What’s The Solution?
Where will your programs come from?
What difference will this make to you?
Broadcast Australia is actively working with Government and Broadcasters to assist with the Digital Switch Over (DSO). A necessary pre-requisite to DSO is the provision of coverage solutions to areas not adequately served by digital television services. Utilising Broadcast Australia's extensive systems experience, industry knowledge and understanding of digital coverage, we are providing advice to the industry as to the practicalities of the various options under consideration.
The Digital Switchover (when existing analogue TV is turned off) will be starting in Australia from mid 2010 on a region by region basis. Up to 10% of Australia’s population, who currently receive analogue free-to-air TV terrestrially, are now at the centre of high level discussions as to whether they will receive digital TV terrestrially or via satellite.
What solutions are available?
As Australia transitions into digital TV, there are two options for its delivery – terrestrially (via transmission towers) and by satellite. At present most analogue services across the country are delivered by numerous transmission towers. Comparisons of the two solutions can be found in the 'what are the options?' section of this site.
Why do we need a solution?
Moving Australian TV content from analogue to digital transmission is a very big task. An important factor in this transition is to ensure that all Australians receive the highest quality and most cost effective solution during this process. While most people simply think that buying a digital ready TV, or digital set top box will allow them be digital ready, unfortunately for up to 10% of the Australian population, this may not be the case.
What does this mean to me?
If you live in a regional or remote part of Australia, or are currently in an area with a council run self help facility, the government will shortly decide whether they will fund the upgrade of your current transmission facility, meaning you simply need to get a digital ready TV or digital set top box, or if each of the premises in your community will need to get individual satellite dish and receiver(s). Comparisons of the two solutions can be found in the 'what are the options?' section of this site.
What is the Digital Dividend?
Once Australia has completely moved all its TV transmission onto the digital platform, which is currently interspersed with analogue transmission, the digital signals (spectrum) will be restacked so it sits neatly together. Once this has been done, a large amount of spectrum will be freed up allowing the introduction of new and innovative services. This is likely to include the sale of part of the spectrum to allow the introduction of mobile broadband services. It may also include the provision of next generation broadcast services. The introduction of these new services and the money that government will make from the sale of the freed up spectrum is called the digital dividend.
Why are we changing to Digital TV?
This is fully explained on the Government's digital ready web-site, at www.digitalready.gov.au/panel_why.aspx
Glossary
- Self-Help areas
- These are areas where the Federal Government has generally funded the intial capital costs for the terrestrial transmission facility and local council or other local bodies pay for the ongoing costs for the terrestrial transmission facility. These are not broadcaster provided services.
- Rain fade
- Satellite systems are susceptible to signal loss during showers and storms because the satellite signal is absorbed by the water.
- Terrestrial TV
- These are television signals transmitted from towers and masts in the local area.
- Spectrum
- Spectrum is the common term for radio frequency bands.
- Channel plan
- This is the assignment of television services to particular radio frequency channels.
- Channel restack
- This is necessary to clear the proposed digital dividend spectrum and reassign existing digital television services
- STB
- Set-top box