Freeview (New Zealand)
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| Freeview Limited | |
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| Type | Digital television provider |
| Founded | 2007 |
| Headquarters |  Auckland City, New Zealand |
| Website | www.freeviewnz.tv |
Freeview is a non-profit organization providing free-to-air digital television and digital radio to New Zealand. The Freeview service is available via satellite throughout New Zealand. Freeview's terrestrial service, Freeview|HD, is a high definition digital terrestrial television service available to 75 percent of the country's population.
Freeview was designed to overcome the poor reception caused by New Zealand's rugged topography, and to provide New Zealanders higher-quality digital TV and radio. The service will also provide a choice of more free channels, crystal-clear video and improved sound quality, interactive content[1], and high-definition. This will prepare New Zealand for analogue switchoff, planned for when 75 percent of households have access to the service, or 2012, whichever is sooner.[2].
A DVB-compliant set-top box, TV tuner card or digital capable TV, and a satellite dish (for Freeview) or UHF antenna (for Freeview|HD), are required to receive Freeview. Certified set-top boxes typically cost NZ$250 to $300 for satellite, and $400 to $600 for terrestrial, but uncertified generic DVB receivers costing as little as $150 are available.
Freeview uses the DVB-S and DVB-T standards on government provided spectrum. The government will also pay $25 million, about one third of the total cost.
It was estimated that on 14 April 2008, 100,000 New Zealand homes, or about 6%, had access to the Freeview and Freeview|HD service[3]. This makes it New Zealand's third largest television platform, and New Zealand's second largest digital platform.
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[edit] History
It was announced on June 15, 2006 that Freeview's free-to-air digital TV service would be available via satellite (DVB-S) from mid-2007 and terrestrial transmissions (DVB-T) from mid-2008. Freeview's marketing campaign began on April 23, 2007 through a website and four TV advertisements shown on Freeview's shareholders' TV channels, using the slogan "Make bad reception a thing of the past", showing people using proverbial substitutes for rabbit ears for receiving TV reception.
Freeview's satellite service began on May 2, 2007. Initially, there were five television channels: TV One, TV2, TV3, C4, and Maori Television. Freeview's first digital-only channel, a temporary channel from TVNZ, began on May 18, 2007, providing coverage of the V8 Supercar racing.
The Freeview terrestrial service, named Freeview|HD, official launched on April 14, 2008. The service currently serves areas surrounding Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga, Napier-Hastings, Palmerston North, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin.
[edit] Content
| “ | I was alive, just, of course, at the time when black and white TV swapped over to colour and I understand this to be an even bigger event. | ” |
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—Broadcasting Minister |
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The Freeview platform currently has 13 television channels and three radio stations. TVNZ, MediaWorks (formerly CanWest), the Maori Television Service, Stratos Television Ltd, Parliament TV, CUE (Southland TV) and Radio New Zealand currently provide content.
Up to 18 channels will be available, with six each assigned to TVNZ and MediaWorks, and the balance to other networks. [4] Given that TVNZ's and MediaWorks's current free-to-air channels will be available on Freeview, there will be eight extra channels in total, between the two.
Freeview also has its own eight-day electronic programme guide, named Freeview EPG; TVNZ's Teletext service is also available.[5]
[edit] National Television Channels
| Channel | Name | Platform(s) | Widescreen | HD | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | TV One | Satellite and Terrestrial | Yes | Yes 720p |
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| 2 | TV2 | Satellite and Terrestrial | Yes | Yes 720p |
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| 3 | TV3 | Satellite and Terrestrial | Yes | Yes 1080i |
[6] |
| 4 | C4 | Satellite and Terrestrial | Yes | No | |
| 5 | Maori Television | Satellite and Terrestrial | Yes | No | |
| 6 | TVNZ 6 | Satellite and Terrestrial | Yes | No | |
| 7 | TVNZ 7 | Satellite and Terrestrial | Yes | No | |
| 20 | TVNZ Sport Extra | Satellite and Terrestrial | Yes | No | |
| 21 | Triangle Stratos | Satellite only | No | No | |
| 22 | Parliament TV | Satellite and Terrestrial | Yes | No | |
| 23 | Cue TV | Satellite only | No | No | [7] |
| 24 | Te Reo | Satellite only | Yes | No | |
| 100 | Freeview HD | Terrestrial only | Yes | Yes 720p |
HD test channel |
Channels 8 and 9 are reserved for MediaWorks.[8]
[edit] Regional Television Channels
| Channel | Name | Region(s) of Service | Platforms | Widescreen | HD | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 | tvCentral | Waikato, Bay of Plenty | Terrestrial only | No | No |
[edit] Radio Stations
| Channel | Name | Platforms | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50 | Radio New Zealand National | Satellite and Terrestrial | |
| 51 | Radio New Zealand Concert | Satellite and Terrestrial | |
| 70 | George FM | Satellite only |
[edit] Future Content
Several new digital-only television channels will be launched within the next two years.
