Free-to-air digital TV from next year

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Stu

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#8255 15-Jun-2006 13:59

A start in the right direction. This from the NZ Herald:

The Government confirmed today free-to-air digital television would be phased in from next year. more..

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#38645 15-Jun-2006 16:03

When they start broadcasting decent shows let me know, until then Im sticking with DVDs

bradstewart

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#38656 15-Jun-2006 16:38

Its only taken 6 or 7 years to get it after Labour ditched the idea shortly after they came to power. I wonder when we will get frre to air HDTV? probably not before 2015.

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#38669 15-Jun-2006 17:11

bradstewart:
Its only taken 6 or 7 years to get it after Labour ditched the idea shortly after they came to power. I wonder when we will get frre to air HDTV? probably not before 2015

Why should the government be responsible for deciding how and when a certain broadcasting technology should become available? It's disappointing that Canwest and Prime haven't already got digital free-to-air TV up and running years ago, leaving state television to wallow in the sewer where it belongs.

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#38673 15-Jun-2006 17:23

It certainly is exciting news.

Has anybody seen media articles today detailing exactly where DVB-T will cover? As I understood it from speaking to somebody several months ago it was highly unlikely that it would be entended out of the major centres and that satellite was designed to be the primary platform with terrestrial primarily designed as a cheaper option for the big cities.

There are now plenty of big screen TV's in Europe and Oz coming with DVB-T tuners built in and when I was in Europe last year there were basic set top boxes selling for around NZ$60 so there is no reason why we can't get units well under the $100 mark and a couple of hundred if you want a flasher model.

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#38675 15-Jun-2006 17:26

sbiddle: It certainly is exciting news.

Has anybody seen media articles today detailing exactly where DVB-T will cover? As I understood it from speaking to somebody several months ago it was highly unlikely that it would be entended out of the major centres and that satellite was designed to be the primary platform with terrestrial primarily designed as a cheaper option for the big cities.

There are now plenty of big screen TV's in Europe and Oz coming with DVB-T tuners built in and when I was in Europe last year there were basic set top boxes selling for around NZ$60 so there is no reason why we can't get units well under the $100 mark and a couple of hundred if you want a flasher model.

But wouldn't it also require a new aerial? Surely existing VHF/UHF roof aerials wouldn't be compatible with the digital service?

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#38688 15-Jun-2006 18:22

The whole point of DVB-T is that you can digital TV using existing aerials and wiring, so as long as you have a UHF aerial (ie. you can get Prime or Maori TV) you can get digital TV by just purchasing a set top box. This is because it uses the same frequencies as analog TV.

The only problem I see is now that Sky have purchased Prime, we are unlinkely to ever see Prime (along with it's free delayed rugby) on Freeview as that would be an incentive not to get Sky. Also the fact that I don't have a UHF aerial!

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#38696 15-Jun-2006 18:46

there is also the fact that it is possible to get portable media players that have a DVB-T turner built in and I think you can even get cell phones now with it also (south korea has them I think). Portable TV would be pretty cool.

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#38697 15-Jun-2006 18:57

For brad and all others whose eyes cannot track a line of text:
http://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?ForumId=44&TopicId=8260
All said and done

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#38699 15-Jun-2006 19:35

geekiegeek: there is also the fact that it is possible to get portable media players that have a DVB-T turner built in and I think you can even get cell phones now with it also (south korea has them I think). Portable TV would be pretty cool.

Phones are using DVB-H which is similair not not compatible.

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#38708 15-Jun-2006 21:01

alasta: Why should the government be responsible for deciding how and when a certain broadcasting technology should become available?

The government owns the countrys main broadcaster so I dont think it's too much to expect that they keep up to date with the latest technology. They are hellbent on making sure we get the best broadband so why not insist on getting the best out of a company THEY actually own?

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#38709 15-Jun-2006 21:24

bradstewart: The government owns the countrys main broadcaster so I dont think it's too much to expect that they keep up to date with the latest technology. They are hellbent on making sure we get the best broadband so why not insist on getting the best out of a company THEY actually own?

Television New Zealand is a state owned enterprise, not a government department. This means that the government is merely a shareholder in the company, while the management and board of directors are best qualified to make economic decisions to determine what technology the company should invest in.

Since you mention it, though, I am actually in favour of the privatisation of Television New Zealand. The only alternative that I would be comfortable would be for Television Two to be sold, and for Television One to become an advertising-free public service broadcaster much like National Radio is now. The status quo, with which we have a company driven by commercial imperatives but trying to fill the role of a public service broadcaster, is unacceptable.

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#38750 16-Jun-2006 09:45

Interesting interview on Breakfast television where Rick Ellis notes that the quality of digital will be far superior to analogue (agreed) and better than what you get from Sky now. Does that suggest that they will broadcasting in HD since broadcasting SD MPEG2 is what Sky and TCL do now. And it would even be cooler if TCL then took the HD feeds and passed them down their cable service (of course we would also have to get new cable boxes but I would do thatO)

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#38773 16-Jun-2006 14:22

From the release documents it would seem that the broadcasters will only be offering SD mpeg2 transmissions, I think Rick Ellises comment refers to the fact that the FTA broadcasters intend to use a higher bit rate thus providing a better quality of mpeg2 SD picture. Sky often only relegate 3-4Mb/s (or less in some cases) to low rate channels, Sports and Movies channels get a fair bit more. It is often recommended that for reasonable broadcast distribution is at least 5-6Mb/s or more if availble, 8Mb/s is concidered just adequate for contribution circuits where the video is to be further demoded, edit and remoded.

One of the features of DVB is that the transport streams will carry all manner of sub streams, once the transmission platform is in place if a broadcaster wishes to add a service then they just rent from BCL a certain capacity. If a broadcaster wanted to offer HD via mpeg2 or more likely mpeg4 then its simiply a matter of them feeding their HD encoder in to the stream (assuming the capacity is allocated for what they wish to do). Basic SD STB's will see the HD mpeg streams and know to ignore them as they have no means to decode them.

This also means that a broadcaster can offer special event adhoc channels, purhaps in HD if the choose. Naturally you will require a HD capable STB to decode the HD mpeg4 streams.

As for antennas, your current UHF antenna will happily recieve DVB-T (UHF) transmissions, however from overseas experience to reduce dropout from noise sources it is recommend that quad sheild cable is used and F-Connectors rather than PAL connectors are used, so make sure your antenna/feeders are in good shape. This is one area that DVB-S (satellite) has over DVB-T, satellite reception (other than rain fade) is not in any real way suceptible to man made interference, the same is not so true for DVB-T.

Cyril

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#38781 16-Jun-2006 16:32

Nice post cyril. Especially interesting reading about the substream data that can be encoded. Does show they actually put a reasonable amount of thought into forward compatibility with the signal streams.

I hadn't read into it too much previously, but the extra shielding and using f-type connectors is a good tip. I've already got to do some work on the antenna at my place, and tidy up the bodgy sky install the previous owners had done, so might have a bit of a looksie at what cables are being used. : )

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#38783 16-Jun-2006 16:54

To add to that, if you have splitters and U&VHF combiners etc, dont use the plastic cased saddle and clamp type, use fully metal cased F-connector ones.

Cyril

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