FreeView (New Zealand)
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FreeView is a non-profit free-to-air digital television service planned for New Zealand. It will be available via satellite starting in 2007 and terrestrial transmitters using the UHF frequency starting in 2008. FreeView will provide more channels, higher quality and prepare users for the analogue switchoff in 2012 to 2016.[1] A set-top box costing around NZ$200, a suitable TV tuner card or a digital capable TV and an UHF aerial or a satellite dish will be required to access the service. It will use the DVB standard on government provided spectrum. The government will also pay NZ$25 million or around one third of the total cost.
According to the Minister of Broadcasting Steve Maharey, the cost of the set-top box was estimated at being $200 NZD, however it has emerged that Freeview will now cost in excess of $700 to cover set-top box fee, dish costs and installation.[2]
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[edit] Content
| “ | I was alive, just, of course, at the time when black and white television swapped over to colour and I understand this to be an even bigger event. | ” |
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—Broadcasting Minister |
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Six companies have stated they will participate in the venture, including TVNZ, CanWest, Radio New Zealand, Māori Television Service, Alt TV[2] and an unspecified independent broadcaster rumoured to be Triangle TV.[4] There are ongoing negotiations with Prime, other regional TV operators,[5] and overseas companies wanting to start up in New Zealand.[6] However, Prime has said it will not make a decision before 2008.[7] FreeView will be open to other free-to-air broadcasters if they want to join.[1][8] The New Zealand Racing board has withdrawn as a shareholder but might join at a later date [1]
[edit] Channels
Initially, up to 18 channels will be available, with six each for TVNZ and CanWest, and the remaining six [8] possibly involving Trackside, Māori TV, Radio New Zealand channels, Prime and regional TV.[3]TV ONE, TV2, TV3 and C4 will all be available on FreeView,[9] giving 4 extra channels each to TVNZ and CanWest.
TVNZ and CanWest remained tight lipped in public on what new channels they will produce, claiming it was commercially sensitive.[5] TVNZ will produce two new channels one in 2007 and 2008. The first will be a commercial-free news, sport and information-based channel with 90% local content, tentatively titled TVNZ News 24. The second channel will screen preschool, family, and arts programmes.
On the other side, CanWest confirmed it will produce one extra channel each in 2007 and 2008 targeting a niche market.[6] The BSA expects it to screen imported programmes on its first extra channel.[10] Since CanWest will not use all six channels allocated to it, it may sub-lease the spare capacity to other companies.[11]
Māori TV aims to launch more channels later.[6]
Parliament will get its own channel ("Parliament TV") soon.
Although the satellite and the terrestrial service will both have 18 channels initially, there is space for only 20 channels on the satellite[12] so fewer channels may be available on satellite than UHF in the future.[13] Prime's contracts with sports bodies preclude it from broadcasting sports programmes unencrypted on satellites, so Prime may only be available via terrestrial transmissions if it decides to join FreeView.[7]
[edit] Quality
| “ | The quality [of the signal] will be stunning. People wouldn't recognise it.… It's not what you get on Sky now, it's much better. | ” |
The government will let the broadcasters decide whether to broadcast in high definition.[12] TVNZ does not currently have plans on HDTV[14] while Prime will start broadcasting in high definition by February 2008.
[edit] Other content
An electronic programme guide[12] and the current TVNZ owned Teletext[15] will be available.
[edit] Technology
The satellite Optus D1[13] was successfully launched on 13 October 2006 at 20:56 GMT, satellite broadcasting covering the whole country will start in may 2007. UHF terrestrial broadcasting covering 75 percent of the population initially will be introduced over a 12 to 18 month period.[12] Terrestrial coverage may eventually reach 92 percent.[3]
Kordia will lease a transponder on Optus D1, which will be subleased to the FreeView broadcasters. Kordia will also broadcast the digital terrestrial signals using its existing towers.[12]
The broadcasters are currently discussing their broadcasting contracts with Kordia. This is being done individually instead of collectively under FreeView.[3]
New Zealand standardised on DVB in 2001 with NZS6610:2001. New Zealand's rugged topography means multipath is inevitable. ATSC cannot handle multipath well, so it was not chosen.[16] TVNZ said digital terrestrial will be broadcast in MPEG4 and satellite broadcasts will be in MPEG2. This means people who took part in the Auckland digital trial using terrestrial DVB-T MPEG2 receivers will need to change their receivers to DVB-T MPEG4 to receive terrestrial FreeView once officially launched in late 2007/early 2008.
