This is known as ‘over-the-air’ television. It makes use of a network that transmits wireless signals that are received using a conventional rooftop television antenna normally referred to as an aerial.

Terrestrial broadcasting is transmitted only in digital format.

• TERRESTRIAL DIGITAL TV – ‘free-to-air’: To view the Maltese ‘free-to-air’ channels, you will need a UHF aerial and either a digital terrestrial set-top box (STB) or a digital TV set.
• TERRESTRIAL DIGITAL TV – Pay TV services: Apart from having a rooftop antenna and a set-top box you will also need a smart card (to be inserted in the set-top box) to view channels that are not ‘free-to-air’. When subscribing to a TV service, you will be able to watch more channels other than the free-to-air channels and make use of the electronic programme guide. Furthermore, you may also benefit from high-definition (HD) channels and interactive features. The subscription to these features is subject to an additional cost to your package subscription.

This is transmitted via a cable network connected to the premises; therefore no antenna is required.

Cable broadcasting can either be analogue or digital:

•  CABLE ANALOGUE – PAY TV services: These are services transmitted to you in analogue format and connected to the cable network. This subscription will not require the installation of a set-top box.
•  CABLE DIGITAL TV – PAY TV services: These are services transmitted to you in digital format, where you will require a digital cable set-top box to be connected to your existing TV set and to the cable network. The subscription to a Cable Digital TV service is subject to a cost depending on the TV package you are subscribing to. When compared to analogue cable TV, digital cable TV packages provide more channels, better picture quality, superior stereo sound and the possibility of using the electronic programme guide. Furthermore, you may also benefit from high-definition (HD) channels and interactive features. The subscription to these features is subject to an additional cost to your package subscription.

This is transmitted via a communications satellite and received by an outdoor antenna commonly referred to as a satellite dish.

Satellite broadcasting is transmitted in digital format. In order to view the free-to-air channels transmitted via satellite, you will need a satellite dish and a satellite receiver which normally is in the form of a set-top box.