You Ask Freeview (November 2010 round)

When are we going to see a schedule around expansion of DTH coverage to 87%?

Freeview – Do you mean DTT coverage? Unfortunately we don’t have any control over this as it up to the broadcasters, transmission providers and Government to reach agreement but hopefully very soon.

Are plans under way to expand the service to five multiplexes from the existing three?

Freeview – That’s a question for the Government. In our submission last year, regarding the allocation of digital spectrum, we strongly suggested that there should be open and transparent access for Freeview broadcasters, both current and potential, to two more muxes to allow for the future expansion of free to air services e.g. new channels and more HD and new 3D services which require substantially more bandwidth. There are approximately ten sets (muxes) of digital licenses available and it does seem unfortunate that nearly half that available spectrum has been allocated to Sky, who do not currently even have a DTT service.

Will we be seeing any additional HD services in the next year?

Freeview - It’s up to the broadcasters to make that decision. Certainly the platform can accommodate them however as discussed above their needs to be a 4th and 5th Mux made available for this to happen on a large scale.

Will Prime be migrating to HD, and will FOUR be in HD rather than SD?

Freeview – We would like all the channels on Freeview|HD to be HD but that’s a question for the Broadcasters as they would need to pay the increased transmission and set up costs of going HD. So a question for Mediaworks and Sky who own those two services.

Are you planning to test 3D DVB-T broadcasts in the near future?

Freeview – The platform is capable of delivering 3D pictures but again it’s up to the broadcasters to purchase the hardware and content to make this happen.

When analogue is switched off on UHF, will the existing transmitters then be used to broadcast DVB-T to extend the service even further? (ie - Marlborough receives Prime etc UHF from Kaukau site but cannot pick up HD due to the HD transmitters pointing the other way. Simply using those transmitters to broadcast HD would enable Marlborough to receive HD)

Freeview – Freeview doesn’t provide or pay for transmission services so that’s a question for the broadcasters and transmission providers.

What's happening with the regional broadcasters such as Canterbury TV once analogue is turned off? Will they be joining Freeview?

Freeview – We certainly hope so and are having on going discussions with CTV and other regional broadcasters. Central TV and TV33 already offer regional broadcasting to Auckland and the Waikato. Unlike Sky, Freeview is an open access platform so any broadcaster can join Freeview and a list of the terms and fees are freely available from our website.

What is the situation in regards to the New Zealand Racing Board and Freeview? There have been rumours for a long time about Trackside coming on Freeview.

Freeview – Launched on Freeview|HD (channel 11) on December 1st.

Is there any update on plans to use the MHEG side of things for Interactive TV?

Freeview – We would very much like the broadcasters to develop, and implement interactive applications. These do require further investment from the broadcasters and they will need to work through the strategic and economic implications of that development.

One of the areas we are particularly interested in them exploring is the delivery of OTT (over the top) content direct to TV’s via the MHEG interaction channel. A good example of this is the BBC iPlayer on the Freesat platform in the UK. However there are number of other initiatives that the broadcasters could also implement using the interactive capability of the Freeview platform.
What does Freeview have in mind for educating some of our older generation regarding Analogue Switch off?

Freeview – As a not-for-profit with a small marketing budget we make use of as much consumer research as possible to ensure we are reaching audiences such as the older generation. The research helps us understand which messages need to be delivered and we make sure our advertising and marketing material addresses this. One example: Freeview have recently formed a partnership with Seniornet and will help provide information for a series of workshops about the Digital Switch Over and how the older generation can ensure they are ready.

When the time comes (<12 months to switch off), will Freeview/GOVT be providing vouchers to the people who haven't switched yet? Similar to what happened in the USA.

Freeview – This is a Government decision and they are yet to make an announcement but have indicated that there may be some form of assistance for the elderly and disabled.

Are we going to see more channels?
Freeview – please see above answers

When will we see 2nd generation devices, particularly PVRs, turn up?

Freeview - We already have six approved MyFreeview|HD DTRs and a number of manufacturers are working on MyFreeview satellite DTRs. Many manufacturers are developing products using 2nd generation chipsets that will be more efficient and cheaper to produce. We hope to see these in the market over the next six months.

Are the big names (Panasonic is the only one so far?) going to deliver Freeview/MyFreeview|HD devices?

Freeview – Yes, other big name brands are developing product for the MyFreeview category. Recently Sony has developed their PlayTV product for the PS3 for the NZ market which is compatible product.

