Broadcasting Commission Of Jamaica Names Aldo Cugnini Digital TV Transition Adviser

The Broadcasting Commission of Jamaica has chosen longtime broadcast television expert Aldo Cugnini of AGC Systems to provide advisory services in support of Jamaica’s transition from analog to digital broadcasting and the analog TV switch-off. Several years in the making, Jamaica’s Digital Switch Over (DSO) will transition the island nation’s over-the-air television broadcasting system to the ATSC 3.0 digital standard.

Cordel Green, executive director of the Broadcasting Commission of Jamaica, said: “Aldo is an excellent addition to the Jamaica DSO team. He will also help to advance our relations with ATSC, as Jamaica joins the NexGen TV community.”

A long-time Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) member and technical committee participant, Cugnini will serve as technical adviser to the commission, which will include support for rolling out ATSC 3.0 transmission, application and presentation services, as well as providing input into the deployment of digital-to-analog converters for Jamaican viewers.

“I’m very excited to be part of the Broadcasting Commission technical team and I am proud to be helping to bring the most modern television standard available today to the broadcasters and people of Jamaica,” Cugnini said.

“ATSC welcomes Jamaica to the growing number of countries deploying ATSC 3.0 technologies with Television Jamaica blazing the trail, launching NextGen TV services in January this year,” said Madeleine Noland, ATSC President. “With many more Jamaican broadcasters preparing for service launches, there is much work yet to be done. With the selection of AGC Systems and Aldo as a long-time ATSC member, Broadcasting Commission of Jamaica has brought years of expertise to the project.”

On Jan. 31, Jamaica joined South Korea and the U.S. in the adoption and transmission of an ATSC 3.0 digital terrestrial television service. TV Jamaica (TVJ) is offering free broadcasting services to viewers, with a variety of channels including TVJ, TVJ Sports Network, Reggae Entertainment Television and Jamaica News Network, and the Public Broadcasting Corporation of Jamaica.