Freeview

Senator Stephen Conroy has made an announcement that will see ALL Australian receive all free to air TV channels – regardless of where they live in coming years. Some areas of Australia do not even have all three primary commercial channels, let alone digital offering like 7TWO, GEM, ONE, GO and 7mate.

The government will provide assistance to regional TV operators during the digital switch over period, with the broadcasters to meet subsequent and ongoing costs.

The move will come as good news for regional viewers wondering when they will receive many of the channels their capital city counterparts are offered. Exact dates and roll out will be confirmed by the respective regional broadcasters over the next few days.

Here is the press release:

The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, today announced that the Government has partnered with regional commercial broadcasters to ensure all Australians can access the same number of TV channels as is available in capital cities, no matter where they live.

As part of its digital switchover program, the Government will provide $34 million over four years to enable commercial television broadcasters in terrestrial licence areas in regional South Australia, remote and regional Western Australia, and remote and central Australia to deliver all digital TV channels to their audiences via terrestrial broadcast.

“This is an historic outcome for regional Australia,” Senator Conroy said. “For decades, viewers in smaller TV licence areas have put up with having only two commercial TV channels, often missing out on some of the country’s most popular programming.

“True equalisation of TV services in Australia was long considered impossible; the Gillard Government is proud to have achieved the realisation of what has been a long-held dream for many people in regional and remote Australia as part of the digital switchover program,” Senator Conroy said

In combination with the newly established Viewer Access Satellite Television (VAST) service for viewers in remote licence areas and reception blackspots, this measure will provide every Australian with the ability to access the full range of commercial free-to-air digital television services – including digital-only channels Go!, GEM, 7Two, 7Mate, ONE, and the soon-to-be-launched Eleven.

The funding will assist regional commercial broadcasters to install new transmitters in the relevant regional and remote licence areas, which will give them the capacity to transmit all new digital TV channels.

“This means viewers in these areas will receive the same number of commercial channels as people in capital cities,” Senator Conroy said. “All they need to do is install a set top box or, if they prefer, buy a new digital TV and connect it to their existing aerial – just like people in capital cities.”

The Government will provide 50% of capital and operational costs for the new transmitters until the end of the switchover program in 2013; regional commercial broadcasters are meeting the remaining and ongoing costs.

Commercial channels will initially be provided in these markets in standard definition.

ABC and SBS services – including ABC2, ABC3, ABCNews24, and SBSTwo – will also be provided via both terrestrial and satellite broadcast, and will include the high definition channels offered by the national broadcasters.

Regional commercial broadcasters WIN, Prime, Southern Cross and Imparja will announce the rollout schedule for the new channels in coming days.

“The Government welcomes the cooperation and assistance of regional commercial broadcasters in making the full benefits of digital TV available to their customers,” Senator Conroy said.

“Once the rollout of these new channels is completed, any viewer anywhere in Australia who cannot access the full suite of commercial digital TV channels via terrestrial broadcast will be able to access VAST,” Senator Conroy said. “This will end once and for all the digital divide in TV services between regional and remote Australians and those living in our cities.”

Funding for this initiative will be fully offset from monies held in the Contingency Reserve to support Australia’s switch from analog to digital television, which will be completed nation-wide by the end of 2013.

The initiative was announced in the 2010-11 Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook released earlier today.

For general enquiries contact 1800 20 10 13.

New channels taking away HD content.

The number of comments around at the moment on this and other web sites about Seven and Nine no longer having HD channels in favour for additional multi channels is staggering.

It seems there are more viewers angry with losing main channel content in HD than there are viewers happy with the extra channels proving alternative programming.

Perhaps this rage against the new channels may not be so severe if it weren’t for the fact that the new channels 7mate and GEM show very little content in HD. Day time programming on these channels consists of old movies and old TV shows mostly not even in 16:9 wide screen, let alone HD. Evening programming is a mix of mostly repeats with little new content. A few of the new shows like The Big C and Weeds on GEM, and Family Guy and American Dad on 7mate are shown in HD.

But while these channels occupy the HD spectrum of Seven and Nine, there are many shows aired on the main channel which are available in HD that are no longer being seen in HD. Nine News for example was upgraded around being optimised to look better in HD, while many of the US imports are available in HD.

