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TVS welcomes digital broadcasts

Following its test broadcasts last week, Sydney's TVS has become the first Community TV station to begin simulcasting.

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Following its test broadcasts last week, Sydney’s TVS has become the first Community TV station to begin simulcasting, available on Digital Channel 44.

Stations in Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne and Perth are also due to commence digital transmissions in the coming months.

The move follows a long campaign by community broadcasters which saw the government allocate vacant spectrum previously known as Channel A to community stations until the switch to digital-only television in 2013. It also allocated $2.6 million to assist stations to meet the costs of digital transmissions.

“All these new digital channels mean a much greater range of viewing choices,” TVS Chief Executive, Laurie Patton said.

“We see TVS as an ‘incubator’ where creative producers can afford to experiment with new concepts and develop new talent

“We expect that simulcasting will significantly increase audiences and confirm a permanent place for Community Television in the emerging world of multi-channel free-to-air television,” he said.

“We are committed to local programming and we look forward to hearing from prospective program makers now that we are available on both digital and analogue.”

17 Responses

  1. Hi Folks,

    I have enjoyed watching TVS on Analogue but since I purchased a Digital tv this year the channell is not appearing.

    Is there something I can do to watch this great provider?

    Norman Scott
    Terrigal
    NSW

  2. @Mydoona AFAIK the TVS digital signal is only being broadcast from the Gore Hill transmitter so if your aerial is aimed at Kings Cross or Manly or Illawarra or somewhere else you probably won’t get it. Try and do a manual scan on UHF channel 29.

  4. Thanks for clearing that up!! I thought they would extend the channels nationally not end them. It would be a good thing for people to convert to digital.

  5. Oh – and as for why Digital Forty-Four is being discontinued: it was only ever a trial. It just got extended many times over and finally the government has decided to end it.

    1. TVS advises: ACMA recently extended the Sydney-only Datacasting trial until the end of April, but stated that this would be the last extension. Thus, all the narrowcast channels involved in the trial will cease broadcasting at that time. These channels currently use Logical Channel Numbers in the 40 range (e.g. The Australian Christian Channel can be found on Channel 46). TVS has just commenced its digital service using LCN 44. At the moment TVS is therefore surrounded by a suite of narrowcast channels that will disappear at the end of April.

  6. @Nialla Just to clarify for those who are confused about Digital Forty-Four and TVS – TVS is on LCN (logical channel number) 44, but is being broadcast on UHF29. The D44 datacast trial — which does not include TVS — is broadcast on UHF35, and these services are the ones being discontinued.

  9. vinny,
    You can enjoy programs on TVS in widescreen when watching on digital (where programs have actually been filmed in widescreen). The channel is in Standard Definition.

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