M1 to roll out digital TV for low-income households

The Media Development Authority (MDA) has appointed M1 to manage the roll-out of its digital TV assistance scheme for low-income households. M1 picked up the account following the conclusion of an open tender which was conducted from 20 March to 22 April this year.Minister for Communications and Information Yaacob Ibrahim in February this year said that the scheme will aim to help lower income families make the transition to digital television. As the appointed contractor, M1 will progressively supply and install digital TV equipment for all eligible households and resolve any technical issues pertaining to the equipment and installation over the next two to three years."M1 is pleased to play a part in helping Singapore’s low income households continue to enjoy free-to-air programming,"  Willis Sim,director, product development and enterprise services, M1 said.The Scheme will be launched in September 2014. Meanwhile the Singapore government is also working with its ASEAN neighbours to coordinate the region’s complete transition to digital broadcasting and the subsequent switch-off of analogue TV broadcasts between 2015 and 2020.To prepare consumers for the migration to digital TV, MediaCorp has also launched a series of print advertorials and TV interstitial from December 2013. Educational videos, digital TV brochures and posters are also available at major retail outlets so that members of the public can learn more about digital TV.MDA will also be working with voluntary welfare organisations (VWOs) on a series of public outreach events to share more information about digital TV with residents throughout the year, targeting the elderly and disabled.