Surely a better use of the HD channels by the networks would be to air whatever the network has available in HD rather than having the HD channel carrying targeted content regardless of whether content is in HD or not.

The networks have gone about it the wrong way. It was only a few years ago when they offered nightly HD break aways and started promoting HD content. All of that is gone now and you rarely even see a mention of HD on free to air TV.

On 7mate itself – there is no reference to the fact it is a HD channel, and so far as the majority of content is concerned, it doesn’t have to be a HD channel. The one and only ad I ever saw for GEM on Nine did make mention it was in “stunning” HD.

Based on all the negative comments floating around about what has happened to HD on free to air TV, it would appear that many people are confused or dismayed as to why this would happen and what is going on.

Why did it happen.

To cut a long story short, each commercial broadcaster is allowed two SD and 1 HD channels only. One of the SD channels must carry the exactly the same programming as the analogue broadcast. That means the main channel must be SD, to match its analogue signal. This cannot change until analogue is switched off everywhere by 2014.

Therefore, in order for one of the commercial networks to have three different channels, keeping in mind that the main channel has to be SD, then they must use the HD channel as a separate channel, instead of a simulcast or HD version of the main channel.

Then the question comes: If the ABC can have four channels, why can’t Seven, Nine and Ten? Yes – if they could have four channels, it would be problem solved as they would be able to have 3 separate SD channels and I HD channel which could remain as a simulcast of their main channel. But it would also mean that the HD channel could be no better than 720p resolution like ABC News 24 is, as opposed to the 1080i they use now one ONE HD, Gem and 7mate. Current licensing terms only allow the ABC to have four channels, with the commercials restricted to three.

Back in the 90’s in planning for digital TV in Australia, there was at least the foresight to include high definition as part of the requirement. But instead of guaranteeing the main channels would always be available in HD, the only requirement in place for the networks is that there is 20 hours a week of HD content provided. That content can be at any time, and does not have to be anything from the main channel.

That is where the mistake lies. If they had the foresight to consider HD as a necessary part of the implementation of digital TV in Australia as part of the way the technology was moving, then they should also have taken the necessary steps to guarantee access to quality HD programming – not just 20 hours a week.

Now – and obviously – the majority of what most people would consider quality programming is on each of the networks’ main channel. And why wouldn’t it be – afterall – 100% of the population has access to the main channels whereas only 75% have access to the digital channels and about 65% access to HD free to air*. The main channels is still where all the business is, and still accounts for 85% of what people watch on free to air TV each night. That’s 85% watching the five main channels, compared to 15% spread over 9 digital channels. Regardless of digital channels, each networks’ core focus is its main channel which is also their core source of income.

It would have made sense that the legislation was in place to guarantee that the main channels should be broadcast in HD, in the same way that it was guaranteed for the main channels to also be in SD so people could use cheaper SD only digital gear when converting up from analogue.

This would have meant that each commercial broadcaster could have just the one secondary channel, with the main channel offered in both SD and HD.

The role of FreeView.

FreeView exists as a means to promote free to air TV as a multi channel option to pay TV. Their ads focus on the concept of “more for free”, as over the last 18 months, the number of unique channels has more than doubled.

It would appear that the push for more channels, driven by FreeView, and the desire for free to air TV to claw back some of the market lost to pay TV is the main reason why they have all gone for the option of providing three channels instead of keeping most watched main channel content in HD.

However, there are now people are now realising that it is not the absolute number of channels that is important, it is the quality of content. Viewers may have more options than ever before in terms of what to watch on free to air TV, but now there is very little HD content to be seen.

Many people have spent the money upgrading to HD TVs so they can see their favourite shows in HD, not so they can see channels filled with repeats or shows not good enough for any decent main channel time slot.

Without Warning.

The worst part of losing the main channels in HD is the fact that it came without warning. Promotions of 7mate made no mention that 7HD would be lost as a result. Channel Nine didn’t warn anyone that 9HD would be no more when GEM started. At least Seven moved the HD service to a new channel, so people would still be able to use 70 for the main channel. Perhaps they were hoping noone would notice the difference in quality.

As for Nine, many who were using 9HD channel 90 to watch the main channel were left confused when suddenly channel 90 was showing GEM – a completely new channel. Comments in related stories here on Throng show people trying rescans to find where 9HD moved to and demonstrate the confusion in the market place.

