by year. By the end of 2023, provincial TV stations shall achieve HD broadcasting on all channels. By the end of 2025, prefecture-level and qualified county-level TV stations will complete the full transition from SD to HD TV, and provincial TV stations will basically have UHD production and broadcasting capacity.
(2) Orderly Shut Down Standard-Definition TV Channels
TV stations at all levels are encouraged to gradually shut down SD channels simulcast with HD ones based on local conditions. Qualified stations may apply to convert SD channels directly to HD. Specialized SD channels (including cable pay channels) shall be upgraded to HD or UHD, or shut down in accordance with streamlining principles. Closure of simulcast SD channels must be approved through official procedures. Starting January 1, 2023, the “HD” label will no longer appear on HD channel screens, while transmission networks will mark HD channels as “HD” in EPGs. By the end of 2025, SD channels of prefecture-level and above TV stations and qualified county-level stations will be basically shut down. During the transition, HD signals will be down-converted to SD for users to ensure public service and safe broadcasting.
(3) Vigorously Promote HD and UHD Development of Cable TV Networks
Cable network operators shall upgrade networks, popularize HD and UHD set-top boxes, and list HD channels prominently. Starting July 1, 2022, newly added channels on cable networks shall be HD or UHD. Qualified operators may gradually stop transmitting SD signals. Starting January 1, 2023, newly supplied set-top boxes shall be mainly UHD smart ones. By the end of 2025, the penetration rate of HD and UHD set-top boxes on cable networks will be significantly improved.
(4) Accelerate the HD and UHD Upgrade of Live Satellite TV
(5) Continuously Advance the HD and UHD Upgrade of IPTV
IPTV operators shall popularize HD and UHD set-top boxes and ensure compliance with national and industrial standards. Non-compliant devices shall be replaced. Starting July 1, 2022, qualified operators may gradually stop SD channel transmission. Starting January 1, 2023, all new IPTV set-top boxes shall be standard-compliant UHD devices. By the end of 2025, SD channels on IPTV will be basically shut down, and HD and UHD set-top boxes will be fully popularized.
(6) Steadily Promote the HD Upgrade of Terrestrial Television
Radio and television authorities at all levels shall implement the National Terrestrial Digital TV Broadcasting Frequency Plan and steadily advance the HD upgrade of terrestrial TV services.
3. Safeguard Measures
(1) Strengthen Organizational Leadership
Authorities shall recognize the importance and urgency of HD and UHD development, enhance political awareness, and strengthen leadership. They shall seek support from Party committees and governments, include related work in local economic and social development plans and government budgets, and create a favorable policy environment.
(2) Strengthen Security Support
Authorities shall recognize the complexity of the transition. Production, broadcasting, transmission and integration platforms shall coordinate closely, improve working mechanisms, formulate detailed plans, and strengthen safe broadcasting safeguards. Balance development, stability and security and advance in an orderly manner.
(3) Improve User Services
Adhere to the people-centered approach, implement national public service standards, and carry out SD channel shutdown steadily. Strengthen publicity, training and team building, improve support measures, enhance user services, and ensure a smooth transition.
(4) Enhance Supervision and Administration
Authorities shall implement the ideological work responsibility system, improve technical standards, monitoring and quality supervision systems for HD and UHD TV, promote standard implementation and oversight, and ensure the sound and orderly development of HD and UHD television.
Source: CCTV.com