Many immigrants favour satellite TV, not bothering with digital decoders

Trend could exacerbate isolation - change expected in February

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When Finland switched shut down terrestrial analogue television broadcasts and switched over to digital television at the beginning of September, many immigrants decided not to buy the digital decoders necessary for watching ordinary digital terrestrial broadcasts, opting instead for satellite broadcasts, mainly from their countries of origin, or at least in their native language.
      Experts say that this could lead to isolation and a degree of ignorance on events in this country, which could make it more difficult to integrate into Finnish society.
      "Not watching Finnish channels is perhaps not linked with what is on offer on television, but rather with the problems of integration. Better possibilities should be offered for learning the language, for instance", says researcher Pentti Raittila of the University of Tampere.
     
At the Finnish-Russian School in Helsinki, Deputy Head Teacher Elena Iossafova has not yet acquired a digital decoder for her home, because she finds the array of Russian channels available on satellite to be more versatile.
      She follows events in Finnish society on the Internet and through the press.
      "The Russian channels are also an important way to communicate Russian culture to my son, who is growing up in Finland. Television teaches the language, Russian culture, and the Russian sense of humour", Iossafova says.
      Jordanians Taha Othman and his wife Imaam Ibrahim do not have a digital decoder in their home.
      "Some groups of immigrants might live in Finland for years, watching their own channels, eating their own food, and staying within their own groups. The fault is on both sides. It often seems that it is not possible to really get inside this society", Othman says.
      Katariina Kivistö, head of communications at the Ministry of Transport and Communications, believes that not having a digital decoder is just a phase, and that things will change when the last analogue transmissions cable TV networks shut down.
      "Most immigrants live in cities, in areas where channels can still be seen without a decoder. I believe that interest in digital television will grow in February when analog broadcasts end in cable TV households as well."
     
Both Iossafova and Othman feel that the image that is projected about immigrants in the Finnish media is dominated by the native population. Rarely does one see an interview of an expert who would be an immigrant. It is also exceptional for an immigrant to be an interviewer.
      "Immigrants are often discussed in the media with a focus on problems, and often various experts speak on their behalf", Raittila says.
      The Ministry of Communications organised events for immigrants specifically aimed at teaching them about the transition to digital TV, but there was fairly little interest.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Sharp decline in number of TV licences after switch to digital TV (6.11.2007)
  Helplines congested as Finland switches over to digital television (3.9.2007)
  Digital television era comes in tonight (31.8.2007)

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