TDT (TV station)

Tasmanian Digital Television (TDT, callsign TDT-11) is a digital television station in Tasmania, Australia. It is jointly owned by the WIN Corporation and Macquarie Media Group, and largely managed by WIN Television.

Introduction

In Australia, the major capital cities, and a majority of the regional areas, are served by three commercial broadcasters. However, some less populated areas are only granted two licenses (and until the early 2000s, one in some cases). This is because the Australian Broadcasting Authority (ABA) believes that there is not enough advertising revenue in some areas to keep three broadcasters afloat.

In 2002, WIN Television, who had a Nine Network affiliation in Tasmania, and Southern Cross Broadcasting, who held dual Seven and Ten Network affiliations, lodged a joint application under the Broadcasting Services Act (1992) to establish a third commercial broadcaster in Tasmania. The application, by TasTV Pty Ltd (not to be confused with the former name of WIN Television in Tasmania) was successful.

TDT was the first digital-only commercial channel in Australia. TDT's effect on the digital television market in Tasmania was widely anticipated, as success or failure would strongly guide the digital plans of other broadcasters.

TDT began broadcasting on VHF channel 11 from Mount Wellington in Hobart in late December 2003, and on UHF to north-eastern Tasmania (including Launceston) in August 2004, and in 2006 Kelcey Tier, Devonport. Rollout is expected to continue to the rest of the state, including the rest of the north-west coast, the west coast and the east coast before the digital switchover in 2013.

It was a resounding success. Sales of set-top-boxes and digital televisions exploded.

Further expansion around the state will occur at the same time the existing analogue FTA broadcasters start digital services. A high definition version of the service was launched in April 2005 and broadcasts using the 1080i format.

As part of the joint venture, Southern Cross Broadcasting is responsible for handling playout (from their Canberra facility), and transmits this signal via satellite to WIN Television transmission facilities in Tasmania. WIN Television handle the business administration and advertising sales for TDT.

Programming

There was significant public speculation about what programming the new station would carry. One of two options was suggested; Southern Cross would drop one of its affiliations (either Seven or Ten) and TDT would pick it up; or TDT would also become a dual Seven and Ten affiliate, and carry the programs that Southern Cross didn't broadcast.

Southern Cross didn't want to disrupt its existing programming, so the agreement TDT signed with the Ten Network still allows Southern Cross to have 'first pick' of Ten programming. If both networks wish to broadcast a program, Southern Cross must broadcast it at the same time as TDT. If Southern Cross wishes to broadcast a Ten program at a different time, TDT will often show repeats or substitute programming instead. Examples of this include Thank God You're Here, The Bold and the Beautiful, and The Wedge. Huey's Cooking Adventures was an exception, with both networks screening it at different times.

From its initial broadcast in late December 2003, to late January 2004, TDT showed a direct feed of ATV-10 in Melbourne. Southern Cross dropped Rove Live and Totally Wild in 2004, Big Brother in 2006, The Bold and the Beautiful in 2007, Hueys Cooking Adventures, Australian Idol and Thank God You're Here in 2008 (though it was brought back in 2009 with its move to Seven), and Neighbours and The Simpsons in 2009, TDT now broadcast these shows. Southern Cross as of 2009 does not show any Ten programming, except for AFL telecasts, and is almost fully aligned with Seven.

During the AFL season, Ten News is presented by George Donikian in Melbourne, Adelaide, Hobart & Perth on Saturday nights at 6:00pm, as well as a local edition of Sports Tonight. On Sunday, Ten News is presented by Natarsha Belling from TEN-10 Sydney.

For the 2010 Commonwealth Games (which Network Ten has terrestrial broadcasting rights) on One HD, TDT will use its digital channel 5 for the coverage.

In 2011, TEN Evening News Melbourne is broadcast on TEN Tasmania airs on weekends at 6pm.

Main Transmitters

Notes:

• 1. HAAT estimated from http://www.itu.int/SRTM3/ using EHAAT.

News

In 2012, the station began airing short local news updates, produced by Southern Cross Television's Canberra based news division, Southern Cross News. The segments draw on the resources of both the Tasmanian based Southern Cross News and WIN News operations.

Availability

Tasmanian Digital Television is simulcast in digital standard definition and 720p high definition (One HD). TDT is broadcast in most areas across Tasmania. TDT is an affiliate of Network Ten and One, carries their branding and most programs.

See also

• Darwin Digital Television
• Mildura Digital Television Victoria
• Southern Cross Television
• Southern Cross Ten
• Television broadcasting in Australia

External links

• Tasmanian Digital Television
• Southern Cross Austereo