Australian Digital TV : What's in it for You?

Digital terrestrial television, also known as DVB-T, is a method of broadcasting that uses discrete (on-off) digital signals rather than the continuous signal of analog television. It will progressively replace analog TV broadcasts, beginning next year. Digital TV is already being broadcast in Australia and offers better image quality than traditional analog television.

Why is digital better than analog television?

Because digital signals take up less space on the transmission spectrum, digital television has a two-fold advantage over analog television. It means there’s more room for additional stations, and more room for additional data such as electronic program guide information and high-definition television signals to be broadcast. Digital television also has the advantage of being less susceptible to signal interference. It is free of the ghosting and signal noise that plague analog television.

The greatest advantage that digital television in Australia offers is an improvement in image quality. TV shows broadcast in both standard- and high-definition digital signals have clearer pictures and have more detail. The image quality of most high-definition broadcasts is better than DVDs.

Digital television has the added functionality of an electronic program guide. This guide, which is transmitted over the air along with the television signal, carries information about the shows that are currently being broadcast as well as future programs. While a few broadcasters only transmit information three days in advance, most digital television receivers have the ability to display upcoming shows up to seven days in advance.

When you're watching a high-definition digital channel, the digital television broadcast also includes a 5.1 surround-sound audio track. Many movies and other specialised broadcasts include the surround-sound audio, providing cinematic effects that you can enjoy on your home theatre system.

What do I need to watch digital television?

Both standard- and high-definition content is broadcast digitally. If you have an analog TV, you can buy a set-top box that will let you view digital TV stations. A set-top box that supports high-definition digital television will let you receive all available digital channels.

Set-top boxes usually connect to your television using a Composite audio/video connector — most televisions manufactured after 1990 have this connection. To check if your television has a Composite connector, look for three sockets on the rear of your television coloured yellow, white and red. Most of these set-top boxes have the ability to interpret the additional data of digital broadcasts, so they will allow you to view an electronic program guide.

If you have a flat-screen LCD or plasma television, it is likely to have an integrated digital television tuner and you will not need a additional set-top box, though some older televisions only have standard-definition tuners. The newest flat-screen televisions include high-definition digital tuners, which you will need to receive all digital channels.

When will analog television be switched off?

It has been announced that the analog television service will be switched off in regional areas of Victoria by the end of June 2010, with additional regional areas of Australia being switched off over a further one and a half years. Metropolitan areas will maintain their analog services the longest, but the current deadline for all of Australia to have analog television switched off is 31 December 2013. Visit http://www.dbcde.gov.au/media_broadcasting/television/digital_televison_switchover for more information.

What is Freeview?

Freeview is the latest digital television platform in Australia. It includes all the traditional television channels, and broadcasts using the same technology as standard digital television — think of it as an upgrade to the existing digital television network. It does not have any subscription fees, so all you have to do is purchase a set-top box or a television with an integrated digital tuner.

There is some confusion over Freeview branding and supported products. All current digital television tuners currently available will support the Freeview programming being broadcast. However, all Freeview-branded products must support an additional form of digital television decoding intended for future-proofing, but there are currently no plans to use this.

The Freeview platform boasts the ability to broadcast ‘up to 15’ channels. This gives each of the major broadcasters — ABC, SBS, Channel Seven, Channel Nine and Channel Ten — three separate digital channels. Channel Ten, for example, is using two of its channels to broadcast sports programming under the name “ONE” while the third channel maintains its original news and show programming. Additional new channels from other broadcasters will become available progressively from April this year.

Original Story : Campbell Simpson (Good Gear Guide) 06/04/2009

Conroy Tells Australians To Get Ready For Digital TV

Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Stephen Conroy, yesterday launched a new campaign, aimed towards getting Australia ready for digital television.

It will includes TV, radio and on-line ads as well as a system of equipment labelling and training for retail staff and will start this week. It is designed topromote the benefits of digital television over analog TV.

Conroy said, "Digital TV means new content, better sound and vision, and additional features for television viewers. From this week a campaign will begin to help Australia get ready for digital. There is no reason for people to wait to experience the benefits."

