[LINK] Digital TV, live in the clouds, you may not see it

[Jan Whitaker]

http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/digital-tv-could-see-viewers-left-in-the-dark/2008/01/11/1199988590074.html

Digital TV could see viewers left in the dark
Daniel Ziffer
January 12, 2008

TELEVISIONS across Australia could go dead in two 
years as analog signals are switched off, with 
thousands of homes unable to pick up the new digital system.

A study has found that many apartment buildings 
that dominate the inner suburbs are unable to 
receive digital signals as the December 2009 date 
looms when the Government wants to switch off the old analog system in cities.

The world's tallest residential tower, the Q1 
building on the Gold Coast, is just one complex 
where residents cannot receive digital television.

The chief executive of commercial television 
industry body Free TV, Julie Flynn, said the 
problem was extensive, but not insurmountable.

"Switch-over is going to be a complex task," she 
said. "There will be some places — like the Gold 
Coast and the inner-city regions — where it will be a significant issue."

A pilot study on the Gold Coast for the 
government body Digital Broadcast Australia found 
a third of apartment buildings required an 
upgrade costing $10,000 to $20,000 to pick up the 
signal. The lengthy approval process with bodies 
corporate and a lack of appropriate technicians 
were also looming issues, the report said.

"There is always the risk of additional demand 
not being met by the installation industry as the 
switch-over date draws closer," it said.

Last month, Communications Minister Stephen 
Conroy said the switch-over would be completed by the end of 2013.

"Until now, industry has had no declared end date 
and has been unable to plan effectively for 
digital television," he said in a statement.

The Government also extended the starting date 
for digital-only transmission in metropolitan 
markets by a year. The planned December 2008 date 
"is clearly an impossible date for both viewers and industry", he said.

"(We have) inherited a digital take-up rate of 
approximately 30% and will now work with industry 
to ensure that all Australians are prepared for digital television."

Yesterday, Mr Conroy said the ability of people 
in multi-unit dwellings to pick up digital 
signals was a critical issue to be examined by a 
taskforce reporting to him. He said the December 
2009 date for ending the metropolitan analog 
signal could be affected by the taskforce's report.

The managing director of Loewe TV Australasia, 
Alex Encel, said the minister's words were "just 
another vague statement, just like the previous 
government". Mr Encel, who sells high-end digital 
TV sets, said broadcasters lacked the commercial 
benefit to justify the investment in digital.

[JW: now that the stations are using the HD 
channels for more programming, the uptake may 
increase. The cost of HD boxes is also dropping. 
Aldi had a unit a couple weeks ago for $90]


Jan Whitaker
JLWhitaker Associates, Melbourne Victoria
jwhit at janwhitaker.com
business: http://www.janwhitaker.com
personal: http://www.janwhitaker.com/personal/
commentary: http://janwhitaker.com/jansblog/

Living, like writing, requires no wisdom. Only 
revising does. - Jim Sollisch, Sept, 2007
'Seed planting is often the most important step. 
Without the seed, there is no plant.' - JW, April 2005
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