New Zealand current Digital TV uptake

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James Bond

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Topic # 59128 27-Mar-2010 17:36

Does anyone have the latest figures?

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Reply # 311950 27-Mar-2010 22:47

Nope, but Freeview is now in 21.3% of homes (according to their website), and that value is increasing by about 1% a month. Sky has about 47% according to Wikipedia. My guesstimate is that 10% of homes have both, so you're looking at about 58% of homes having digital television, increasing by about 1/50th of the remaining percentage per month.

tdgeek

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Reply # 311979 28-Mar-2010 08:06

Isn't coverage for Freeview 100% via satelite? As is Sky's?

I know that true HD isn't available via satelite but I have Freeview via Tivo, and also MySkyHDi and the MySkyHDi HD is excellent. Before, it was very good, not quite as good as terrestrial Freeview but now it is as good as they have upgraded something.

So, is HD for 100% of NZ now the case?

sbiddle

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Reply # 311982 28-Mar-2010 09:02

tdgeek: Isn't coverage for Freeview 100% via satelite? As is Sky's?

I know that true HD isn't available via satelite but I have Freeview via Tivo, and also MySkyHDi and the MySkyHDi HD is excellent. Before, it was very good, not quite as good as terrestrial Freeview but now it is as good as they have upgraded something.

So, is HD for 100% of NZ now the case?

There is a big difference between coverage and uptake.

IMHO the transition period is just far too long. We should be looking at ASO in 2012, not merely an announcement of the ASO date in 2012 and an expected ASO date ~2014

tdgeek

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Reply # 311988 28-Mar-2010 09:22

I expect if there was more Govt advertising that the old system is going, and that digital TV's are now a lower cost option, and if they help subsidise or offer a easy payment option for a Freeview box as they did in the US, that may spur it along.

timestyles

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Reply # 312003 28-Mar-2010 10:38

IMHO the transition period is just far too long. We should be looking at ASO in 2012, not merely an announcement of the ASO date in 2012 and an expected ASO date ~2014

No way, I bought a hard drive based analogue recorder about 15 months ago (they are still selling at Dick Smith) and I want at least 5 years use with it. When I was searching through government doc's while trying to find the numbers, one discussion document said that most switch overs took longer than expected/wanted, the recent case in the US is a perfect example.

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Reply # 312007 28-Mar-2010 10:58

timestyles:

IMHO the transition period is just far too long. We should be looking at ASO in 2012, not merely an announcement of the ASO date in 2012 and an expected ASO date ~2014

No way, I bought a hard drive based analogue recorder about 15 months ago (they are still selling at Dick Smith) and I want at least 5 years use with it. When I was searching through government doc's while trying to find the numbers, one discussion document said that most switch overs took longer than expected/wanted, the recent case in the US is a perfect example.

Why prolong the inevitable? You purchased a product that was in effect obsolete when you purchased it. Right now you may just get 5 years out of it but have to accept the compromise that it's recording everything in analogue 4:3 letterbox which gives you black borders at the top and bottom regardless of whether you're watching the content on a 4:3 or 16:9 TV.

By prolonging the time until ASO retailers will simply continute to sell obsolete products and sell these to people who are oblivious to what is happening. IMHO every TV without a digital tuner or DVD recorder that is sold should have to come with a warning saying it's in effect obsolete.

There have been countries now looking at much shorter ASO timeframes - Isreal for example began H.264 DVB-T broadcasts in August last year and shut down all analogue on the 31st December 2010. Keyna began digital broadcasts in 2009 and ASO is in 2012. A large chunk of Europe has already ceased broadcasting in analogue and there will be a significant number of western countries that will have joined this list by 2012.

Deev8

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Reply # 312019 28-Mar-2010 11:52

sbiddle: IMHO the transition period is just far too long. We should be looking at ASO in 2012, not merely an announcement of the ASO date in 2012 and an expected ASO date ~2014

That's a perfectly reasonable opinion for a technology enthusiast, and one who has plenty of cash to spend on techno-gadgets. However there is a significant proportion of the population who, through choice or necessity, have different priorities.

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Reply # 312027 28-Mar-2010 12:32

Deev8:
sbiddle: IMHO the transition period is just far too long. We should be looking at ASO in 2012, not merely an announcement of the ASO date in 2012 and an expected ASO date ~2014

That's a perfectly reasonable opinion for a technology enthusiast, and one who has plenty of cash to spend on techno-gadgets. However there is a significant proportion of the population who, through choice or necessity, have different priorities.

There will always be an element of society who see no reason to change and jump up and down when they are forced to make a change. It also goes without saying that the very poor and old in our society will need a helping hand to make the change (the tax payer in NZ is used to this) to Digital TV.

The government should get a ASO date sorted now.

The freeviewHD service should be extended to the next stage of coverage.

All television receiving equipment should be labelled so consumers are aware if it's digital compatible.

wallop

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Reply # 312037 28-Mar-2010 13:35

The recorders are obsolete but not the tv's. You can always buy a standalone box to feed the digital signal to a analogue tv. My parents are currently looking at replacing their tv and my advice is one with freeview built-in would be nice but if they can get a bargain on a non-freeview tv they can always buy a seperate freeview tuner later.

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Reply # 312063 28-Mar-2010 15:31

wallop: The recorders are obsolete but not the tv's. You can always buy a standalone box to feed the digital signal to a analogue tv. My parents are currently looking at replacing their tv and my advice is one with freeview built-in would be nice but if they can get a bargain on a non-freeview tv they can always buy a seperate freeview tuner later.

They can but they'll wish they hadn't. One remote is always better than two.

Regards,

Old3eyes

wallop

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Reply # 312064 28-Mar-2010 15:33

That's probably why they are called Harmony remotes

old3eyes

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Reply # 312103 28-Mar-2010 17:34

wallop: That's probably why they are called Harmony remotes

I have one. Wifey and rest of family still have problems turning the STB on and off. 50% of the time they get it out of sync..

Regards,

Old3eyes

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Reply # 312104 28-Mar-2010 17:39

tdgeek: I expect if there was more Govt advertising that the old system is going, and that digital TV's are now a lower cost option, and if they help subsidise or offer a easy payment option for a Freeview box as they did in the US, that may spur it along.

Hell no, the govt should not be subsidizing peoples entertainment reception at all. If you cant save for a freeview box in the 20 months till 2012 then you have bigger problems. If the boxes hit $100 which they should be able to, then that is less than $5 a month from now till ASO.

Perhaps NZ post should start an analog switchoff loaded card for those who cant save like they have their christmas one for idiots.

Richard rich.ms

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Reply # 312105 28-Mar-2010 17:41

old3eyes:
wallop: That's probably why they are called Harmony remotes

I have one. Wifey and rest of family still have problems turning the STB on and off. 50% of the time they get it out of sync..

Most people have had separate boxes for a very very long time with sky. IMO the harmonys attempts at making it easier end up making it worse since its a pain when it goes out of sync when there are only 2-3 devices and no AVR to make the problems to solve worth solving.

Richard rich.ms

wallop

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Reply # 312107 28-Mar-2010 17:43

I have the same problem with my wife. I was going to upgrade but she would'nt leave the house.

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