Digital legislation passes

Despite other political distractions, the government yesterday passed the Broadcasting Legislation Amendment (Digital Television) Bill 2010 which provides for the new Viewer Access Satellite Television service (VAST) for digital television blackspot areas.

“The Government is providing $375.4 million over 12 years to fund the new digital television satellite service,” Senator Conroy has said.

The satellite service will provide viewers in remote areas and those in reception blackspots with access to the same number of digital television channels, including multi-channels – such as ABC2, ABC3, SBS TWO, 7TWO, GO! and ONE HD – as is currently available in the capital cities.

“It will also carry the new ABC 24 hour news channel when it is launched later this year, and will provide access to the local news from regional commercial television broadcasters via a dedicated news channel.

“This is a fantastic outcome for viewers in regional, rural and remote Australia, many of whom have put up with poor reception and a very limited choice of television services for many years,” he said.

The legislation also introduces measures to assist regional broadcasters in regional South Australia, Griffith and Broken Hill to provide an increased number of digital channels.

Current exemptions from the Australian Content Standard, Children’s Television Standard and captioning requirements on multi-channels will be extended until digital switchover is completed. A review of content and captioning rules will be conducted before 31 December 2012.

“The Australian Communications and Media Authority will be empowered to develop technical standards that will make it possible for viewers to receive services additional to commercial and national television – such as community and narrowcast services – using the same set-top box as is used to receive VAST,” he said.

Next week marks the first switch off in regional Australia when the Mildura region flicks the switch from analogue to digital televison.