MediaWorks has confirmed it will launch one extra channel each in 2007 and 2008 targeting a niche market.[9] The BSA anticipates that it will screen imported programmes on its first.[10] Since MediaWorks will not use all six channels allocated to it, it may sub-lease the spare capacity to other broadcasters.[11] On April 11, 2007, CanWest-owned station TV3 made the transition from the 4:3 aspect ratio to 16:9, C4 followed suit on May 2.
Alt TV may join Freeview this year.
Although the satellite and the terrestrial services will both have 18 channels initially, there is space for only 20 channels on the satellite transponder[12] so fewer channels may be available on satellite than terrestrial in the future.[13]
[edit] Other Networks
There are ongoing negotiations with Prime (owned by pay-TV operator Sky NZ), other regional TV operators[14], and overseas companies wanting to start up in New Zealand - [9] Freeview will be open to other free-to-air broadcasters if they want to join.[2]
Prime has said it will definitely not make a decision before 2008. Also, Prime's contracts with sports bodies preclude it from broadcasting sports programmes unencrypted on satellites, so it may only be available via terrestrial transmissions if it decides to join Freeview.[15]
The New Zealand Racing Board originally showed interest, but currently has withdrawn as a shareholder, although it may join at a later date. [1]
[edit] Quality
| “ | The quality [of the signal] will be stunning. People wouldn't recognise it.… It's not what you get on Sky now, it's much better. | ” |
Satellite transmissions will be broadcast in 576i, as the satellite transponder is not high definition capable. However, terrestrial transmissions can be broadcast in high definition, and the government will let the broadcasters decide whether to broadcast in high definition or continue in standard definition.[12] TVNZ currently uses the 720p broadcasting standard on TV ONE and TV2, using the H.264 AVC video codec, and providing surround sound when available.[17] However, they backtracked on their promise to broadcast up to 50% HD content on TV ONE and 80% on TV2, saying they would "travel more slowly". The current content is just upscaled standard definition content. They promised that the 2008 Olympics will be in true HD. [18] TV3 is broadcasting in 1080i. [6]
[edit] Technology
Freeview uses the Optus D1 satellite[13] to broadcast, on a transponder, leased from Kordia. The satellite transmissions are in DVB-S MPEG2.
UHF terrestrial broadcasting using DVB-T MPEG4 (also known as DVB-T HD)[19] (originally March 2008), and currently covers 75 percent of the country's population. Freeview's terrestrial transmissions will be broadcast from Kordia's existing transmitter towers.[12] Eventually, terrestrial transmission may reach 92 percent of the population.[4]
Freeview will use the DVB-T standard for terrestrial transmission, as established in 2001 with NZS6610:2001, mainly due to New Zealand's rugged topography, meaning that multipath was inevitable. ATSC, a rival standard, cannot handle multipath well, so it was not chosen.[20]
TVNZ said digital terrestrial will be broadcast in MPEG4 and satellite broadcasts will be in MPEG2. This means people who took part in the Auckland digital trial using terrestrial DVB-T MPEG2 receivers will need to change their receivers to DVB-T MPEG4 in order to receive terrestrial Freeview, once it is officially launched on 14 April 2008. DVB-T MPEG4 is also known in some countries as DVB-T HD.
Freeview certifies set-top boxes but does not sell them; they are marketed by electronics retailers.[4] Freeview certification centres on the localisation of multimedia data, primarily for the EPG. This data is broadcast over DVB using the MHEG-5 standard. At the moment this is only used to transmit EPG data.
Freeview is currently discussing with Telecom about the provision of IPTV over ADSL.[21]
[edit] Finance
Freeview is the second digital TV system attempted by the government. The first, in 2000, cost NZ$6.8 million.