As far as I could see, apart from Throng and similar websites, there is absolutely nothing on the media to explain what was going on with the new channels and what it meant for existing HD channels. People are confused and annoyed, and the lack of information simply enhances the rage.

Massive drop in number of people watching HD free to air TV.

Just 2 years ago – this time in 2008 – you could only get HD TV from free to air TV or BluRay, having just won the format war over HD DVD. Foxtel then did not have any HD channels. Now, Foxtel is about to launch another 4 HD channels, taking the total number of HD channels to 20. While free to air has made HD channels out of their HD simulcasts of their main channels thereby severely reducing the number of people who will be watching free to air in HD.

Just looking at the channel shares in this weeks’ ratings so far: GEM is averaging about 1%, 7mate closer to 2%, ABC News 24 0.5%, and ONE around 1% (although some of this figure includes people would watch ONE on SD if they don’t have HD).

SBS ONE is averaging around 5% of the shares – if you assume that all of the 65% of the population who have access to free to air HD would chose to watch SBS ONE in HD whenever they were watching an SBS show, that means that SBS ONE HD would now be the most watched free to air HD channel in Australia with a share of about 3.5%!

Before 7mate and GEM, you would have had significantly more people watching 7HD and 9HD respectively. Given both main channels Seven and Nine average around 24% of the shares at the moment, and again assuming that if you have access to HD, you will by default chose to watch the HD version of a channel (and why wouldn’t you), then you would have had share of around 16% for each of 7HD and 9HD.

Let’s put that into perspective. From 32% of the population watching Australia’s two most watched TV channels in HD down to just 3% watching the same two channels a week later now that they have become 7mate and GEM. These two channels have reduced the free to air HD television audience from about 37% down to around 8%.

However – I must point out, that because OzTam have never measured ratings of HD channels separately to main channels when showing the same content, we will never really know for sure how many people were watching the main channels in HD, other than assuming that the percentage of people who have access to HD free to air TV can be applied to main channel shares on a pro rata basis.

Free to air TV will ultimately lose.

Is it any wonder people are angry? If you spend thousands on a decent HD TV, don’t you want to use it to its full potential? Looks like the free to air networks are not concerned about the problem as they know that most shows will end up being watched regardless of whether they are in HD or not. Masterchef has never been in HD anywhere yet it rated through the roof.

The networks know, that while there is an outcry from many about the lack of main channel content in HD, at the end of the day, their main channels will continue to rate better than their secondary channels regardless of whether they are aired in HD or not.

But as people look elsewhere for their HD content, free to air will ultimately lose out as being a significant supplier of free to air programming in Australia. It is a situation that they will not be able to do anything about until the end of analogue leading up to 2014 where we may see all of their digital channels rearranged possibly bringing back the main channels to HD, and possibly, further down the track, resulting in all channels being in HD. By then though, there will probably be UHD breaking as new domestic technology. UHD is ultra high definition, and gives four times the pixels there are in HD.

Is there a solution?

It is too late now to go back to the free to air networks and force them to provide adequate main channel content on their HD channels. Now that they are out there with new channels, you can’t just turn around and take that off them.

It is possible that ratings will be affected by the lack of main channel content in HD. Only ratings will drive a change in the situation if the networks are to remain with three channels. Perhaps they could incorporate late night HD encores of prime time main channel shows, replay them during the day (subject to classification restrictions) or have a night of HD catch ups from main channel content. Maybe the more that Seven and Nine in particular see viewers angry about losing main channel content in HD, they may consider acting on it – especially if ratings are being affected.

The only other possibility is that Seven, Nine and Ten are allowed a 3^rd SD channel, like what the ABC has. That way they could have three channels while also providing the main channel in HD, although the HD channel would have to be at 720p instead of 1080i they are now. If this ever happened, it is unlikely Ten would move ONE HD away from HD as they have a big commitment to the HD sports channel. As for the ABC, they have already indicated that, while the arrangement of channels is not ideal for everyone, it is the best they can offer with the bandwidth they have until they review the situation in 2013.

Once analogue is gone everywhere by 2014, we may then see the main channels return to HD. But, unless HD take up is very high, the networks will remain in a position where they must keep their main and highest rating channel in SD so that 100% of the audience can see it. To avoid this scenario, and the possibility of having main channels in SD for many more years to come, legislation should be put in place to ensure that all digital TV receiving equipment form now on come with a digital tuner capable of receiving HD TV, as well as the latest standards in digital compression technology which should hopefully allow all of the digital channels to be in HD in the future.

