Time to retune TVs in Sydney
On Tuesday viewers in Sydney will need to retune their digital TV, set-top box or digital TV recorder to find SBS.
- Published by David Knox
- on
- Filed under News
On Tuesday viewers in Sydney will need to retune their digital TV, set-top box or digital TV recorder to find SBS on its new frequency.
This follows other areas around Australia having already undergone the retune process.
The retune is a relatively simple process. Just press “menu” on your remote and look for the “auto tune” or “channel search” option. In most cases, this should only take viewers a few minutes. You may also find it useful to consult your manual on how to retune your digital TV equipment.
Some digital TV equipment will automatically detect changes to the channels and retune itself, or it may prompt viewers to retune in order to retain access to all the free-to-air channels.
For further information about the retune, viewers can go to the SBS website where a dedicated FAQ page has been set up which will be available until the end of March, 2014.
For further assistance with retuning your digital TV equipment or any other enquiries about the retune, please call the Digital Ready Information Line on 1800 20 10 13, 8am to 10pm (AEDST) seven days, or visit the Retune Website (www.digitalready.gov.au/retune).
If viewers still require further assistance after calling the Digital Ready Information Line, they can call the SBS on 1800 500 727.
The retune project takes place across Australia at a number of transmission sites, and is due to be completed by the end of 2014.
Why is the retune happening?
As the final step in Australia’s transition from analogue to digital-only TV, some TV channels are changing frequencies in order to free up broadcasting spectrum, to make room for new services. You might lose some (or all) of your channels if you don’t retune.
What do I have to do?
You will have to retune your TV, set top box or digital recorder. This is a relatively simple process. You can retune through your device’s settings by going to MENU then following the prompts to reset/restore factory settings and then retune/rescan.
It should only take a few minutes. If you need help retuning visit australia.gov.au/retune or call: 1800 20 10 13
When is the right time to retune?
While the actual date of the Sydney retune is March 18, viewers are advised to retune before and familiarise themselves with the process. Then we recommend that they go through the process again on or shortly after March 18 for Sydney viewers.
Why is the retune necessary?
Retuning allows your digital equipment to receive TV channels on their new frequencies. The channels are moving to make way for new services.
If you are watching TV via an antenna (rather than through satellite or Foxtel), you will need to retune your equipment to keep receiving all the digital TV channels. Some equipment will automatically detect changes to the channels and retune itself or it may prompt you to retune the equipment.
How will this affect my ABC TV channels?
For most people there will be no impact on the ABC TV channels, however if you have a TV which doesn’t let you know about new channels and you’ve not retuned in many years you might be missing out on the various TV channels the ABC offers free-to-air so it’s always good to re-tune now and then to check that you’re getting all the latest channels.
Is SBS the only channel that is undergoing the Retune in Sydney?
Yes, this is because SBS is the only channel still on the on the UHF frequency with the shift from analogue to digital TV.. So with this retune SBS moves into the same channel space as the other networks ensuing a consistent coverage for all channels, and a larger block of spectrum for the government to use for other purposes…
7 Responses
I’m in Northern Sydney and didn’t lose SBS on either the TV or DVR. Maybe they did it automatically.
Done. All I did was enter the new frequency on a manual scan (184.5MHz). No need to do a full scan.
P.S. Lastly thank you David for this. I’m sure many silent readers and viewers find this kind of thing very helpful.
I’m glad SBS is being more helpful for Sydney than us. Because I had to use an outside search engine to find the information on their website. I tried their search engine and it was hopeless because it said to look up the Transmission page but didn’t put a link to find it. That said couldn’t they list the “Retune FAQ” up the top so people could find it right away.
I guess there is no perfect day to do this but I’m surprised they chose a Tuesday. Also what is dumb is supposedly about 20% of Australian adults are illiterate. So how is the retune meant to be in any way simple for them? That’s not even counting how many don’t know how to operate remotes and technology generally. Actually I don’t claim to know everything especially when the manuals don’t even list the information. But I guess the user needs to be mind readers. I can guess sensible stuff. But not everything is.
Can’t see SBS picking up community television channels unless they can offer wads of cash – just like NITV… Say goodbye to community television as we know it!
Unless of course someone like SBS that took NITV and sat them under their umbrella,which means if its a commercial station giving up one of its shopping channels and we know that’s not going to happen
“this is because SBS is the only channel still on the UHF frequency with the shift from analogue to digital TV.”
Except of course for community television, which is still stranded out on UHF for the foreseeable future (i.e. until Malcolm Turnbull closes it down).