FreeView will certify set-top boxes but will not sell them—this will be up to electronics retailers.[3]
FreeView is currently discussing with Telecom about the provision of IPTV over ADSL. [17]
[edit] Trials
TVNZ operated a test DVB-T broadcast from Waiatarua to the Auckland area. Five channels were available: TV ONE, TV2, DW-TV, CCTV-9 and a widescreen test channel.[18] the TVNZ digital trial on MPEG2 ended on the 14 December 2006 and MPEG4 will be available once launched in March 2008
TVNZ also has a DVB-S service on Optus D1. TV ONE, TV2, Māori TV and a widescreen test channel are all available. Transfer of the test channels to the Optus D1 satellite began on 1 February 2006, which also involved TVNZ changing its equipment to the new polarisation (vertical to horizontal).[19]
[edit] Finance
The government will pay up to NZ$25 million and provide free radio spectrum, estimated to be worth up to NZ$10 million, during the transition to digital.[1] The companies involved will pay the remaining $50 million.[8] The government claims a NZ$230 million benefit to the economy.[1] This is the second digital TV system attempted by the government. The first attempt in 2000 wasted NZ$6.8 million.[8] FreeView may turn into for-profit after the analogue switch off.[1]
It will cost Alt TV NZ$600,000 a year to broadcast on FreeView. Canterbury TV estimates it will need to pay NZ$1 million a year if it joins FreeView.[2]
[edit] Competition
Sky currently has a FTA package where channels similar to the ones available on FreeView are available from NZ$18.29 per month plus an installation fee.[20] It is generally used by people who cannot get a high quality signal from analogue terrestrial free-to-air broadcasting.[5] Sky stands to lose around 90,000 customers as FreeView provides a similar service for a one off fee only. However, as only twenty channels are available on the satellite for FreeView, and only four new channels are estimated at launch, Sky will probably be unaffected. [21] A Sky dish can be used to receive FreeView but a separate set-top box may be required.[5][22]
[edit] Political reaction
The Green Party said it wants more funding for New Zealand made programmes, a local content quota, a public service channel, and cheaper set-top boxes.[23] The government said that no extra funding would be available, a quota is not necessary and the technology will get cheaper over time.[24]
The National Party said it thought of the idea first and it wants more details from the government.[25]
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e New Zealand Government (2006-06-15). Free-to-air digital TV to begin roll-out. Press release. Retrieved on 2006-06-15.
- ^ a b c "Free to air set to cost $700".
- ^ a b c d e Maharey, Steve et al. (2006). Free-To-Air Digital Announcement video [Press conference].
- ^ Independent Broadcaster Signed. OpenMedia. Retrieved on July 17, 2006.
- ^ a b c d Trevett, Claire. "18 TV channels and it's all free", NZ Herald, 2006-06-15.
- ^ a b c McKenzie-Minifie, Martha. "Please adjust your set for a digital revolution", New Zealand Herald, APN Holdings NZ Ltd, 2006-07-29. Retrieved on July 29, 2006.
- ^ a b Drinnan, John. "Prime Television delays moving to Freeview", The National Business Review, 2006-06-23. Retrieved on July 20, 2006.
- ^ a b c d "Digital TV critics warn more channels may dilute quality", Stuff, 2006-06-15.
- ^ Parker, Stephen (Reporter). (2006). Free-to-air Digital TV [TV-News]. TV3.
- ^ Brown, Russell; Price, Steven (May 2006). The Future of Media Regulation in NZ: Is There One? (PDF) 20. Broadcasting Standards Authority. Retrieved on July 7, 2006.
- ^ Drinnan, John. "Media bytes: Sub-leasing on Freeview", The National Business Review, 2006-08-04. Retrieved on August 4, 2006.
- ^ a b c d e New Zealand Government (2006-06-15). Free-to-Air Digital TV: Questions and Answers. Press release. Retrieved on 2006-06-15.
- ^ a b THL Group (2006-06-15). Government says 'yes' to a digital future for NZ. Press release. Retrieved on 2006-06-15.
- ^ a b Freisen, Rick; Ellis, Rick. (2006). Digital TV on its way [TV-Show]. TV ONE.
- ^ FreeView Digital Broadcasting Information Summarised FAQ. Free-To-Air Digital Television - TVNZ (2006). Retrieved on June 15, 2006.
- ^ Transmission Platforms. Digital Television Discussion Document 2001. Retrieved on July 7, 2006.
- ^ Pullar-Strecker, Tom. "Sky watches broadband move", Stuff, 2006-07-24.
- ^ Digital Terrestrial. FreeView Equipment Shop. Retrieved on July 7, 2006.
- ^ Major changes to the NZ FreeView DTH service tonight. MythTV NZ. Retrieved on February 1, 2007.
- ^ Can I temporarily disconnect SKY when I'm away on holiday?. Sky TV frequently asked questions. Retrieved on June 20, 2006.
- ^ Poland, Owen (Reporter). (2006). Freeview TV to hit Sky hard [TV-News]. TV ONE.
- ^ "TV viewers may need two boxes", Stuff, 2006-07-03.
- ^ Green Party (2006-06-15). Digital TV good news but local content essential. Press release. Retrieved on 2006-06-17.
- ^ Digital Television—Local Content Funding. Hansard, Questions for oral answer (2006-06-20). Retrieved on July 26, 2006.
- ^ New Zealand National Party (2006-06-15). Picture on digital TV plans still blurry. Press release. Retrieved on 2006-06-17.
[edit] External links
- Official Site
- TVNZ digital TV site
- Ministry for Culture and Hertiage on digital TV (includes a cost-benefit analysis)
- Ministry of Economic Development on digital TV
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