However, if we continue to allow excessive overlaps between technologies – like we have with the switch from analogue to digital, the technology itself risks being out of date by the time the transition is over. The role out of the National Broadband network could well see free to air TV delivered by internet in the future, which could mean no limits, other than licensing and legislation, to the channels, content and quality of content TV networks can deliver.　

Notes:

* Last figures for digital take up were 75%. It has also been reported, that roughly 90% of the population who have gone digital also have access to HD, which equates to about two thirds overall.
* Ratings shares used based on hypothetical average week, loosely based on OzTam 5 city metro weeks 37-40 shares.

With the launch of 7mate and GEM just over a week away, a new wave of FreeView ads hit our screens last night.

The ads have been updated to include the logos of the two new channels, while the FreeView website shows all of the current and coming channels for the capital city markets including Eleven from Ten which won’t be on air until next year.

As always, the FreeView ads promote free to air TV questioning the viewer as to why pay any month subscription when you can get 16 channels for free.

FreeView promises more entertainment, more reality TV, more of your favourite shows, more news, more for kids… more for everybody basically. It neglects to mention that most of this “more of” they are talking about is pretty well covered by the main channels.

 The ads show scens from shows like Masterchef, The X Factor, The 7pm Project, Packed to the Rafters, Talkin’ ‘Bout Your Generation, Farmer Wants a Wife amongst many others.

But – there is a 24 hour sports channel, a 24 hour news channel, a dedicated children’s channel, one for pre schoolers, and plenty of general entertainment channels.

Yes – now we will have 14 channels – not 16 – 14 – from September 25, there certainly is more to chose from, and the statement about the number of channels is not so misleading as it was two years ago when FreeView hits us with ads promising 15 channels. Two year on, we are one off – but they still count simulcast channels like ONE SD and SBS ONE HD as separate channels. Close enough, I suppose.

For the record, after September 25, there will be 14 channels + community TV in some areas. In 2011, there will be 15, and if there is an SBS THREE in the future, that’s 16. And I’d say that will be it until the second half of this decade when analogue is gone and new digital compression standards come on board allowing for either more separate channels or more channels to go HD.

FreeView web site: http://www.freeview.com.au/

When Ten launched ONE HD in March 2009, it spelt the end of Ten’s main channel content being seen in HD. In July 2010, when ABC News 24 was launched, the same was the case for ABC1 shows being seen on ABC HD. Now it is about to happen with Seven and Nine and their respective high definition channels as Seven launches 7mate late September and Nine rush to launch their third channel at about the same time. SBS will then remain as the only free to air broadcaster with an HD channel simulcasting main channel content.

This all poses the question of the short term future of HD in Australia. With HD TVs becoming cheaper and more readily available, it seems the free to air networks are going backwards in delivering HD content as it is lesser watched secondary channels ending up in HD as opposed to the main channels which are still watched by the most people.

Each network only have to show 20 hours a week of true HD content – which equates to just 3 hours a day. Easily met by any of the broadcasters just with the amount of regular shows already in HD.

Unfortunately, it is the rules that free to air TV is stuck with during the transition from digital to analogue that are holding back the networks. The main content of any free to air network must be presented on both their analogue channel as well as one of the standard definition digital channels. That means – if they want to have their main channel content on their HD channel as well, that the HD and one standard definition channel will end up with the same content. Given the commercial networks are only allowed to have two standard definition channels and one high definition channel, any network that chose to keep the high definition channel the same as the standard can really only have two channels.

Launching a third channel ultimately breaks the standard / high definition simulcasts. When Ten launch their third channel in 2011, they will no longer offer a standard definition simulcast of ONE HD. As Seven and Nine launch their third channels, their HD channels will no longer be simulcasts of their main channel.

This could mean that shows made in HD – such as Underbelly on Nine – could be shown on their HD channel at a different time to their main channel but also opens up the possibility of some shows actually made in HD not being seen in HD on free to air at all. FOX8 make a big deal of this fact in promoting Glee – already seen on Ten – as being shown first in HD on FOX8HD.

