Abstract: 13 years ago, the first government decree regulating the introduction of digital TV in Russia was signed. The article summarizes the authors’ long-term research on the country’s transition to digital broadcasting in order to find out how this will affect various social strata of the population. Possible ways of realization of digital signal reception for viewers are presented. Two possible ways of distributing terrestrial television content are briefly described. The author’s view on the transformation of domestic systems of collective television reception in the segment of cable broadcasting is presented. The prerequisites are considered and the reasons for this phenomenon are explained. It is concluded that cable operators are monopolists of television broadcasting in apartment buildings. The results of a sociological study of the audience of analog and digital television format are presented. In contrast to the majority of “winning” headlines in the media- the hypothesis was confirmed that cable TV networks will continue to broadcast in the same format on analog TVs. The authors conclude that the high urbanization of the Russian population has saved most of the country’s viewers from the severe shocks associated with the transition to digital television. A comparison of the television audience of the urban population and suburban residents is given. It points to the problems of pensioners and the poor caused by the digitization of TV. The problems of possible destruction of the socio-cultural space of Russia due to the reduction or liquidation of local TV companies were highlighted. It is emphasized that it is the rural population that most contributes to the preservation of cultural traditions and moral foundations. It is emphasized that regional television is the main way of information influence on the local electorate. The analysis of pages of all subjects of the Federation of the official website of the STRC for broadcasting in the digital format of regional television is carried out. In conclusion, measures are proposed to unite the population of the country through the programs of regional companies.
Keywords: cable television, analog television, terrestrial television, transition to digital broadcasting, regional television, local television, problems of the older generation, pensioners, social and cultural space