Just when you thought it was safe to watch free to air TV live without being bombarded with ads reminding you of what free to air TV is and why you should keep on watching it, FreeView are about to hit us with a new campaign spruiking “the best things in life are free” – or – in other words, the best TV you can watch is free.
ABC3
Press Release. iview steals a march on rivals: “THE ABC’s iview player is on track to overtake piracy, which is illegal, as Australia’s preferred source of streamed and downloaded video content, a study has found.” SMH.com.au, February 20, 2012
From ABC iview and online streaming to social TV, ABC TV is changing the game. Continue reading »
Updated March 28, 2013
Here is the list of digital channels updated as at March 28, 2013. All channels in SD (standard definition), unless otherwise stated.
ABC
ABC1 – 2 & 21
ABC2 – 22
ABC3 – 23
ABC News 24 – 24 (HD Channel). Also on 20 is some areas.
ABC HD channel 20 phased out to make way for ABC News 24 on channel 24.
SBS
SBS ONE – 3 & 31
SBS TWO – 32
SBS ONE HD – 30 (HD Channel, simulcast of SBS ONE)
SBS also transmits channels 33 and 34 (until early December 2012) which are clones of SBS ONE
NITV – 34 from December 12, 2012
Seven
Seven – 7, 70 & 71
7TWO – 72
7mate – 73 (HD Channel)
7HD that used to be on 70 no longer exists.
74 – TV 4ME – Information / infomercial / paid program channel
Nine
Nine – 9
GO! – 99
GEM - 90 (HD Channel)
GEM replaced 9HD or Nine High Def ch 90.
Extra – 94 – Information / Infomercial / paid programming channel from March 26, 2012
Extra2 – 95 – appeared as part of Nine’s digital channel matrix March 28, 2013. So far, as I can only say it is the Sydney market only.
Ten
Ten – 10
ELEVEN – 11
ONE – 12 & 1
SD simulcast of ONE formerly on ch 12 was dropped to make way for ELEVEN
TVSN – Channel 14 (Home Shopping)
Community
Ch 31, TVS and the like now digital in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth on digital ch 44
Special / part time
TV 4ME – Essentially 24 hour infomercial channel launched December 2011 on channel 74 in 5 metro and regional QLD, part of Seven’s multi-plex
Extra – Essentially 24 hour infomercial channel launching March 26 2012 on channel 94 in at least the 3 eastern state capitals, part of Nine’s multi-plex
3D Channel – 40 (HD, used only for 3D trials in 2010, not currently on the air)
3D Channel – 95 (HD, used for London Olympics daily 3D highlights during the 2012 Olympics)
Extra2 – 95 – appeared March 28 (Sydney market).
Regional (eastern states).
Prime
Prime Main Channel – 6, 60 & 61
7TWO on Prime – 62
7mate on Prime – 63 (HD Channel)
Prime HD channel 60 no longer exists. Note: 7mate on ch 60 in some markets.
64 – TV 4ME. Regional NSW, VIC, ACT. Essentially same as 74.
NBN/WIN
Main Channel – 8
GO! – 88
GEM - 80 (HD Channel)
Extra – 84
SC10
SC10 Main channel – 5
ONE HD – 50 (HD channel).
Eleven – 55
Special
Television 4 / TV 4ME – 64. Launched September 18, 2011. Only those who are in Prime markets will get this channel.
Extra – 24 hour infomercial channel launched March 26 2012 on channel 84. Known as WIN GOLD in WIN markets.
Digital channel summary.
Main channels
Nine – 9.
Seven – 7, 70 & 71
Ten – 10
ABC1 – 2 & 21
SBS ONE – 3 & 31. Available in HD on ch 30.
Digital Channels (in launch order)
ABC2 – 22 Launched 2007
ONE – 1 & 11 (at the time, now 1 & 12) Launched March 27, 2009
SBS TWO – 32 Launched June 1, 2009 (replacing SBS News channel)
GO! – 99 Launched August 9, 2009
7TWO – 72 Launched November 1, 2009
ABC3 – 23 Launched December 3, 2009
ABC News 24 – 24 Launched July 22, 2010
7mate – 73 Launched September 25, 2010
GEM – 90 Launched September 26, 2010
ELEVEN – 11 Launched January 11, 2011
Community – 44 Various dates for various mator markets
TV4 – 74 – Launch December 2011. Five city metro and regional QLD
Extra – 94 – from March 26, 2012 – Syd / Melb / Bris
TVSN – 14 – September 24, 2012. Metro markets only
NITV – 34 – December 12, 2012.
Extra2 – 95 – from March 28, 2013 (Sydney market only so far – subject to confirmation from other markets).
Still to come:
SBS THREE – 33 – possible for late 2013 / 2014.
