TV Multichannel Sound - The BTSC System

In late 1978, the Broadcast Television System Committee of the Electronic Industries Association, on behalf of the television industry, formed a subcommittee for the purpose of formulating standards for the broadcasting and reception of multichannel television sound which was to include stereophonic as well as second program (second language, for example) enhancements of the main audio program. On December 22, 1983, the industry chose the Zenith transmission system coupled with the dbx noise reduction system and submitted the combined system, the BTSC system, to the Federal Communications Commission on January 30, 1984. On April 23, 1984, the FCC released a Report and Order in Docket No. 21323 wherein the choice of technical standards was left to the marketplace, but protection was afforded to the pilot frequency of the BTSC system. In addition, if a pilot is transmitted at 15.734 kHz, the BTSC system must be employed as described in the FCC office of Science and Technology Bulletin No. 60.