Government takes futher steps towards analogue switchoff

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James Bond

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# 36653 29-Jun-2009 23:20

http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/2547186/Closer-to-analogue-TV-shutdown

Fraktul

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# 229398 29-Jun-2009 23:26

Not to sound too tetchy but while that is all well and good the forums are a place to discuss, not post news URLs with nothin further. If you are going to post news at least give an opinion or some other comment. We have RSS feeds for news :)

old3eyes

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# 229435 30-Jun-2009 08:38

"The Government has taken a small step towards preparing for the shutdown of analogue television, advertising for a contractor who may help set the date by which hundreds of thousands of households will have to upgrade to digital.

Consumers will need to subscribe to Sky or buy a digital receiver such as Freeview or TiVo to continue watching television after the switch-off.

A confirmed date for the closure of analogue television will not be announced till 2012 or till three-quarters of homes have switched to digital television, whichever comes sooner. But the Culture and Heritage Ministry says a "target date" will be announced once takeup reaches 60 per cent, which is believed to be close.

The ministry is tendering for an executive director for the Digital Switchover Steering Group who will monitor the takeup of digital television, advise and act as a spokesperson for the group.

The analogue shutdown will be trialled in one region and probably take place over the course of a year, it says.

The Economic Development Ministry expects to decide this year how it will distribute the radio spectrum, likely to fetch up to $100 million, that will be freed up by the closure of analogue television.

- The Dominion Post"

2012 before they even announce the analog cutoff?? That would make it about 2020 before it happens at the earliest .. The way this Gov is peeing into Sky's pocket it will be Sky or nothing soon..

Regards,

Old3eyes

richms

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# 229443 30-Jun-2009 09:02

I would hope that in 2012 they annouce that it will happen later that month or something.

IMO once a DVB-S or DVB-T box is available for under $100 there is no excuse to keep analog running. There are some crap DVB-S boxes already at that price, so the good ones cant be too far away from it. And with the rate that h264 chipsets will be deployed in other things over the next couple of years (online streaming, bluray, etc) there should be cheap DVB-T boxes by 2012 too.

Richard rich.ms

openmedia

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# 229444 30-Jun-2009 09:03

old3eyes:
2012 before they even announce the analog cutoff?? That would make it about 2020 before it happens at the earliest .. The way this Gov is peeing into Sky's pocket it will be Sky or nothing soon..

So you think by 2012 all of the other TV channels will have shutdown?

Sorry I don't see your argument here

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

walt12

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# 229451 30-Jun-2009 09:23

Does anyone have any thoughts on what the freed up spectrum will be used for? I assume they re-tender it, but must be used a for a specific purpose.

richms

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# 229495 30-Jun-2009 11:11

I thought 700Mhz was already destined to be for data along the lines of what the US have assigned it to?

Richard rich.ms

old3eyes

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# 229518 30-Jun-2009 12:36

openmedia:
old3eyes:
2012 before they even announce the analog cutoff?? That would make it about 2020 before it happens at the earliest .. The way this Gov is peeing into Sky's pocket it will be Sky or nothing soon..

So you think by 2012 all of the other TV channels will have shutdown?

Sorry I don't see your argument here

No .. What I'm saying is that they are not going to decide to cut it off until 2012. By then Freeview may be so run down by lack of investment or content that Sky may be the only option..

Regards,

Old3eyes

richms

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# 229521 30-Jun-2009 12:39

So what if it is? By then hopefully internet is cheaper so the idea of using rss and torrent is more the norm then he exception and perhaps discovery on sky becomes even 20% as good as what you get off the net so it is a viable option?

Richard rich.ms

old3eyes

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# 229691 30-Jun-2009 19:21

richms: So what if it is? By then hopefully internet is cheaper so the idea of using rss and torrent is more the norm then he exception and perhaps discovery on sky becomes even 20% as good as what you get off the net so it is a viable option?

Good point..

Regards,

Old3eyes