Freeview

Government rationalisation

As part of its broadcasting policy (DTV strategy) the New Zealand government supported the transition to digital television for reasons of:
• Universality – the need for a free, universally available core broadcasting service
• National identity – the need for free-to-air programmes that reflect New Zealand’s culture, identity, perspectives and minority interests
• Economic transformation – the need for innovations in broadcasting to keep pace with related initiatives (e.g. government’s National Digital Strategy) in placing New Zealand at the forefront of technological development.
• Ownership interests – the need for to ensure the future viability of government-owned broadcasting entitites as vehicles for achieving policy objectives. 

Making the switch

With government support, on 2 May, 2007, the New Zealand television (and radio) broadcasting platforms were switched from analogue to digital. The broadcasters taking part were TVNZ, CanWest, Maori Television and Radio New Zealand.
Known as Freeview, the system provides viewers throughout New Zealand with free quality digital television reception.

With broadcasters sharing satellite use, access to consumers is currently provided through a Freeview satellite set top box and satellite dish. Digital TV (DTV) using satellite reception is referred to as Digital Video Broadcast (DVB).

Initially 18 channels are available for television broadcast. But the service at present carries most free-to-aAir (FTA) broadcasters (TV One, TV2, TV3, C4, TVNZ, Maori Television) TV6, which offers three new services TVNZ Kids Zone, TVNZ Family and TVNZ Showcase, Stratos Television, which provides regional, ethnic,  educational, and international  programming , Parliament TV, a live feed from the New Zealand Parliament, Sport Extra, a TVNZ service and Radio New Zealand's two national services RNZ National and RNZ Concert.

Satellites with a footprint over New Zealand also give access to around 50 other Free to Air channels from such places as Australia, The United States, China, Korea, India, Germany and Greece. 

From mid-2008, digital reception will be available through DVBt, a terrestrial service accessed using a standard UHF aerial and a DVBt receiver.  

In November 2007 the Minister of Broadcasting annouced that analogue television is to be phased out with a final cut-off date to be set in 2012 or when digital services are used by 75% of the population, whichever comes first.

The global picture

Digital television technology first appeared in the late 1990s.

Globally, the first phase of what has become known as ‘the digital revolution’ was associated with pay television, which was driven by commercial motivation. The move to free-to-air digital television occurs either through government legislation, with governments determining a date by which analogue services will be ‘switched off’, or through broadcasters making the decision.

At present countries are operating both analogue and digital transmission services, with dates set for analogue switch off varying from country to country - China will switch off in 2015, Brazil in 2016, Germany in 2008, the United Kingdom in 2012, the USA in February 2009 etc.  

The Freeview model developed in New Zealand is based on a model developed in Britain, where the first TV region will introduce free-to-air digital television in October 2007.

References