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Freeview confirmed for 2009

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NOTE: There are now later posts on the state of play for Freeview than this story, please refer via search function or News posts.

Freeview will launch in Australian in 2009.

The ABC, SBS, the Seven Network, the Nine Network, Network TEN, Prime, WIN and Southern Cross have joined forces to deliver the free-to-air digital television platform. The media companies will comprise a new not-for-profit organisation, chaired by the ABC’s Kim Dalton.

Freeview will offer 15 television channels from free-to-air broadcasters on digital platforms, including new channels from the big three commercial networks. It will not include subscription TV.

Freeview operates in the UK with an EPG at no cost to viewers, with no satellite dish, no subscription, no ties, no contracts, and no installation costs.

Press Release:
Australia’s free-to-air commercial television networks together with the nation’s public broadcasters today formally announced the establishment of Freeview.

The consortium has been formed to help drive take-up of the free-to-air digital television platform in Australia.

Freeview shareholders include 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 not-for-profit organisation.

Mr Kim Dalton says Freeview will work to ensure all Australians continue to enjoy the great range of programming offered by free-to-air broadcasters as the nation transitions from the 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,” Mr Dalton said.

From next year, Government legislation will allow the commercial free-to-air networks to broadcast an additional standard definition (SD) channel each, in addition to their primary SD channels, and their recently added high definition (HD) channels. The three new channels, together with the two ABC and two SBS channels and their respective HD channels, will bring to 15 the suite of channels to be marketed under the Freeview umbrella.

To receive all the Freeview channels, consumers will need an HD digital-set-top box, digital video recorder or an integrated digital television.

Freeview will be launching an awareness campaign in the coming months to ensure consumers are ready for when the full suite of 15 Freeview channels are available next year.

Ahead of the launch, Freeview is working with manufacturers to ensure appropriate technical standards are met on all television or digital set-top-box equipment that will carry the Freeview badge.

Freeview will work closely with all relevant areas of Government to ensure consistent messaging.

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131 Responses

  1. Who cares? – I don’t watch tv as it’s all controlled by big brother in cyberspace and one day our minds will be set to conformist niews and attitudes unregognisable from extra-terrestrial aliens transmitting mind altering, super-sonic plasma rays. Ca Pish!!

  2. There have been a couple of Q about the new system being broadcast via Satellite. Can anyone answer that Q I and many others in regional areas would like to know as well I suspect. These people are quiet mainly because they rarely get considered whenever something new is out. eg Internet access [now off again as New Govt have pirated the funds set aside].

  3. Freeview, what a joke. Is “Free to Air” free, you buy a TV, you buy a Digital Set Top Box, you pay for you electricity and you are bombarded with ads selling something. The channel programmers are unable to make a decision on a programmes time slot that lasts more than 24 hours, endless repeats (even of a good show, displays disrespect of the viewers). They start the new season of a show then take it off air after one episode and then bring back a month later saying it has been “fast tracked” for your viewing pleasure. Digital is a joke, a little wind or rain and the signal is lost.
    I just see the extra channels as more of the same old, same old. There is no imagination used in this country by the networks, the programmers can not see past their own likes and dislikes and do not get me started on so called reality TV, what is real about it, you only see what the network wants you to see (heavy editing) and once a camera is involved how much do people act as themselves and not act up to the camera, the observer always affects the observed.

    Davout

  5. I am disagreeing with Mark above. I live in Wodonga. Our local TV stations here although situated in Albury actually hold Victorian licences. Only the evening news is from Melbourne. All the late news, the Current Affairs shows, and the Morning Shows all come out of Sydney. Even the Pay TV News is from Sydney. He has not got a lot to complain about.

  6. The cynic in me is inclined to say hype. ABC2 has some good stuff. ONE HD promises 24 / 7 sport. Seven and Nine are yet to indicate the direction of their new digital channels.

    There are later posts on the state of play for Freeview, please refer via search function or News posts.

