Progess on the definition of norms for digital TV

The question of
harmonising broadcasting norms
for high definition television is
one that has been around for a
long time. As we know, nothing
came of the initial plan of the
Commission of the European
Communities and the Council of
Ministers to establish a single
standard for analogue
broadcasting based on the
MAC/packet systems (Council
Directive of 3 November 1986,
86/529/EEC, OJEC, 6.11.86;
Directive 92/38/EEC of 11 May
1992, OJEC, 20.5.92) . In the
directive of 11 May 1992, the
HD-MAC norm was defined as
the sole standard for high
definition broadcasting within
the framework of the European
Union. With effect from 1995, all
new satellite television channels
were to have been broadcast in
D2-MAC in order to prepare the
way for HD-MAC