Brasília, 10/3/2003 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - Brazil is capable of creating its own digital format for TV, which could meet specific Brazilian reguirements, says minister of Communications, Miro Teixeira. The minister says he is basing his opinion on consultations with numerous Brazilian research and development centers. Teixeira made his comment as he inaugurated a work group that has been set up to examine the issue and make a report in 30 days.

The minister is proposing the creation of a Brazilian format as a response to specific needs in the country's social, economic and technological segments. Once the Brazilian format exists, it would be compared to other formats. He says the importance of having a Brazilian alternative lies in the fact that the digital TV sector will have a major role in the future.

Teixeira says the issue has been dealt with in a shortsighted manner for many years. He was referring to the belief that a solution consisted of simply choosing one of the existing formats - the American, the European or the Japanese. According to the minister, the transition from an analog to a digtital system could be part of broader government policy which would embrace technological progress in communications and multimedia systems. Another aspect is industrial development especially in electro-electronics where there has been a slowdown. (AB)