Regional (NSW, VIC, ACT)
Main channels
WIN, NBN - 8.
Prime - 6, 60 & 61
SC10 - 5, 55
ABC1 – 2 & 21
SBS ONE – 3 & 31. Available in HD on ch 30.
Digital Channels
ABC2 – 22
ONE - 50
SBS TWO – 32
GO! - 88
7TWO – 62
ABC3 – 23
ABC News 24 – 24
7mate – 63
GEM – 80
ELEVEN – 55
TV4 – 64 Launched September 18, 2011. Prime regional markets only. Read more here.
Extra – 84 from March 26. NBN regionals, can’t confirm WIN at this point.
Upcoming ABC3 children’s drama Resistance has had its large budged trimmed due to story changes and script rewrites.
The $14 million production was supposed to air 26 editions of 30 minutes each, however it is understood that number will be trimmed to accommodate a shorter shooting time.
The news comes as a blow to South Australia’s new Adelaide Studios which was accommodating the series as the complex’s first big production.
Resistance is described as a ‘futuristic’ series, co-produced by the new Persistence Productions and Shaftesbury Films of Canada. Production is now expected to begin at the end of 2012′s first quarter.
2009 was the year the second digital channels launched: ONE HD, SBS TWO replacing SBS News, GO!, 7TWO and ABC’s third channel ABC3.
2010 was the year we saw the HD main channel simulcasts of ABC1, Seven and Nine given up to make way for even more digital channels – none of which could be described as an ideal use of each network’s available HD stream.
In 2011, the only new channel that we know for sure will be launched is ELEVEN.
Will there be any more free to air channels or have we reached as far as it will go prior to the switch off of analogue in 2014?
When ELEVEN launches, there will in fact be 15 distinct free to air digital channels (plus community TV in some areas).
Seven, Nine and Ten are currently only allowed to provide two standard definition channels and one high definition channel. The ABC are able to have one extra standard definition channel than the commercials, while SBS remain the only network with an HD channel that simulcasts their main channel.
What the ABC are doing with three standard definition channels and one high definition channel is the most you can get out of the current available bandwidth to each network – although some would argue that even this is pushing it too far and the quality of each of the individual channels within the multiplex are poor.
But it stands to reason, that if the ABC can have four channels, with one being HD, why can’t the others? Technically they can, but it does come down to licensing. The only way we would see more channels comes out of Seven, Nine or Ten would be if licensing conditions changed to allow them to do the same as the ABC.
In talks relating to the anti-siphoning list during 2010, the suggestion was raised of the commercial networks being allowed to have a 4th digital channel to help cover more sporting broadcasts without sacrificing regular programming content. Therefore there is a possibility of 4th channels.
If this was to happen – Seven, Nine and Ten – were allowed to have a 4th channel, I believe the provision of such should be highly conditional. Given that the third channels for Seven and Nine have effectively removed ALL main channel HD content, and ONE did the same for Ten nearly two years ago, any suggestion of a 4th channel should re-instate the HD content that we are now missing out on.
New conditions for HD content should go FAR beyond the 20 hours per week that was put in place nearly a decade ago, when hardly anyone owned or could even afford an HD TV.
The way I would like to see the 4th channel work is as per the following rules, which would revent a network from using it as a 4th unique channel and income stream. Keep in mind, this is all opinion based, and hypothetical – there is nothing anywhere at this stage that suggests 4th channels will actually happen any time soon, if at all.
1. The 4th channel will be the HD channel. The first three channels all revert to SD.
2. The HD channel must show HD content for at least 18 hours a day. In 2011, there is no reason why the networks could not easily fill this amount of HD content daily. Just about every TV show in the US is made in HD, most locally are as well.
3. The HD channel should provide an HD simulcast of the main channel during specified prime time hours – say 6pm – 10.30pm nightly.
4. The HD channel cannot be used as a distinct 4th channel. It must be either simulcasting the main channel or broadcasting HD content seen on the other digital channels the network owns. This rule gives the flexibility for Ten for example to still show HD sports when available while showing Ten content in HD during prime time. The only possible exception would be if sport runs over time and the network chooses to return to normal programming on the main channel while leaving the HD channel to continue with the sport.
5. In some cases, HD shows could be time shifted. If, for example, a network has two or even three shows airing in one night that they own in HD, they could opt to show the main channel HD shows live (by rule 3, it has to be the main channel programming during specified prime time hours), then play shows seen on their other channels in HD at different times.
6. The reverse of point 5, a show would be allowed to air on the HD channel before it airs on one of the SD channels so long as it occurs within a 7 day period. This would allow HD premieres to come before they air in SD on other channels. The result of points 5 and 6 do cause there to be four different shows on at once but it does mean that anything seen on the HD channel is also seen on an SD channel even at a different time.
