A new era in broadcasting began at 4 a.m. on December 31st when terrestrial TV programming switched from analogue to digital.

TEfforts to digitalize terrestrial TV services experienced much conflict and were wrought with difficulties.

TThe method of transmitting digital TV services was a key conflict among academia, industries and civic groups. Some wanted South Korea to adopt the Advanced Television System Committee (ATSC) method of the U.S., while others argued the need to establish Europe’s Digital Video Broadcasting method.

TThe government ended up adopting the ATSC method in 1997 and began digital terrestrial TV broadcasting in the metropolitan area from October 2001. The scope of such broadcasting was expanded to cover the entire nation in 2006. In 2008, a special law on digital TV transition was enacted and consequently, the government began to take steps to halt analogue broadcasting.

The government provided various support to households that were inconvenienced in the digital transition, including covering expenses to buy digital TVs as well as related antennas and digital TV converters.

1. Park Geun-hye Elected President

2. Ahn Cheol-soo Phenomenon

3. Ruling Saenuri Party Wins April General Elections

4. N. Korea Launches Long-range Rocket

5. South Korea Reaches $1 Tln in Annual Trade For 2nd Straight Yr.

6. South Korea Finishes 5th in London Olympics

7. Sejong City Launches

8. Gagnam Style Takes World by Storm

9. No. of Foreign Tourists in S. Korea Tops 10 Mln

10. Analogue Broadcasting Comes to an End