Russia to fund digital switchover program

July 14, 2008 The Russian government will launch a state-funded program to support the country's switch to digital TV, scheduled for 2015, while some crucial issues pertaining to the digital switch remain unresolved. According to Vitaly Stytsko, deputy head of the federal agency for press and mass communications, the biggest problem is how to supply the country's population with equipment for receiving digital TV signal. Currently, 88.5% of Russia's population has access only to analog free-to-air channels, 11% also have access to cable networks, and just under 1% to satellite television.

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