Land of confusion

The next stage of the Freeview marketing campaign begins on April 27th, and Freeview-branded TV sets, set-top boxes and digital video recorders go on sale on May 1st.

Freeview itself has a process of rolling out in stages, with no clear date on when all its aspects of new channels and available equipment will be in sync.

TEN’s new channel ONE launches March 26th, while Seven and Nine are yet to indicate movement on their new secondary channels.

But confusion reigns in the land of Freeview. Sharp Australia’s marketing director Laurie Nolan said he was concerned consumers would not understand exactly what Freeview was offering.

“One area of concern is that the ad campaign is misleading consumers to believe 15 new channels will be launched when there are already 12,” he told The Australian.

“The other concern I have is that it’s talking about 15 channels as if there are 15 channels of new content. Yes, there are some differences between the SD and HD channels, but generally it’s the same stuff.”

Mr Nolan said Sharp was negotiating with Freeview on production of licensed products.

“We are having ongoing discussions about the specifications and possible accreditation of Sharp TV receivers … and about the licence agreement in the hope of achieving a satisfactory outcome,” he said.

“Whether we like them or not, and whether we adopt them or not, no comment.”

Meanwhile Freeview chief executive Robin Parkes also said last week’s Smarthouse article was “factually incorrect” but confirmed that the Freeview specifications ruled out the use of a jump button that would allow viewers to skip through ads 30 seconds at a time.

“People need to remember free-to-air is free because it is funded by advertisers.”

Source: The Australian