One possible solution to the problem is to temporarily allow the commercial networks a 4^th channel – which would mean all three of their channels could be presented in standard definition leaving the HD channel able to simulcast the main channel – or at least be showing what is available in HD on the main channel at the same time as it is on the main channel while perhaps being allowed only to break away when there is not a program on the main channel made in HD.

The possibility of fourth digital channels has been raised as part of sports anti-siphoning discussions giving the networks greater ability to cover sport over their digital channels without interfering with the channels‘ theme or programming. ABC already carry four distinct channels, but they do so at the expense of the resolution of the HD channel and by lowering bit rates on others.

The problem with themed or niche channels is it limits their ability to remain flexible in terms of being able to provide extra coverage for major news events or sport. 7TWO – as a channel without any real theme as such – has been used to provide extended or special news services for Seven as well as encores of main channel shows, while 7mate from the outset is said to contain some sport.

Nine with GO do not have the same flexibility as Seven do, and if the new channel is themed as classics or crime, there will be even less flexibility. Sure – these channels can break theme from time to time if required, but they risk alienating the very audience they will build. For example – if you turn onto ONE HD, you expect to always see sports. On a classics channel, you expect to always see classics. On GO – you’d expect to see regular GO programming and so on.

It is still over three years until analogue is completely switched off everywhere. Not until then will we see any free to air network – commercial or not – make full use of their digital channels knowing that those channels will be available to everyone., including possibly reverting their HD channels back to showing the main channel content – after all it is the main channels people still mostly watch.

Possibly, once analogue is gone completely, all free to air channels might end up in HD. Let’s hope so – otherwise other sources will quickly take over as being the main providers of HD content in Australia – especially as the National Broadband Network rolls out, and as Foxtel keep adding to their collection of HD channels - while free to air TV will be left behind with only a few niche or themed HD channels not carrying their networks’ best content.

Reports are surfacing that Nine may launch their third channel even before Seven launches 7mate on September 25.

Unlike the surprise announcement from Seven, speculation has been floating around for months as to what Nine will do in relation to the third channel, with the launch date supposedly being held off until 2011.

But now with Seven’s announcement – in a ratings years where the battle between Seven and Nine is so incredibly close in who will be the overall winner for the year – Nine would risk losing ratings to Seven over their three channels after the launch of 7mate if they do not act now.

As September 25 is just over a month away, it doesn’t leave much time for Nine to make final arrangements for their new channel, which possibly could launch five or six days before 7mate.

A problem, however, for both new channels would be the fact that ratings will not be counted separately for these channels if either network have not lodged the new channel with Oztam within the 8 week timeframe required. Ratings for the new channel would remain part of the primary channel in the meantime.

It is possible that Seven already have lodged with OzTam for 7mate, but a mere impossibility for Nine for their channel seeing that the bringing forward of its launch is reactionary to Seven’s announcement of 7mate.

The format of Nine’s new channel is rumoured to be anything from classic TV, to a full time crime channel, to even a lifestyle based channel. GO is Australia’s most successful digital multi-channel in terms of overall shares – coming close to, and even overtaking SBS ONE in shares on many nights.

Nine will be looking to emulate the success of GO for the third channel. GO pulls good ratings with a mixture of fresh content, classic TV, movies and repeats of Nine shows. A classics channel – possibly called GEM – could mean that the classics move from GO to GEM, leaving GO to focus on more contemporary programming and GEM the classics.

As the third channel for Nine, like Seven, has to take over the HD channel (at this stage, all three commercial networks are only allowed 1 HD and 2 SD channels) the new channel will spell the end for HD simulating of main channel content. There is the possibility that Nine would move GO to HD – which makes more sense as it would have the contemporary content while the other channel – if classics – would not make sense – and would be a waste – if in HD. With Ten, we are already used to not having main channel content in HD, thanks to sports channel ONE HD. Ten’s third channel, when launched in 2011 will simply take over the standard definition simulcast of ONE HD (in metro areas).

For Nine – who actually show more and promote more HD content than any other the other channels – the third channel means the end of live sport in HD (subject to changes on anti-siphoning laws), and seeing in HD shows like Top Gear, Two and a Half Men, Underbelly, and many more shows made in HD – at least at the same time as the main channel.

