Conroy to firm digital switch
Communications Minister introduces a Bill to make the switch from analogue to digital television smoother.
- Published by David Knox
- on
- Filed under News
Communications Minister Stephen Conroy introduced a bill in the Senate today to provide a “firm timetable” for the switch-over from analogue to digital reception to be set for December 31, 2013.
Under current laws, dates are set according to the television broadcasting licence areas and a ‘simulcast period’ where broadcasters in a region transmit on both digital and analogue platforms until the analogue transmission ceases.
The simulcast period is currently set to end on December 31, 2009 for metropolitan areas and March 31 or December 31 in non-remote regional areas, depending on the licence area.
“These dates are not appropriate for a smooth transition to digital-only television,” Senator Conroy said.
The law would also give the minister powers to determine which local market areas could be switched over, the dates for the switchover, and a window period of up to six months for it to take place.
“A firm timetable to implement switch-over will provide certainty for consumers and industry in the transition to digital,” Senator Conroy said.
Source: The Australian
10 Responses
We’re still waiting on HD from 9 & 10 in the widebay!
If they just made the switch at the end of 2009 and stuck to the original timeframe then people would hurry up and buy digital set top boxes or digital tv’s or whatever their situation required. As long as the television networks work together to advertise the transition then people will realize and make the transition.
DON’T CHANGE THE DEADLINE, we’re already beginning to lag behind the US.
Just a question. I have a Digital HD TV…, but theres also anologue channels on it somewhere. So will they just disappear? Cuz i really don’t need them and want to get rid of them.
Digital uptake is around 50% with HD being around 25-30%
PVR uptake around 7%
Digital TV’s are plummeting in price. I bought a 51cm flat screen TV 10 years ago for a few hundred bucks. You can now get a plasma/lcd for the same price, albeit not full HD.
They should make the switch this year. I cant believe tv, dvd records and vcrs are still being sold with analouge tuners. It should be banned.
Are there any reliable statistics on how many households do not view digital TV already? Are they still actively trying to convince everyone to switch?
Not counting the regions that don’t have digital coverage, that is.
Sydney! Ha, that being said. Who would, nowadays, afford the cost of buying digital televisions? Set top boxes are way cheaper.
I think this will lead to a version of the US model (where the city of Wilmington, has already switched as a dry run of the US switchoff in early 2009).
But where would be the perfect candidate to go fully digital first, under that model?
JUST MAKE THE SWITCH SOONER!!!
Does this mean that ALL TV’s that are not digital or hd will not work (unless you buy a digital set up box)???
I hope this is the case… out with the old… in with the new 🙂