21 April 2015 - Consumers can expect better advice on switching to digital TV (DTV) at major retailers such as Best Denki, Courts, FairPrice, Gain City and Sony.
Consumers can expect better advice on switching to digital TV (DTV) at major retailers such as Best Denki, Courts, FairPrice, Gain City and Sony.
The Media Development Authority (MDA) has worked with Nanyang Polytechnic - Singapore Institute of Retail Studies (SIRS) and the Singapore Workforce Development Agency (WDA) to enhance a 12-hour classroom module to equip retail personnel with essential knowledge on DTV and related products, as well as the latest details of the DTV roll-out. A DSO e-learning programme will be launched this June, which will shorten the PAEEP (DSO) Module to only 8 hours of classroom and 1.5 hours of online training. This will give trainees flexibility to learn at their own time and pace.
Module scheduled monthly from April; e-learning programme available from June
The first run of the Singapore Workforce Skills Qualifications module, Provide Advice on Electrical and Electronic Products (Digital Switchover), PAEEP (DSO) for short, started today and is scheduled to run on a monthly basis for retail personnel.
"The module will provide our retailer partners with accurate and consistent information on the DTV rollout so that their frontline staff can provide good advice to consumers for them to make informed purchase decisions. We are glad that the major retailers have come on board to send their staff for DTV training. We encourage SMEs and other retailers to sign up for the module to better serve their customers." said Ms Megan Ong, Director, SIRS.
Trained retail staff to be identified by DTV Advisor badge
Individuals who successfully complete the WDA-accredited course will receive a Statement of Attainment (SOA), aligned under WDA's WSQ framework. Consumers can identify graduates of the PAEEP (DSO) Module at electronic retail shops by a DTV Advisor badge. Graduates can also better advise on DTV consumer labels for equipment that comply with Singapore's receiver specifications and can receive MediaCorp's digital channels. Retailers are encouraged to sign up for the course online at http://goo.gl/RWdGb3 or email upskill@sirs.edu.sg. Up to 90% of the course fee will be subsidised by WDA for Singaporean Citizens and PRs.
"WDA is delighted to partner MDA and SIRS on this journey to equip retailers with deeper skills and understanding of the industry's technological developments. They are then able to share this valuable information with the consumers when they are selling the products" said Ms Janice Foo, Director of Tourism Division, WDA.
Currently, 33% of the population are now able to receive digital TV signals using indoor reception. The latest estate to be lighted up is Kallang, adding to the list which includes Bukit Batok, Jurong East, Ang Mo Kio, Clementi, Bukit Timah, Bukit Panjang, Chua Chu Kang South, Bishan, Queenstown, Bukit Merah West and Toa Payoh.
All seven MediaCorp TV channels have been broadcast in digital since Dec 2013. DTV products such as digital-ready integrated televisions (IDTVs), Digital Video Broadcasting – Second Generation Terrestrial (DVB-T2) set-top boxes and antennas are already available in major retail stores.
"As MediaCorp progressively rolls out the DTV network, it is important to ensure that consumers know what equipment they need to buy to receive MediaCorp's DTV channels. We encourage all households to make the switch to DTV early to enjoy the benefits of DTV once it is available in their estate." said Ms Ling Pek Ling, Project Director of Digital Broadcasting Deployment Office, MDA. "Consumers who are buying new TV sets can consider buying a DTV-ready set which they can connect directly to an antenna to watch MediaCorp's DTV channels."
Relevant Links
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About Media Development Authority of Singapore (MDA)
The Media Development Authority of Singapore (www.mda.gov.sg) promotes the growth of globally competitive film, television, radio, publishing, games, animation and interactive digital media industries. It also regulates the media sector to safeguard the interests of consumers, and promotes a connected society. MDA is a statutory board under the Ministry of Communications and Information (www.mci.gov.sg).
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