The government will pay up to NZ$25 million and provide free radio spectrum, estimated to be worth up to NZ$10 million during the transition to digital,[2] the companies involved will pay the remaining $50 million. It will cost Alt TV NZ$600,000 a year to broadcast on Freeview, Canterbury TV estimates it will need to pay NZ$1 million a year if it joins Freeview.[22] The government claims a NZ$230 million benefit to the economy.[2]
Freeview may turn into for-profit after the analogue switch off.[2]
[edit] Competition
Sky currently has a "free-to-air" package where channels similar to the ones available on Freeview are available for a monthly fee of NZ$18.29, plus an installation fee of NZ$99.[23] Around 90,000 people use this service, generally those who cannot get a high quality signal from analogue terrestrial television.[14]. Sky has been relatively unaffected.[24] A Sky dish can be used to receive Freeview but a separate set-top box will be required.[14][25]
[edit] Political reaction
Prior to launch, the Green Party said that it wanted more funding for New Zealand made programmes, a local content quota (such as that used in Canada), a public service channel, and cheaper set-top boxes.[26] The government responded that no extra funding would be available, a quota would not be necessary and the technology would get cheaper over time.[27]
The National Party said that they had thought of the idea first, and wanted more detail from the government.[28]
[edit] References
- ^ All About Freeview. Freeview New Zealand (2007). Retrieved on 2007-07-16.
- ^ a b c d e New Zealand Government (2006-06-15). "Free-to-air digital TV to begin roll-out". Press release. Retrieved on 2006-06-15.
- ^ Freeview Eclipses 100,000 Milestone. Retrieved on 2008-04-16.
- ^ a b c d Maharey, Steve et al. (2006). Free-To-Air Digital Announcement video [Press conference].
- ^ FreeView Digital Broadcasting Information Summarised FAQ. Free-To-Air Digital Television - TVNZ (2006). Retrieved on 2006-06-15.
- ^ a b TV3 > Contact Us > HDTV (2008).
- ^ CUE TV is Freeview's tenth TV channel (2007). Retrieved on 2007-11-28.
- ^ FREEVIEW CODE OF PRACTICE (2008).
- ^ a b McKenzie-Minifie, Martha. "Please adjust your set for a digital revolution", New Zealand Herald, APN Holdings NZ Ltd, 2006-07-29. Retrieved on 2006-07-29.
- ^ Brown, Russell; Price, Steven (May 2006). The Future of Media Regulation in NZ: Is There One? (PDF) 20. Broadcasting Standards Authority. Retrieved on 2006-07-07.
- ^ Drinnan, John. "Media bytes: Sub-leasing on Freeview", The National Business Review, 2006-08-04. Retrieved on 2006-08-04.
- ^ a b c New Zealand Government (2006-06-15). "Free-to-Air Digital TV: Questions and Answers". Press release. Retrieved on 2006-06-15.
- ^ a b THL Group (2006-06-15). "Government says 'yes' to a digital future for NZ". Press release. Retrieved on 2006-06-15.
- ^ a b c Trevett, Claire. "18 TV channels and it's all free", NZ Herald, 2006-06-15.
- ^ Drinnan, John. "Prime Television delays moving to Freeview", The National Business Review, 2006-06-23. Retrieved on 2006-07-20.
- ^ Freisen, Rick; Ellis, Rick. (2006). Digital TV on its way [TV-Show]. TV ONE.
- ^ TVNZ announces High Definition plans. Free-To-Air Digital Television - TVNZ (2007). Retrieved on 2007-09-28.
- ^ Freeview set to go high-definition - 13 Mar 2008 - NZ Herald: Technology News, views and comment from New Zealand and the World
- ^ about freeview. freeview solutions (2008). Retrieved on 2008-02-26.
- ^ Transmission Platforms. Digital Television Discussion Document 2001. Retrieved on 2006-07-07.
- ^ Pullar-Strecker, Tom. "Sky watches broadband move", Stuff, 2006-07-24.
- ^ "Alt TV changes its tune (yay)", The New Zealand Herald, 2007-08-02. Retrieved on 2007-08-02.
- ^ Can I temporarily disconnect SKY when I'm away on holiday?. Sky TV frequently asked questions. Retrieved on 2006-06-20.
- ^ Poland, Owen (Reporter). (2006). Freeview TV to hit Sky hard [TV-News]. TV ONE.
- ^ "TV viewers may need two boxes", Stuff, 2006-07-03.
- ^ Green Party (2006-06-15). "Digital TV good news but local content essential". Press release. Retrieved on 2006-06-17.
- ^ Digital Television—Local Content Funding. Hansard, Questions for oral answer (2006-06-20). Retrieved on 2006-07-26.
- ^ New Zealand National Party (2006-06-15). "Picture on digital TV plans still blurry". Press release. Retrieved on 2006-06-17.
[edit] External links
- Official Site
- TVNZ digital TV site
- Ministry for Culture and Heritage on digital TV (includes a cost-benefit analysis)
- Ministry of Economic Development on digital TV
- Technical details
- NZ Digital TV Discussion Forum
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