New license areas for satellite service
Three new commercial television license areas will be formed with the establishment of the government's intended new satellite TV service to remote areas.
- Published by David Knox
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Three new commercial television license areas will be formed with the establishment of the government’s intended new satellite TV service to remote areas:
-Northern Australia – encompassing the Northern Territory and Queensland
-South Eastern Australia – encompassing the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania and Victoria
-Western Australia.
Senator Stephen Conroy introduced legislation into Parliament today to assist viewers in remote digital blackspots, as part of the switch from analogue television. The satellite system, estimated at $40m a year, was announced in January.
“The Bill will help broadcasters provide the same number of digital television services to all Australians wherever they live, whether they access television through terrestrial transmission or via satellite,” Senator Conroy said.
“The legislation also requires commercial broadcasters to provide all local news and information programs to the satellite service licensee, and will ensure that viewers who rely on satellite are able to access their local news as soon as possible after bulletins commence on the terrestrial channel.”
The Government will refer the legislation to the Senate Environment, Communications and the Arts Committee.
A subsidy was also flagged in January for ‘eligible households,’ estimated at 247,000, towards the installation of domestic satellite dishes.
Source: dbcde
9 Responses
@Kuttsywood: There are a few reasons as to why more license areas are better. Timezone differences would be less of an issue; NRL can now be primetime in the northern states; and customised advertising for each license would be a big plus for the networks.
Also, I don’t think the local news channels are designed to relay news services from all three metro networks. It’s designed to relay local news from regional terrestrial-only networks that have satellite viewers close-by.
@Nudge: Your ability to get ABC from multiple states will never be affected if you use the Optus D1 satellite sitting about 4 degrees away from Optus C1. 🙂
If you read the legislation:
New licence – South East Australia TV3 – is for existing licences and joint ventures in Remote Central and Eastern Australia TV1, Remote Central and Eastern Australia TV2, and Mt Isa. (Imparja and SC)
New licence – Northern Australia TV3 – is for existing licences joint ventures in Remote Central and Eastern Australia TV1, Remote Central and Eastern Australia TV2, and Mt Isa. (Imparja and SC)
New licence – Western Australia TV3 – is for existing licences joint ventures in Remote and Regional WA TV1, Western Zone TV1, Kalgoorlie TV1, Geraldton TV1, and South West and Great Southern TV1. (GWN and WIN)
The existing licensees have to apply for the new licences and the legislation seems to imply that Imparja and Southern Cross will be in a joint venture for the third FTA licence in their areas – there will be no auction.
I don’t care what they do as long as they don’t stuff my ability to get ABC Sydney and Queensland via satellite here in WA,but I suspect they will not be able to help themselves.
It will be interesting to see sports like AFL, NRL and cricket will be covered on the new satellite TV service.
@Kuttsywood: the DVD for season 1 of Underbelly is already available in NT and Queensland so it does not matter whether or not it will be shown on Imparja. Victoria is the only state to miss out so far.
In other words: I, (and a lot of others) are confused. What will dividing the current Eastern and Central remote market, into two markets really achieve?
If it means Imparja can screen Underbelly, so be it, but it would be a costly exercise, for SC and Imparja to double their equipment (providing a feed that airs Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide news, alongside their current split with Brisbane/Darwin news), as well as providing a third commercial network, for the newly split market.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but:
– It’s not new licenses, just new areas. That means that if you are in a blackspot in NSW you will get the same FTA channels on satellite as someone in a blackspot in SA and Victoria.
– I’m guessing this means the channels won’t be on Foxtel, as the FTA networks will want to keep doing advertising just for each capital city.
Not new channels, but the license areas are as per the govt. announcement.
So us northern NSW people have to continue to put up with poor digital reception. Yeah thanks a million Senator!
I can see what these markets will entail:
WA-remains as current, including upcoming 10 J/V.
SE Australia (former southern half of Eastern and Central Australia satellite market)- three new satellite broadcasters.
Northern Australia (former northern half of Eastern and Central Australia satellite market)- One new satellite broadcaster (a 10/One affiliate), auctioned off at the same time, as the SE Australia licences.