Education of consumers was the campaign’s main aim, he said: "For most people getting ready for digital will be a simple and inexpensive task but it is important that all Australians are well informed to make the switch. The digital television switchover is our biggest national format change since the swap to decimal currency and it is important that Australia get ready."

Australian Digital TV Heats Up, Or Just More Hot Air?

With the Australian Government wielding carrot and stick on the countdown to a 2013 analog shutdown, the main players in Australian Digital TV are currently meeting in Sydney.

It is reported that Carl Rose, the chief of Sony Australia, (the only TV manufacturer to attend) declared his company trailblaizers in Digital TV. This from a company who then goes on to admit that they have never made nor will they make, digital set top boxes.Very odd given that the majority of those watching Digital TV do so on set top boxes and PVRs' (set top boxes with hard disk recording capability). Of course set top boxes prolong the life of normal TV sets and are a hindrance to the public rushing out to buy new Sony TV's!

Then there was Robin Parkes of Freeview (the government backed organisation who recently confused the Australian public with a misleading and expensive advertising campaign) stating that within two years Freeview would offer its own internet-enabled set-top box which would move catch-up TV viewing from the computer screen to the lounge room. Hmm, two years away? No sense of urgency to drive the uptake of digital TV here!
Anyway, the ABC already have a great service with their iView on-line offering (www.abc.net.au/tv/iview)

Our advice? Mr Parkes just come up with a sensible ad campaign to highlight the real benefits of Digital TV and leave the networks to provide their own on-line, on-demand services.

ABC KIDS Digital TV Channel - Born Again!

It's was on air when Australian digital TV broadcasts were in their infancy, circa 2003.
When people asked what new stations they could get with a digital box the ABC proudly put their hand up and directed them to their digital only channel, ABC Kids. But a couple of years later it was canned, due to "lack of government funding".

With the 2013 analogue TV switch-off looming, government is again looking at ways to convince the Australian viewing public that they really need digital TV. How will they do that? By providing extra services that are only available on digital. What a stroke of genius! Some fresh ideas! (unfortunately the same fresh ideas that were around even before digital began broadcasting.)

And guess what? ABC Kids is back!

At the Australian Broadcasting Summit held in Sydney on Wednesday, Australian Broadcasting Corporation MD, Mark Scott was quoted as saying, "We believe - as the government faces the challenge of driving audiences to take up digital television, to upgrade their television set or to buy a set top box - the biggest driver of that will be content," he said.
"The single biggest driver of the take-up of digital television would be the creation of a stand-alone television service for children by the ABC.
"Our content would be largely Australian content, we'd be commissioning more content that would see us working with the independent productions sector, providing a stimulus there.
"It would be commercial free and available in every Australian home."

Hmmm.....so ABC Kids is here for good this time? We'll wait and see....

Digital TV Breathes New Life Into Older PC’s

Brisbane firm DPandA (David Porter & Associates Pty Ltd) has come up with a novel idea to extend the useful life of older desktop & laptop PC’s.

C.E.O. David Porter says, “People tend to be largely unaware that there is a lot more to the world of computers than Microsoft Windows. Every release of Windows requires more powerful PC’s and people get caught up in the cycle of upgrading to new PC’s and discarding the old ones.
“We specialise in two areas; Digital Television and Linux. Marry these together and voila! : you end up with a powerful, high definition digital TV receiver with a hard disk recorder (PVR/Media Centre) at a fraction of the price and with many more features than those you can buy “off-the-peg”

“We know about digital TV, because we were the very first Australian company to offer a digital TV receiver card for the PC. We partnered with a German company and launched the product under the DPandA brand in 2003.”

“Apart from Digital TV, older, sluggish PC’s can be given a whole new lease on life when converted to run free, Linux based, office productivity applications. Many of these applications are equal or better than their Windows based commercial counterparts, costing thousands of dollars. They can run on the same network as Windows PC’s, being able to work with the same files, printers and Internet connections. And the bonus is that Linux based systems are more secure and less vulnerable to viruses and malicious software. Not only is it good for the environment, it’s great for the hip pocket, as well.”