The fourth channel scenario, coupled with these rules in fact will benefit everybody.
It would mean, that all of a network’s content is seen over their three SD channels, while most, if not all of a network’s content available in HD would be seen on their HD channel. It would mean prime time main channel content is seen in HD again, while other content available in HD that may be seen on other channels can also be seen in HD as well as SD.
It would mean that sport would be able to be seen in HD without impacting on the regular programming of other channels. It would mean that all people with digital set top boxes whether they have HD or not can see all shows that a network offers.
Such a solution would surely please everybody over the next three years until analogue is switched off.
Then – later in the decade when we start using MPEG-4 and all three of a network’s channels can be upgraded to HD, the 4th channel would become redundant, and could then be used in reverse to provide an SD MPEG-2 signal of either the main channel or a mix of the three channels for those with old digital tuners.
Again – the only new FTA channel we know will happen for sure in 2011 is ELEVEN. While there is room for SBS THREE, funding issues will most likely mean it does not happen any time soon. SBS should focus more on revamping the offerings over their two channels in any case before they think of a third. SBS ONE is now regularly beaten in channel shares by one or more of the commercial digital channels from Seven and Nine.
Another digital channel anniversary is upon us. This time, it is ABC3 which became the 11th digital free to air channel at 5pm on December 4, 2009.
During 2009, Ten launched ONE in March, SBS re-branded SBS News to SBS Two in June, Nine launched GO! in August and Seven launched 7TWO in November. In December, ABC became the first Australian free to air television network with three channels when it launched ABC3 – aimed squarely at kids 5-14, on December 4.
To celebrate its birthday, ABC3 is putting on a program called ABC3’s Birthday Bash which will include a competition as well.
Here’s some details:
ABC3 is getting hyped for our first birthday and we’re celebrating big time with ABC3′s Birthday Bash! This Saturday December 4 at 8:00am and 4:00pm Studio 3 will be whooping it up with a super special half hour birthday show where Kayne and Amberley will present their Top 3 moments from the past 12 months. We are pumped so make sure you don’t miss it!!!
Join ABC3′s party on December 4 with a half-hour special hosted by Kayne and Amberley. You’ll be treated to a special ‘top 3 moments on ABC3′ show that will have you rolling on the floor laughing as they tick off the best pranks, grossest moments, craziest challenges and much more!
Viewing Times:
8:00am Saturday December 4, 2010
4:00pm Saturday December 4, 2010
7:00am Sunday December 5, 2010
BIRTHDAY BASH COMPETITION
Here at ABC3 we love cricket (especially Ambo!) and to celebrate we are giving you the chance to compete in our first ever cricket smackdown where you get to hang out with the whole ABC3 gang!
Want to know more? Go here: http://www.abc.net.au/abc3/microsites/ABC3BirthdayBash.htm
Party time with ABC3 – one year-old and the number one daytime channel among 5-12 year-olds.
Join ABC3’s party on December 4 with a half-hour special at 8am, repeated at 4pm (and 7am on December 5) with Studio 3 hosts Kayne and Amberley. Viewers will be treated to a special ‘top 3 moments on ABC3’ including the best pranks, grossest moments, craziest challenge and much more!
ABC3 viewers of this special also get a chance to win a trip to Melbourne with their best buddy. In Melbourne they will meet their favourite ABC3 hosts and be involved in the first annual ‘ABC3 Australia Day Backyard Cricket Smackdown’. Details to enter will be given out during the half hour special.
Controller of ABC TV’s Children’s Television Tim Brooke- Hunt said “The past 12 months has been a fantastic experience for all of us involved with ABC3. We are delighted with all the positive comments from our audience and the critical acclaim for new ABC3 programs such as My Place, Dance Academy and Dead Gorgeous. Our Studio 3 hosts, Kayne Tremills and Amberley Lobo deserve special credit in contributing to the success of the network. We look forward to growing the ABC3 audience in the years ahead.”
· On December 4, 2010, ABC3 will celebrate its first birthday as the number one day-time (6am-6pm) channel among 5-12s across all FTA and Subscription TV.
· ABC3’s weekly reach has grown since launch to 1.9 million people across Australia, reaching 43% of children aged 5-12.
· In the first three weeks after launch, ABC3’s five city free to air daytime share (6am-6pm) among children 5-12 was 16.1%. Now approaching its first birthday, this figure has risen to 21.9%.
· ABC3’s local programs have been a huge hit including; Dance Academy, Prank Patrol, CJ The DJ, Good Game: SP, Dead Gorgeous and Logie Award-winning, My Place.