As these channels launch, it will mean that all HD free to air TV content in Australia will be limited only to secondary channels (other than SBS at this stage). Not exactly an incentive for viewers to obtain HD receivers and TV sets if they only watch free to air TV.

Foxtel already offer many channels in HD including four sports channels, a number of movie channels, on demand content and some of the key general entertainment channels like FOX8 and W – with more to come later this year, and no doubt to be added to in coming years.

Not until 2014 when analogue is gone everywhere will we see the main channels possibly return to being in HD with the secondaries in SD – the way it really should be. Extra bandwidth freed up then could also mean that all of each broadcasters channels end up in HD.

Having all these extra channels may give viewers many more choices as to what to watch on free to air TV, but it is coming at the expense of quality.

Wow! According to the latest FreeView ad campaign we get 16 digital free to air TV channels!

Let’s count them up.

ABC has ABC1, ABC2, ABC3 and ABC HD
SBS has SBS ONE, SBS TWO and SBS ONE HD
Seven has Seven, 7TWO and 7HD
Nine has Nine, GO! and 9HD (or Nine Hi Def)
Ten has Ten, ONE HD and ONE Digital.

So yes, it is true – there are16 channels.

But – if we take into account the following:

ABC HD is a full time simulcast of ABC1 (other than the odd special event occasionally in some markets)
SBS ONE HD is a full time simulcast of SBS ONE
7HD is a full time simulcast of Seven (other than one hour on Sunday mornings in Sydney and Brisbane for an AFL show)
9HD is a full time simulcast of Nine
ONE Digital is a full time simulcast of ONE HD

That is five channels that are simulcast, and therefore the same.

That means, there really is only 11 channels.

Why are FreeView still trying to mislead the public like this?

I wonder what a retailer says to someone who has never seen digital TV before when they ask – “hey – tell me about those 16 channels we get?”. I can see it now “Umm… well, there are the five main channels – Seven, Nine, Ten, ABC and SBS. Then there is GO, ONE and 7TWO, then SBS TWO and ABC2 and ABC3… Oh yes – there are HD channels as well – here let me show you…”

The retailer then flicks through the channels – and they may show even more channels if they count the fact that Seven also has digital channels 73 and 74 which are nothing more than a simulcast of Seven itself (why they still do this, I don’t understand, SBS still has extra digital channels 33, 34 as well that are all SBS ONE). The customer, if observant, would then ask “but half these channels are the same?? – Aren’t there meant to be 16 channels??”

The answer is no – there are not 16 unique channels – there are 11.

Perhaps FreeView should have held off this ad until later in the year.

This year will see ABC launch its 24 hour news service on ABC HD, Ten will launch a third channel which will be a general entertainment channel, and both Nine and Seven should launch a third channel this year which will utilise their HD services. There is even a rumour that SBS are considering a third channel as well. Once these channels launch, then we have 16 channels.  Some areas will have 17 if you include community TV.

Please FreeView – stop confusing the public. It’s bad enough to see “get ready for digital” and FreeView ads on actual digital channels like GO and 7TWO! Let alone being told there are more channels than there really are. Thought they would have learnt from their original campaign when they spruiked 15 digital channels back in the days when there were only HD break aways and no secondary digital channels.

One of the promises that has gone along with all the FreeView advertising we have been subjected to over the last year or so is that FreeView branded equipment will have their own electronic Program Guide (EPG).

Throughout 2009, the FreeView EPG was promised for May 2009, then put back to the end of the year. Now they reckon it will be up and running by June 2010 – just in time for the first Analogue switch off in Mildura. Its arrival has been plagued by a myriad of technological and copyright issues.

The will be similar to what Foxtel offers listing all Free to Air channels together in one list. With Community TV now on digital (Sydney started this month on channel 44), they too will be included within their reception area.

The FreeView EPG promises to be easy to use and will allow uses to record shows by genre or program as opposed to simply blocks of time. The FreeView catch up TV service should also launch late 2010.

The FreeView EPG will only be available to FreeView branded equipment.

Source: TV Tonight.

Freeview, Australia’s free digital television service, has announced that it has become a partner of the 52nd Annual TV Week Logie Awards.

Commenting on the deal, Freeview CEO Robin Parkes said Freeview and the Logies were a perfect fit, and that the partnership was an exciting opportunity.

