Digital television is being rolled out across Australian metropolitan and regional areas.
For Melbourne residents, Antenna Installation experts are available to help you upgrade
your satellite coverage. In Australia we have five major networks that broadcast digital
television, the ABC, SBS, Seven Network, Nine Network and Network Ten.
By installing
digital coverage in your home, you can have renewed access to a whole range of new
channels. Within the Melbourne region you could be watching the ABC, ABC News 24,
ABC2, ABC3, SBSONE, SBSHD, SBS2, Channel 7, 7mate, 7TWO, Channel 9, Gem,
Go!, Channel Ten, ONE, 11, C31, TVSN, NITV, 4ME, Extra, Extra2, Spree TV and Fresh
Ideas TV.
The Australian Government’s report on Digital Television Transmission and Reception
in October last year, outlines how the Department of Communications plans to improve
our access to broadcasting services. The report stipulates that the Government, “funds
a free-to-air satellite service that provides viewers residing in remote licence areas, and
those residing in digital television terrestrial blackspots in metropolitan and regional
licence areas (Department of Communications 2013, 3). The initiative has been named
the Viewer Access Satellite Television or VAST.
The change to digital means for consumers that, “In order to access the VAST service,
viewers will require direct-to-home satellite reception equipment, including a satellite dish
and set-top box. The costs of installation will vary depending on the location, the size of
the satellite receiving dish required and characteristics of the viewer’s home” (Department of Communication 2013,4).
The conversion schemes require commercial and national broadcasters to submit for
approval one or more Implementation Plans (IP) relating to digital transmission. The IP is
a broadcaster’s commitment, which may be approved by the Australian Communications
and Media Authority (ACMA) in the case of commercial licensees, or alternatively by
the Minister for national broadcasters. Broadcasters must firstly, provide transmission
of a television broadcasting service in digital mode from specified sites, secondly cover
specified areas by specified dates, and third meet the objectives relating to same level of
coverage and potential reception quality.
The report recognises that “It is likely that many areas with deficient analogue television
terrestrial reception will also have deficient digital television reception unless the
broadcaster’s wider digital footprint reaches the area, the broadcaster’s or current
operator convert an existing analogue television self-help retransmission site to digital,
or a local council or group establishes a new digital television self-help retransmission
site” (Department of Communication 2013, 6). The report outlines the progress being
made in getting coverage to metropolitan and regional television areas. “All expected
IPs for metropolitan and regional licence areas were approved by 27 July 2013. All
expected digital television transmissions for areas covered by the conversion schemes
have commenced within metropolitan and regional licence areas” (Department of
Communication 2013, 7).
The report exemplifies the important of installing the necessary satellite systems in order
to receive your digital channels. “The VAST service, which is funded by the Government,
provides digital television services to eligible households in all areas where no terrestrial
coverage is available, [however] satellite reception equipment needs to be installed to
receive this service” (Department of Communications 2013, 10).
If you need to install an antenna on your roof, give the guys at Digital Antennas Today
a call on 1300 721 149. Alternatively you can visit their website to find out about all their
digital antenna installation services in Melbourne http://digitalantennastoday.com.au/.