China expects to build up a digital television (DTV) broadcasting system by the year 2010 to replace the current analogue broadcasting system, Thursday's China Daily reported.

The newspaper quoted the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television as saying that analogue broadcasting will be halted by 2015, and eight satellite TV channels will produce and transmit DTV programs by 2005.

It means that Chinese audiences can enjoy much clearer television programs in the near future as long as they add a small facility to receive digital coding.

The newspaper said that Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen currently have set up regional DTV networks as part of a trial.

However, the crucial problem for DTV's development in China now is the formulation of DTV transmission standards.

Experts predict that cable television will be the first section where DTV technology is widely utilized.

( February 21, 2002)