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Tasmanian TV channel changes in October

Tasmanian viewers will soon be taken directly to the high-definition channels, but some older TV sets may be affected.

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From Thursday, 5 October, Tasmanian  TV networks are re-order their channel lineup, but most viewers will not notice any change.

Free TV CEO Bridget Fair said: “As part of our ongoing efforts to meet the needs of our audience, we are making the highest-quality versions of our services easier for Tasmanians to find. From October, viewers will be taken directly to the high-definition, rather than the standard-definition, versions of the services.

“No one should lose access to the TV services. In fact, the only change most people will notice is that their free local TV services now look and sound even better.

“The changes are part of ongoing upgrades to local TV transmissions, which have already seen a range of secondary channels (such as 7mate, 9GEM, 10Bold and SBS WorldWatch) move to the more efficient, MPEG-4 digital technology,” Ms Fair said.

Most viewers will not notice any change, which will affect ABC, SBS, 7 Tas, WIN and 10 Tas main channel. However, a small number of viewers with old TVs might need to go to a different channel number to keep watching their free local TV services. This is because some older sets might not be able to properly display MPEG-4 high-definition channels.

“These upgrades are intended to improve picture quality and choice of TV services, including a wider range of channels offering the high-definition picture quality that more and more viewers expect,” she said.

“Viewers whose old TV sets are not ready for MPEG-4 are already missing out on some channels and high-definition pictures, which are all available for free,” said Ms Fair.

Beginning in September, community service announcements on all affected channels will publicise the change with a website and an online video so viewers can check.

“From early September through to the end of October we have also set up call centre support with a free-call number, 1800 489 755, to troubleshoot any problems viewers might encounter,” said Ms Fair.

While most viewers are not affected, those who get a black screen, or an error message, will need to use the two-digit channel numbers to find the primary TV services after 5 October. The new channel numbers are:

Viewers who need to use the new channel numbers to continue watching the services in Standard Definition might like to know, that they are missing out on the highest quality pictures and the full range of additional channels.

For those who might already be considering updating their TV, investing in a new TV is the simplest way to access the full range of high-definition programming and multi-channels available in Tasmania.

For those who wish to retain their current TVs, set-top boxes offer a much cheaper solution. These devices, obtainable from electronics stores at an affordable price point, should ensure future access to the full free-to-air TV offering while using an old TV receiver.

For the time being, the Standard Definition versions of all five primary channels will continue to be available to all viewers, as the TV networks have no current plans to convert these services to MPEG-4.

It is hoped the Tasmanian channel changes will furnish valuable information to TV broadcasters about the extent of any continuing reliance on much older TV sets, as the industry looks for ways to improve the free-to-air TV offering in future.

freetv.com.au

6 Responses

  1. I like my old TV…it has a good picture…works well…I dont get HD….but my 32 inch PC monitor does….I like the look of the black frame…not at all keen on he newer TV with no frame….just my taste….

    1. If you prefer watching old 80’s shows and movies having an older TV does have some arguable benefits, these older TV’s lack picture brightness so wont show many specular highlights, they also have four times less pixels than a 4K TV, which even with built in upscaling will still make most older standard definition video look pixelated and blurred. I know that my own conversion to an OLED TV took a while, I was not enthusiastic about the prospect of burn in, or image retention, but once you use this relatively new TV tech nothing else compares as far as detail and viewer experience is concerned, especially in UHD and SDR which is the best setting for everyday linear HD TV viewing.

  2. I must be missing something. Wouldn’t it be easier to leave the SD channels where they are, no fiddling, no new TV’s, no fuss and give the HD simulcasts their own (logical) channel numbers? Basically they are forcing Taswegians to watch a higher quality picture. The number of complaints may determine the Govt’s attitude to phasing out SD simulcasts on the “main” channels.

    1. SD channels will be phased out eventually and there’s so many people who would never thing to go searching for a HD channel and just put up with the grainy SD channel.

  3. Leilani I don’t believe that there are many TV’s being sold without 4K capability now, even the cheaper one’s, the operating systems commonly featured for apps do need UHD. Curiously I discovered a 2021 newspaper article that declared; ‘Australian’s can snatch up a little known government rebate in NSW. Those pensioners, veterans, or Centrelink card holders can get a 50% discount on a new TV if they trade-in an old plasma or CRT model to buy an energy efficient Smart TV model.’ The Appliance Replacement Offer ended on June 30 of that year, this offer went viral when it was shown on TikTok. If NSW can do it, then so can Tasmania for all those suffering from watching an ancient and energy inefficient CRT TV, plasma’s were quite expensive too. All that energy saved will save them money in the long run.

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