“Freeview is the home of all the free-to-air channels and the Logies is an Australian icon in the eyes of Australian TV viewers so it’s only natural that Freeview should become a partner.

“We’re very proud to be so closely associated with the Logies and are looking forward to a fantastic awards celebration this year,” Parkes said.

She added that in 2009, there were 23 categories of Logie nominations, every one of which was won by actors and/or shows that appear on Freeview.

“We’ll be making best use of our Logie partnership to educate viewers that to continue to get free-to-view TV and see the great stars and content that’s being recognised at the Logies, they need to switch to Freeview digital TV,” Parkes said.

Freeview will have a presence in TV Week, Australia’s number one TV and entertainment magazine, in the lead up to the Logie Awards and will announce soon a Freeview Logies promotion.

Source: Freeview

Sydney community television channel TVS has announced that Broadcast Australia will handle the digital transmission services of the channel when it launches onto the digital spectrum in 2010 along with other community TV channels around the country. Under the deal it is expected that Broadcast Australia will have TVS up and running on digital by March 2010, this comes after the Federal Government’s recent decision to allocate digital spectrum and funding for the transition of Community Television to digital.

TVS Chief Executive Laurie Patton said, “With more than fifty percent of Sydney homes now digital the ability to simulcast in both digital and analogue has become critical. Going digital means that TVS will instantly become available to a wider audience and with more viewers the station will be able to generate much needed additional sponsorship revenue”.

Broadcast Australia’s Managing Director Graeme Barclay said, “Broadcast Australia has had a long and positive relationship with TVS and we look forward to helping them with their transition to digital TV. We are very excited about providing TVS with a fully managed digital transmission service and pleased that we will be part of history, enabling the first Australian Community TV channel to operate on the digital TV platform”.

Broadcast Australia will also provide TVS with the technical capability of joining Freeview when its proprietary Electronic Program Guide is launched next year and will ensure a greater profile for TVS and improved exposure for its programs.

TVS as well as other community TV stations around Australia will most likely make use of the unused (other than Sydney’s data casting service which is to stop operation soon) channel group starting with 4’s. [updated] TVS will appear on digital channel 44. TVS stopped promoting it’s analogue channel number of 31 as they knew it would not be able to be used in the future when they became digital.

To see what is on TVS or for more information, visit the web site: www.tvs.org.au

Source: www.whatsonthetube.net

Get ready for digital – we all know the ads. They air multiple times during the late afternoon and evening spruiking the fact that we all need to get ready for digital TV by wither buying a set top box or a new TV with an inbuilt digital receiver. The ads even appear on 7TWO – honestly, if you are watching 7TWO, then you already have digital sorted. Some digital ready ads are also now appearing on pay TV channels.

On Friday, it is 9 years since digital TV started airing in Australia. Originally, by 2008, we were meant to be 100% digital. But slow take up, combined with a lack of incentive by networks not really offering enough on digital meant that the number of people who were digital ready with appropriate tuners was far too low to make the transition happen by 2008. 2009 with the launch of 5 new digital channels has given Australian TV viewers the most incentive ever to switch over to digital. Until now, the only real benefit for switching over to digital was to receive a clearer and wide screen picture.

Now the switch off date is the end of 2013 for Australia to be 100% digital. From Jan 1, 2014, there will no longer be analogue TV signals and any TV without a digital set top box or digital tuner simply will not receive any broadcast signals at all. Depending on where you are, the switch off is as early as June 30, 2010. As analogue TV signals switch off throughout the country, the unused spectrum will be sold off mostly to expanding mobile phone companies and emergency services for communications purposes.

The first area to switch off is Mildura. With a very high digital take up in that area thanks to one of their networks only being available on digital means the analogue switch off will cause the least inconvenience. By staggering switch off dates across the country, it gives both networks and consumers time to ensure they are ready for the transition.

Analogue switch off dates for all areas are as per the following:

Mildura – June 30, 2010

Regional SA and Broken Hill – Dec 31, 2010

Regional Vic – June 30, 2011

Regional QLD – Dec 31, 2011

Southern NSW and ACT – Jun 30, 2012

Northern NSW – Dec 31, 2012

Tas, Perth, Brisbane – Jun 30, 2013

Sydney, Melb, Adel, Darwin as well as all other remote and regional areas – Dec 31 2013

For more information, visit the web site www.australia.gov.au/digitalready