As analogue TV is turned off, will we see an improvement in signal strength?

Freeview – There are no plans to change the current Freeview|HD (DTT) specification

When will the EPG work natively with Windows 7 Media Centre?

Freeview – We would hope that Microsoft would be able to develop an application for this in the future. So that’s a question for Microsoft.

Will format shifting be allowed in the near future?

Freeview – Yes we are working a solution for that now and plan to have it in place early next year.

Are there any plans to provide multi channel audio (i.e. AC3, 5.1 etc.) as opposed to the existing 2 channel MPEG2 audio on the DVB-S service for those who are unable to receive the DVB-T service?

Freeview – That’s up to the broadcasters to decide.

What are the obstacles preventing HD transmission by satellite?

Freeview – The main ones are a lack of capacity and the increased cost for broadcasters of broadcasting in HD on Satellite.
What is Freeview doing to address these?

Freeview – Sky control access to any spare, economic. Capacity on the Satellite and the broadcasters would need to make more revenue off satellite HD broadcasters for it to be economic for them. Viewers would also need to but new HD receivers.

If they are insurmountable, what is to prevent a deal being struck with Sky either to remove the encryption from retransmitted Freeview content, or to provide access cards for Freeview content for a one-off nominal charge?

Freeview – That would be a brilliant solution however without pro competition regulation it is one that Sky is unlikely to enable.

Will Freeview remain free?
Freeview – Yes it will.

Will Triangle/Stratos be broadcast on Freeview|HD?

Freeview – Yes from March 2011.

What is your position on TVNZ6 being potentially converted into a youth channel? Is Kidzone a major attraction to Freeview now and would its loss have a positive or negative effect on sales?

Freeview – that is a question for TVNZ

Are there any more updates for the Zinwell STBs? Zinwell reps have published notices in various forum warning against flashing to Chinese software because they will not be eligible for "upcoming features".

Freeview – We will pass that onto Zinwell’s New Zealand distributor.

Any comments on Zinwell using open source code on their STBs without releasing their source code, which violates software licenses they must oblige?

Freeview – We will pass that question onto Zinwell.

"Easy Peasy" - What the hell happened there? NZ has an attitude of "If you don't understand it, don't do it", so rather than making the NZ population look unintelligent why don't you emphasise that Qualified Installers can do it if needed?

Freeview – Thanks for the feedback and all installers who have signed a declaration get a free listing on the Freeview website. Our last research showed that 75% of Freeview homes had installed it themselves and this is one of the benefits of having a conformance process for Hardware. Most of the issues we have through the contact centre come from unapproved products.

Do you like mince pies?

Freeview – Mince n cheese mostly.

Why are new Freeview set-top box models like the Panasonic MyFreeview|HD units no longer being listed in the Products section of the Freeview website?

Freeview – These are now listed.

Are the Conditional Access Modules and encryption spoken about in Freeview documents for the purposes of turning Freeview into a pay television platform in the future?

Freeview – CA modules are optional. The Freeview service will always be Free to air.

As most people are still deeply confused about Freeview and the analogue switch off, will Freeview revisit its advertising to inform people about the basic technical facts?

Freeview – Yes we will and while awareness of Freeview is almost 100% of New Zealanders the awareness of DSO and what needs to be done by viewers to keep getting TV without a monthly subscription is not as high.

Are there plans to launch further channels?

Freeview – We would expect more channels to launch as more homes get Freeview and the business model for free to air broadcasting on Freeview therefore improves.

Are there plans to launch any further +1 channel?

Freeview – That is a question for broadcasters. Freeview has no control over content.

What plans are there for other channels to be broadcast in HD? Is that the decision of the channel rather than Freeview?

Freeview – That’s correct, it’s a decision made by the broadcasters not Freeview. We would like every channel to be in HD!

Are there any updates on MyFreeview Satellite?

Freeview – Yes, a number of products are in the final stage of development and should be in the market early next year.

Will broadcasters be encouraged to maintain the current reasonably high encoding quality with the addition of new multiplexes rather than subjecting us to a precipitous drop in bitrate and quality by overcrowding the existing ones with new programs?

Freeview – We don’t control content or transmission so that’s up to the broadcasters.

With the recent proliferation of DVRs, would some form of regulation of broadcasters be considered to address the inability they frequently seem to display to actually play content at the times listed in the program guide?

Freeview – The platform does have the capability for Broadcasters to implant technology to allow the accurate recording of content using the CRID data.

