You Ask Freeview thread #3

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freitasm

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#35151 4-Jun-2009 14:50

Hello folks. We have arranged with Freeview to have a new round of Q&A discussions here on Geekzone. The idea is that we will have this discussion open for a week or so (through 11th June) and lock this discussion while Freeview answers the questions.

We will then re-open the thread with their reply and leave it open for people to discuss. We will then follow with another discussion thread some time later and so on.

If you show enough interest (and please make it clear in your posts) we could even organise some live on-line chat to have Freeview discussing the answers with you guys.

So start with your questions below for this second round...

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#221647 4-Jun-2009 15:17

Surely the top question has to be.

Are Freeview comfortable with what TVNZ are currently doing on the platform with DVB-S and their regional feeds?

I believe that TVNZ if left to do what they are doing are already and will continue to seriously hurt the success of Freeview. Does Freeview have any ability to step in and set standards for the quality of the feeds that TVNZ supply?

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sbiddle

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#221652 4-Jun-2009 15:30

Were Freeview ever offered the opportunity to be part of the Tivo distribution? If not did TVNZ and/or Hybrid ever talk about Freeview certification for the Tivo?

openmedia

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#221655 4-Jun-2009 15:34

RadioWorks currently transmit encrypted feeds of their radio stations on 12456H. It would be great if these were made available as part of freeview.

Generally known online as OpenMedia, now working for Red Hat APAC as a Technology Evangelist and Portfolio Architect. Still playing with MythTV and digital media on the side.

butlerboy

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#221663 4-Jun-2009 15:47

We're half way through 2009 and there's still only 1 approved PVR on the market. When will we see some other options and what brands are they?

compost

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#221803 4-Jun-2009 21:39

To the CEO: was it hard to walk away from Wipeout Australia to take up the job at Freeview?

Yes I'm joking, but there is an uncanny resemblance to one of the smart aleck presenters...

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DjShadow

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#221806 4-Jun-2009 21:45

This may of already been asked in the past, has the Government provided any hint at least about funding the Phase 2 rollout of FreeviewHD? else would Freeview consider applying for extra space on Optus D1 (or even D3) to provide HD to all of NZ? rather than having to pay Sky to get it.

openmedia

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#221849 4-Jun-2009 23:33

Sorry I know this isn't a question but...

Freeview don't pay Sky anything.

Generally known online as OpenMedia, now working for Red Hat APAC as a Technology Evangelist and Portfolio Architect. Still playing with MythTV and digital media on the side.

jpollock

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#221981 5-Jun-2009 13:17

The registration fees for a freeview channel seem high. What does that give you other than being issued a channel number and allowed to put your data into the EPG? The web site indicates that the fees don't include transmission costs, which must be negotiated separately with Kordia.

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allstarnz

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#221997 5-Jun-2009 14:05

what is your opinion on TVNZ removing Sport Extra from their offerings?

:edit: changed the wording slightly after re-reading thread that channel is gone on all platforms by July.

Gemini

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#222063 5-Jun-2009 17:29

Freeview DTR
Do you believe it's better for TVNZ and simpler for consumers if TiVo is the only Freeview HD DTR on the market?

Gemini

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#222066 5-Jun-2009 17:41

Digital transmission - UHF off
An article I read recently suggested Telecom and Vodafone are keen to make use of the UHF band as soon as possible. Do you think we might see UHF TV broadcasting "turned off" sooner rather than later? This might help solve the no Prime on Freeview issue.

grolschie

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#222458 7-Jun-2009 15:18

The amount of duplicate broadcasts of TVNZ and Mediaworks channels on Optus D1 (Sky and Freeview) seems like a huge waste of bandwidth. Would Freeview consider possibly negotiating with broadcasters to allow access to unencrypted SD and HD transmissions of TVNZ and Mediaworks channels? Even if that meant allowing Sky to tune their receivers into the FV transponder and/or vice versa?

dontpanic42

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#222462 7-Jun-2009 15:57

Sort of a mixed Freeview/TVNZ question here.

Q: When are TVNZ going to broadcast a Dolby Digital audio stream?

I can't stand the absolutely shoddy AAC audio quality. It sounds like the audio has been recorded using one of those IC note-taker things. Horrible, absolutely horrible sound quality. Picture quality is very good, but how can that AAC sound be called HD?
The Dolby Digital stream on TV3 on the other hand is very nice indeed.

dontpanic42

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#222464 7-Jun-2009 16:00

When does Freeview plan on including EIT data in your HD broadcast?

This would speed up the release of Sony's Play TV add-on for the PS3.

HybridE506r

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#222470 7-Jun-2009 16:38

Hi, just my 2-cents worth for this interesting topic
I am wondering why analogue is being switched off?

Why close down an entire technology network when the coverage of digital will not meet all expectations.?

As an example, there are a lot of people in beach or rural communities where analogue signals CAN and are received ok, BUT on terresterial digital the signals are so low most digital terresterial channels just wont be shown, at least on analogue, a slightly snowy picture is acceptable.

It seems that the switch over to digital quality is population centre based where if the signal strength is so very low the cost of equipment to change over isnt worth the investment for a terrestrial equipment purchase, which leads to wondering whether the long term plan is to force analogue tv reception users to SKY equipment or to no bother retail buying newer equipment for TV when theres an alternative via the internet, or turning TV off altogether and relating to people again.....:)

idea lost potential advertisers revenue......perhaps that part of the risk analysis due to population numbers, ie fewer numbers = dont care = poor signal quality?

Another anomaly is the lack of availability of DVB-S tuner devices for computers / laptops, retail outlets mainly stocking DVB-t usb devices or "Freeview approved" set top boxes only, not much consumer choice.

I am on the Horowhenua coast, vodafone coverage along with DVB-t coverage is simply a gamble at best, there are a lot of people who do live in coastal communities, the question is whether DVT-t coverage will be improved in the near or short term. Phone calls to the freeview 0800 number are useless at best!!!!!!!!!!! UNLESS you ARE BUYING RETAIL "FREEVIEW APPROVED" equipment.

my complaint about the digital switch over is really the poor or non-existant digital terresterial signal strength in what are defines as rural or beach communities.

I hope analogue stays around for as long as possible because personally i cannot justify the cost of buying a sky package, there is no current clear advertising in printed media about alternative dish / receiver options, nor any advertised options about hardware available for computer/laptop tuners, imho is an opportunity missed so far.

ok enough of complaining lol, would some kind soul please inform what USB / cardbus DVB-S tuner devices are currently available, how many channels can be received and is there an advantage to going to dual or triple LNB dishes compared to the equipment investment cost.

Thankyou
(OH BTW, tv advertisers may lose out potneital revenue if DVB-t signals cannot be reveiced by more than is currently imho)

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