After a long wait, DTT transmission started in Israel on the 2nd of August 2009 (yesterday),
There are five FTA channels
IBA Channel 1
Channel 10
Channel 22
Channel 33
Keneset (Israeli Paliament)
A modem from KONKA KSDT980 is offered for sale by major outlets, cost is a one time 400 NIS (~60 Pounds).
The transmission can be received on UHF Ch. 27 in northern part of the country, UHF Ch. 26 in the center, Eilat and Beer-Shiva UHF Ch. 29
As many households, especially pensioners have been spending over 200 NIS a month on a basic package in order to receive these channels (and others), I am hoping that many would take this opportunity and disconnect from Yes Israel in order to save a lot of money.
If the satellite provider Yes Israel has any sense, they should retaliate by offering existing subscribers who wish to disconnect, a mini package which has a receiver, smart card that includes these national channels for free or at a very modest cost like 20 NIS/month, but has the option of adding other encrypted channels and/or VOD, something that the DTT can't offer and will not offer for a very long time.
It would be interesting to see how DTT is going to be adapted in Israel.
My guess is that there will not be a huge demand over the next six months because the channels are not that exciting (except for channel 10 which might be closed down in few weeks time due to their major losses), and a possible new offers by Yes Israel.
There are five FTA channels
IBA Channel 1
Channel 10
Channel 22
Channel 33
Keneset (Israeli Paliament)
A modem from KONKA KSDT980 is offered for sale by major outlets, cost is a one time 400 NIS (~60 Pounds).
The transmission can be received on UHF Ch. 27 in northern part of the country, UHF Ch. 26 in the center, Eilat and Beer-Shiva UHF Ch. 29
As many households, especially pensioners have been spending over 200 NIS a month on a basic package in order to receive these channels (and others), I am hoping that many would take this opportunity and disconnect from Yes Israel in order to save a lot of money.
If the satellite provider Yes Israel has any sense, they should retaliate by offering existing subscribers who wish to disconnect, a mini package which has a receiver, smart card that includes these national channels for free or at a very modest cost like 20 NIS/month, but has the option of adding other encrypted channels and/or VOD, something that the DTT can't offer and will not offer for a very long time.
It would be interesting to see how DTT is going to be adapted in Israel.
My guess is that there will not be a huge demand over the next six months because the channels are not that exciting (except for channel 10 which might be closed down in few weeks time due to their major losses), and a possible new offers by Yes Israel.