The company also offers set top boxes and non-pc based digital TV solutions through their website: www.dpanda.com.au

Freeview Formed to Drive Digital TV Take-up in Australia

Australia’s free-to-air commercial television networks together with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation recently announced the establishment of the "Freeview" consortium.

It has been formed to kick-start the sluggish take-up of free-to-air digital television in Australia.

The consortium includes the ABC, SBS, the Seven Network, the Nine Network, Network Ten, Prime, WIN and Southern Cross. The ABC’s Director of Television, Kim Dalton, will Chair the non profit organisation.

Dalton says Freeview will work towards making sure that all Australians continue to enjoy the range of programming offered by free-to-air broadcasters as Australia moves from analogue to the digital platform.

“This is an extraordinary step forward for the free-to-air broadcasters. Together we have pioneered digital television in Australia, investing millions in infrastructure and converting our equipment and studios accordingly. Now it’s time for Australians to reap the rewards; Freeview will offer viewers more channels, great content and the very best quality picture and sound,” said Dalton.

From 2009, legislation will allow the commercial free-to-air networks each to broadcast an additional standard definition (SD) channel, as well as their existing SD channels, and their new high definition (HD) channels. The three new channels, plus the two ABC and two SBS channels and their respective HD channels, will bring the number of channels to be promoted by Freeview to fifteen.

Viewers will need a High Definition digital-set-top box, digital video recorder or an integrated digital television to watch Freeview

The consortium will be launching an education campaign to ensure viewers are ready for when the new channels become available .

Prior to the launch, Freeview will work with manufacturers to ensure appropriate technical standards are met on all television equipment that will carry the Freeview logo.

Digital TV in Australia : The State of Play

The formats are confusing and the standards don't seem to be standard. This simple guide unravels the mysteries of Australian digital TV.

Australia's first "free to view" digital television broadcasts began in January 2001. The roll-out has been gradual, but now all five free-to-air broadcasters (ABC, SBS, Ten, Seven and Nine) are transmitting their digital television services in all capital cities — Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, Hobart, Canberra and Darwin — 24 hours a day/7 days a week. The emphasis now is on expanding the coverage and content across the country, with over 20 major regional markets receiving at least some digital programming.

According to the original law, they must simulcast (ie, broadcast both analog and digital signals) for at least eight years in an area, so if you lived in any of the cities named above, you would be able to use your current analog television set to receive free to air broadcasts until the end of 2013. The deadline for the analog switch off was originally set for the end of 2008.

According to the industry body Free TV, over 90 per cent of Australians have access to digital television. However, it estimates that only 40 per cent of people currently watch it. To access these services, you will need to buy either a digital set-top box for your analog TV or invest in one of the growing number of integrated digital television sets on the market. Most TVs on the market today feature an on-board digital TV tuner, with high-definition tuners becoming increasingly common.

When the transition to digital is complete, our analog PAL system will be replaced by the DVB-T digital television standard, which was first developed in Europe. Note that again, our system will differ from the US, which is using the American-developed ATSC standard.

"Flavours" of digital broadcasts
The first thing to get your head around is that there are two types of digital TV transmissions, Standard Definition (SD) and High Definition (HD). We'll fill you in on the basics.

Standard Definition
SD broadcasts provide widescreen picture with DVD equivalent picture quality. The resolution is 576i (576 horizontal lines interlaced). It is broadcast with MPEG digital stereo sound (similar to CD quality) although some programs may be enhanced with Dolby Pro Logic or Dolby Digital surround sound. This is the standard that is now available 24 hours a day and it's a marked improvement from the analog signal. Most analog sets are capable of displaying 576i when connected to a digital set-top box.

High Definition
HD broadcasts also provide widescreen pictures, but they have an even sharper image with up to twice the horizontal and almost three times the vertical resolution of SD. Due to bandwidth restrictions, there has been some debate by the public broadcasters over what constitutes "high definition". Australia is one of the only countries in the world to consider a 576p image to be the minimum for HD. This means it is a "progressively scanned" version of the standard definition signal. SBS HD is broadcast in 576p, as is most of ABC HD — although Aunty now broadcasts some content in 720p.

