Trusted
We received the following responses - you can read what you like into them. I am sure they don't mind these being posted here - after all it's all discoverable information
1. From TVNZ via a forwarded query from the Minister (so I guess they had to answer!)
Dear Mr ????,
The difference between the hours of ‘pure’ HD programming broadcast on TVNZ channels and on TV3 reflects the fact that TV3, as a smaller and less complex organisation, has already converted to a (digital) server-based transmission system.
TVNZ has a major project underway to transform our business to a fully digital system, which will effectively ‘leapfrog’ the technology currently available - but it requires a huge amount of work and money and will take some time yet to accomplish. Until the project is complete, we have decided against surround sound because it would involve spending a considerable amount on an interim solution – and this is not possible at a time when the impact of the recession means we must extract cost out of the business, including jobs.
We were able to broadcast surround sound for the Olympics because the production was created in Beijing , on digital equipment, and our distribution involved a straight pass-through of the content.
We do intend to broadcast surround sound on our HD programmes once the digital changeover is complete, and of course the hours of full HD we broadcast will also increase. Local content that we have commissioned is increasingly being shot in HD, and we have HD cameras and edit suites available to the industry as a whole.
In the meantime, all of our content on TV ONE and TV2 on Freeview HD is ‘upconverted’, (as is TV3’s) and is effectively HD for those who are equipped to display it. Upconversion provides a visibly superior quality to the Standard Definition transmissions received via the Freeview satellite platform.
Your investment in the Freeview HD box is not wasted.
In the next few years, when the Government switches off the analogue network and New Zealand becomes digital, all of us will need to choose between Pay TV and Freeview as the two digital platforms. Those who do not want to pay a continuing subscription will choose Freeview, and those who value technical quality will choose the HD version because ultimately the global distribution of programming will be in HD. The satellite service will remain SD for the foreseeable future.
I should also point out that TV3 does receive public funding, as TVNZ does, in the form of programme-making subsidies from New Zealand on Air. MediaWork’s commercially successful series Outrageous Fortune is a case in point – but the difference is that their profits go to the offshore owners, while TVNZ’s profits go back to the Crown.
In all, only 10% of TVNZ’s revenue comes from the public purse, and all of it is used on programme-making, not technological infrastructure.
Yours sincerely,
2. From a reply directly from the Minister. I have had to type this in since it came as a PDF file. But I will extract the main points
"
TVNZ's production facility uses tape. While surround sound is available from tape, it cannot be fed into the distribution system. A project is underway to upgrade TVNZ's broadcast infrastructure and I understand that this will resolve the difficulties in using 5.1 audio. The scheduled completion date for this project is June 2010"__________________________________________________________________________________________________
A couple of inconsistencies in those responses. TVNZ says they could do surround sound now but it's not worth the cost upgrading current infrastructure. The Minister says it can't be done at all.
If TVNZ could broadcast DD 5.1 audio and the DD 5.1 audio exists on the source (as was noted by the Minister) how hard is it to purchase a box like this
http://www.dolby.com/professional/pro_audio_engineering/dp569_01.html
which has a list price of about US$5K.
TV3 obviously gets it content in a number of formats, from tape to disk based. Yet they are able to encode it all in DD 2.0 or DD 5.1 and transmit it. How hard can it be?
Finally June 2010 is a long way off. Bit of a blow for those who have invested in FreeviewHD boxes only to still get half the benefits for over a year to come.
Mod Emeritus