· The success continues online as visits to the ABC3 website have nearly doubled since its launch and peaked in September at 1.2 million visits and 632,000 unique visitors. This is significantly higher than the 2010 YTD monthly average of 885,000 visits and 496,000 visitors (Jan- Oct).
Source: OzTAM data. Please note that 2010 data is based on consolidated data (Live + As Live + Time-shift viewing). 2009 data does not include time-shift viewing via PVRs: WebTrends
ABC3’s talented young presenter Ben Crawley will host the new game show What Do You Know?
Originally from Adelaide, Ben was selected from over 5,000 applicants last year as one of the winners of ABC3’s ‘Me on 3’ competition – a nationwide search for hosts.
In each episode of What Do You Know?, Ben will be joined by DJ Rhythm who will add musical tunes to the series both on the DJ decks and as a beat boxer.
Produced by Ambience Entertainment, Ben will film 65 x 30 minute episodes in Sydney from mid October.
In What Do You Know? the contestants are placed in two teams of three, each with a captain who has a real passion for a topic of their choice – be it Bollywood dancing, whales, soccer, Italian cooking or a love of birds. The rest of the team is the “brain trust” with strengths in a wide range of topics such as history, sport or pop culture.
Ben said: “At school I used to know everything about dinosaurs. Now I know a lot about travelling, music, animals and unusual facts. So I ask Australian kids, what do you know?”
ABC TV Children’s Head of Commission and Development, Carla De Jong said: “Ben has done a fantastic job entertaining our audience both on and off screen. His cheeky personality and fascination with facts makes him the perfect host for this exciting new series. “
Ben will also continue discovering the undiscoverable in his current role as roving reporter on ABC3’s hosted program Studio 3.
ABC3 ASKS “WHAT DO YOU KNOW?”
ABC3 is on the hunt throughout Australia for 12-15 year olds with quirky, unique interests and knowledge for a fun, irreverent new game show called What Do You Know?
The 65 x 30 minute episodes produced by Australia’s Ambience Entertainment will start shooting in Sydney in mid-October.
In What Do You Know? the contestants are placed in two teams of three, each with a captain who has a real passion for a topic of their choice – be it Bollywood dancing, whales, soccer, Italian cooking or a love of birds. The rest of the team is the “brain trust” with strengths in topics such as history, sport and pop culture.
The show also has a resident DJ, who will add fresh tunes and musical games to the series.
Ambience Entertainment’s Creative Producer David Webster said “We are delighted to be working with ABC3 on this new and riveting kids game show.”
Controller of ABC Children’s Television Tim Brooke-Hunt said “What Do You Know? promises to be a great deal of fun for both the contestants and ABC3’s viewers. It’s great to have another original game show concept for our network.”
Details can be found at www.abc.net.au/abc3. Entries close September 30.
ABC HD is gone to make way for the ABC’s new 24 hour news channel – ABC News 24. The new channel will be broadcast in HD, meaning that the existing ABC HD – which currently is mostly a simulcast of ABC1 (NSW) will be no more.
Digital channel 20 – where ABC HD lived is now a standard definition simulcast of ABC1. When the new channel launches, channel 20 will disappear and the new channel will appear on digital channel 24, in HD.
The free to air arrangement of the ABC channels will be as follows:
2 & 21 ABC1 – ABC’s main channel, with a variety of programming throughout the day, over the full 24 hours.
22 ABC2 – Pre school programming from 9am – 6pm daily, general entertainment including some ABC1 repeats until 2am daily.
23 ABC3 – Children’s programming, aimed at 6-14’s from 6am – 9pm daily
24 ABC News 24 – 24 hour news channel.
On Foxtel:
102 ABC1
126 ABC2
723 ABC3
202 ABC New 24.
From the ABC website:
What’s happening to ABC HD?
We are changing our HD channel in preparation for the launch of our new 24 hour news channel. This first stage of this change is to replace the HD channel with a SD (standard definition) broadcast of ABC1 (NSW). The second change will occur when ABC News 24 launches, at which time the ABC1 HD channel will be taken off air.
Why will the HD channel be removed?
The ABC only has a specific amount of digital spectrum in which to broadcast all its services. To launch ABC News 24, we need the spectrum currently being used to broadcast our ABC1 HD channel. To continue to watch ABC1 once ABC News 24 starts, please switch to channel 2 or 21 if you are watching free-to-air television or channel 102 for Foxtel and Austar.
Does this mean that ABC will not broadcast anything in HD?
ABC News 24 will be broadcast in HD. All other channels (ABC1, ABC2, ABC3) will be broadcast in SD (standard definition).
How will I find ABC News 24?
When it launches, ABC News 24 can be found on channel 24. If you are watching through Foxtel it will be channel 202 and if you subscribe through Austar, it will be channel 24. Optus viewers will not be able to access ABC News 24, as their service does not offer HD.
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