Is there a chance we will be forced to buy DVB-T2/S2 equipment (as seen recently in the UK with BBC HD), or will DVB-T/S stick around for the foreseeable future?

Freeview – No plans for DVB-T2 in New Zealand.

Is it possible we might see 24-hour international channels like BBC World, CNN, or Al Jazeera at some point?

Freeview – Up to those channels. There is nothing stopping them joining the Freeview platform.

Any word on if/when Juice TV will come to Freeview? FTA analogue UHF in Auckland at present

Freeview – No word. That’s a question for Juice. We would very much like them to be on Freeview.

Why, given the ease with which it can be worked around and the irritation it causes to many, do you persist with dopey content protection rules on the certified boxes.

I can't, for instance, access the hard drive of a compliant box using my PC and transfer HD files off. I can however, grab the content just fine using a PC tuner, TiVo with a MAK, or non compliant STB. I have to advise the my technogically literate who are upgrading to Freeview to avoid any box or recorder with the Freeview logo like the plague, all it guarantees is that the equipment has been deliberately and thoroughly crippled.

The hardware is capable, the demand is there, and the alternatives mean that the protection you seek is non-existent. All you are accomplishing is to make some viewers experience miserable, and turn your logo branding into a sign saying "Guaranteed Broken".

Freeview – The studios, who own the content, require content protection for Free to air HD broadcasts. So this is a broadcaster requirement.

Would Freeview please consider re-thinking the decision not to broadcast an EIT EPG alongside the MHEG5 on DVB-T? It is done on DVB-S and I would guess that satellite bandwidth is expensive and limited.

Freeview – This is unlikely to happen given the increase in cost of doing this.

Any chance that the white pixel at the top left corner of TV1 can be dealt with?

Freeview – We’ll pass that onto TVNZ.

Is there any chance the bitrates for HE-AAC could be increased please? The audio on the Freeview advert (with the guy wearing headphones) tonight sounded a little harsh to my ears.

Freeview – We will pass that on to the broadcasters who control the bit rate.

What's the story with Clearvision being the only accredited installers, ive been an installer on your website since you started and i challenge you to find one complaint directed against me. Now I've fielded some ridiculous questions from people directed to me from your 0800 number, given backup and support to people who have purchased their STBs from somewhere else, Now i dont think it is very fair that one company can monopolise on the installation industry. I am a technician with local knowledge and have built up an extremely good reputation in my area, surely it would be a better experience for a customer to talk to someone with local knowledge than some unknown company in Auckland, Can you tell me why any reference to my name has been removed from your site and the monopoly given to Clearvision.

Freeview – All local installers who sign a declaration are still given a FREE listing on our website. We have changed the format that they are displayed but we have not removed any installers. Our latest consumer research identified that there was demand within the remaining analogue households for a ‘one-stop-shop’ purchase, installation and/or set up solution.
To address this demand, Freeview have introduced an accreditation agreement for set up and installation services. The agreement provides the license of the Freeview logo subject to a set of criteria including the provision of ALL of the following:

1. Sale of only Freeview approved products,
2. Set up of Freeview approved products (including those purchased via accredited retail partners),
3. Installation of satellite dishes and UHF aerials,
4. A clear process and transparent pricing structure,
5. Nationwide service coverage,
6. Monitor and maintain strong levels of customer service.

The purpose is to simplify the process for consumers to get Freeview and to ensure that they receive a positive customer experience.

An RFP was issued to installers listed on our website as providing nationwide services. Following this process Freeview have signed an accreditation agreement with Clearvision Communications.

But why is it that we lack dedicated movie or doco or sports channels in the non subscription tv broadcasts ? In saying this. I'm NOT saying that TV1, 2, 3 or 4 are BAD because they show a mix of programs. Looking on the freeview website. I see half a dozen channels that ive never even seen or heard of, let alone, I dont know anyone that watches these other channels.

I dont know if others do watch these on a regular basis or something, but as I said ild probably prefer some dedicated entertainment type channels as to a bunch of random ones I probably wont ever watch.

Freeview – Good question. Freeview is an open access platform so anyone can join unlike sky which is closed. So a broadcaster, who wants to lunch a channel on Freeview e.g. movie channel, would need to be able to make the business case work for a Free to air channel.

At the moment they aren’t able to do this but as more homes get Freeview the likelihood of more channels increases. Unfortunately unlike other countries New Zealand has no regulation that would ensure that Premium content including nationally important events including sports fixtures is available on free to air as well as pay TV.

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