As such, 720p is the universally accepted standard for a minimum HD picture resolution, and consists of a 1280x720 pixels at 50Hz progressive. The maximum resolution that the broadcasters transmit in is 1080i (1080 horizontal lines interlaced). Of course, this differs from the other HD standard 1080p. As flatscreens like LCDs are naturally progressive they won't display an "i" image anyway, but will instead convert it automatically to "p". The benefits of HD pictures are particularly noticeable on larger screen sets and when using projection equipment.

The catch, of course, is that HD broadcasts are available on far fewer programs. The Government has imposed HD programming quotas on each broadcaster of at least 1,040 hours annually (but only for mainland metropolitan areas). The current rules will stay in place until the switch-off of analog in 2013. High definition is also currently available in Darwin and regional areas of Tasmania, Queensland, Victoria and New South Wales.

The good news is that imposed quotas are being exceeded — and in most cases doubled — so there is a wealth of HD content on offer in any given week. Some of the programs are "native" HD (produced in the format), while others have been "up-converted" from SD format. If this top-of-the-line picture quality is what you want, make sure before you buy a new big flat screen TV that both the set-top box and screen you buy are HD capable — look for the HD tick, or you will not be able to fully take advantage of the superior HD image. Expect too, that you will be paying a premium for full-HD equipment.

Standard definition-only equipment is becoming less popular, but there's no need to despair if you decide to invest in SD gear. The Federal Government requires broadcasters to provide a digital SD signal at all times, even when HD programs are being broadcast, so you'll always be able to receive a digital television service, even when the higher quality HD signal is being transmitted.

Multi-channeling and other benefits
In addition to the widescreen view and better pictures and sound, with digital TV you also have access to extra channels. In 2007, most broadcasters officially launched their HD channels, which are able to provide programming that differs from their "core service". Any broadcaster in a non-remote area is able to provide one HDTV multi-channel under rules set down by the Government.

SBS is broadcasting the World News Channel for 20 hours a day in a variety of languages, selected radio channels are available, and most broadcasters are providing program guide channels. The ABC also offers a digital-only channel, ABC2, which features programs not seen on the main channel.

More intriguing is what may evolve from Sydney's market trial of digital data-casting. In addition to extra news, weather, sport and shopping channels, useful community services are being broadcast. You can check out still shots of notorious traffic areas such as the Sydney Harbour Bridge, and surf-cam shots of the major beaches lets you see what surf conditions are like. There is also an audio feed from Parliament House in Canberra if you want to catch every minute of Question Time.

Austar, Foxtel Digital and Foxtel HD+
The three main Pay TV providers in Australia are Foxtel, Austar and Optus. However, through numerous content-sharing deals made over the years it is Foxtel which provides a lot of content to all three.

Foxtel Digital, the pay cable and satellite digital video broadcasting service, launched in 2004. This was followed by the introduction of the company's first DVR, the Foxtel iQ, in 2005. It's a digital recorder capable of recording two shows at once. Foxtel has retransmission agreements for cable and satellite with SBS (Australia-wide) and Nine (Eastern states only); for cable (not satellite) with the ABC; and Seven and Ten available on cable.

Earlier this year, Foxtel launched its HD+ service with the announcement of a new recorder, the Foxtel iQ2 and five new channels of HD content. In addition to all of the digital commercial channels subscribers in the eastern states also receive all of the terrestrial HD channels as well.

Although AUSTAR runs a cable network in Darwin, it is predominantly a satellite digital TV provider. It has a coverage area of approximately 2.4 million homes — or one-third of the total homes — in regional and rural Australia.

In February 2008, AUSTAR launched MyStar, its personal digital recorder. While it is SD-only it also includes two digital tuners enabling it to receive free-to-air programming as well.

Original Story : CNET Australia by Pam Carroll and Ty Pendlebury 25 July 2008