  7. It all sounded great but from what I can see it seems it’s what we are getting now,the HD channels now mostly show the same as digital anyway ,so are the new channels going to have new programming or is it all just hype?????? Kate

  9. Will regional viewers in Albury Wodonga get free view? Will people lviing in border towns be able to get programs form the capital city of their state? I live in Albury and only get Sydney news when there’s a state or federal elction. Otherwise we are bombarded with tripe from Melbourne. Even our fuel,grocceriesetc. all come from Melbourne!

  10. whats the bet we dont get it here in portland, vic. we dont even have digital tele , even though all the towns around us do. portland is hopless. when are we going to catch up to the rest of the state, let alone the world. !

  11. What’s the bet that after a trial period only freeview badged (or enabled) PVR/DVR
    will work with the 7 day EPG.And what’s the bet that these PVR/DVR will be
    doctored up so that skipping ad breaks will be a thing of the past.Also recording
    to the Hard Drive with some kind of copy protection will be the go.Check out
    the UK or NZ freeview service and you will see the smoke and mirrors the
    Australian Networks are playing at eg Do people in rural Australia really believe
    they will getting 15 free channels with this gimmick.

  12. I live in an area which has a lot of ironstone and granite outcrops which make terrestial antenna’s almost useless. Will this new system be availabke on Satelite?

  14. Why does freeview have so many un used channels ie smiletv when smiletv2 sells sex cant you put some thing better on and not that which cons people out of money. Also more film channels. Less chat channels ie rabbit its another rip off channel. More channels would be better and not selling channels.

  15. It seems to me that all these extra channels are not new.
    Remembering back to when digital TV was first switched on we had 3 ABC channels. ABC (local), ABC Fly & ABC kids, other channels broadcast multiview on their extra channels from time to time. That lasted for a short while then they all reverted to a single channel each. One step forward, two steps backs???
    Digital can cause as many problems as it resolves. Just ask people who have recently purchaed digital TV’s only to find they cannot receive certain channels, or pixelation of channels because of parameter setting in their TV firmware.

  16. Yipee!
    More channels to have endless repeats and bad programing on!!
    I hope the two or three new channels will have the same ethics, and promise new episodes and then not really deliver them.. I love hanging on by a thread for things the rest of the world has already seen.
    Ahh it’s good to be handed a few crumbs and forget that the rest of the world is eating steak sandwiches..

  17. hello anyone,I love digital TV but need some answers too.
    Well if there is something to be done is fix the pixel flickering and the audio to picture tuning for most people with analogue.It is a kick in the pants for technology as even plasma and LCD have the same problem unless you move so far back from the tv to ignore it.Well unless you have over sized your set so it takes the majority of the wall as the movies.Still looks like a Japanese movie and puts you off.Are there going to be safe guards not to loose reception during light storms or just windy gusty days which reek havov with set top boxs and inbuilt tuners as they are easily spiked.The other thing is nearly every one needs to get a Digital antenna and not have a fm/uhf diplexer as they allow ghosting and rust out after 3 yrs.
    Anyhow pleased to hear any help on my Qs dude happy viewing for every one.

  20. These channels aren’t going to make much of a difference to what we already have on HD tuner so it’s not something really ‘new’.. Looks like only 2 ‘new’ channels.

    I love that the kids can get ABC Kids. Yes.. alot of the channels are similar, though at different times, different programs are on. Just have to look. We don’t have to pay for a TV license over here as they have to in the UK so I think it’s fair that they get more channels.

  22. 15 new channels so that is 3 for each network, TEN is releasing a new sports channel called ONE HD in 2009 so that is one of there 3 extra channels I assume.

    The current EPG works fine and there is no need to change it, SBS do how ever need to get there act together and provide a 7 day guide.

    Prime need to loose there 3 prime view channels which are all the same as the main Prime channel and are just a waste.

    It is good that we don’t need to upgrade our gear.

  23. just would like to know of the availability of these new digital chanels,for example at the moment where i live we have no access to current HD channels that are available to people in the city metro areas.will country areas be an acception, or is that up to our current TV station provider.any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
    signed not getting hopes up

  25. we jus bought a tivo on saturday now this free view comes to light. What will be better shall i take tivo back. Will freeview epg be live unlike tivos only updated daily? Cheers

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