Argentina approves new schedule for analog TV blackout

Argentina’s cabinet approved a new schedule for the analog television blackout.

The process, which was due to be completed last August, was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic and the need to recondition digital terrestrial television antennas operated by state-owned Arsat on UHF channels 22 to 25.

The analog blackout will free up spectrum so it can be used for other services. The released spectrum will remain in the hands of regulator Enacom for between 90 and 180 days after the signals are turned off.

Argentine TV broadcasting uses VHF spectrum in the 54-72MHz band (channels 2-4), 76-88MHz (channels 5-6), 174-216MHz (channels 7-13) and UHF (in general, for scrambled TV) in the 512-806MHz band (channels 21-69).

According to the new schedule announced in a decree, the repeater stations owned by state-run Radio y Televisión Argentina must cease analog broadcasts on June 30 this year, regardless of the region where they are located.

The rest of the signals will have a differentiated schedule by region. In Buenos Aires province and the Argentine capital, the signals must begin digital transmissions in June and complete the blackout in September. In the southern region, which includes the Patagonian provinces, the process must be completed by December.

The analog blackout must be completed by March 2023 in the center of the country, by June 2023 in the northwest and by September 2023 in the northeast.