Important Information about Digital Switchover
Australia is switching to digital-only TV. This means that by the end of 2013 all analog signals will be switched off permanently and replaced with digital-only free-to-air TV.
On 27/11/12 analog television services will be switched off permanently across regional northern NSW. The switchover will affect approximately 500,000 households and will mean that from 27 November 2012 all free-to-air television services across this region will be broadcast in digital only. Please download the
Northern NSW Region Switchover Map (220kB PDF) for more information.
It is important to note that some areas within the defined 27 November 2012 switchover region will need to make the transition to digital-only television even earlier. This is often referred to as an “early switchover.” An early switchover occurs when broadcasters switch off analog TV signals on the same day digital TV signals are switched on. This happens because the self-help tower is unable to provide both analog and digital services at the same time.
Early switchovers will occur in Stroud, Elizabeth Beach, Pacific Palms, Forster, Maclean/Ashby, Smiths Lake, Armidale North, Uralla, Warialda, Byron Bay and Ocean Shores.
Households in early switchover areas are encouraged to get ready now. The Digital Switchover Taskforce will undertake extensive community outreach in advance of each early switchover to ensure local residents and stakeholders are aware and prepared.
There are a wide variety of tools and information available to help people make the switch to digital television. The Digital Ready website
www.digitalready.gov.au and Digital Ready Information Line 1800 20 10 13 are a good first point of call for anyone with questions.
The Digital Ready website contains information about digital switchover including fact sheets, handbooks and instructional videos.
The website also hosts mySwitch; an interactive tool which has been specifically developed to provide address specific information to viewers. This helps prepare for switchover and includes up-to-date information about local digital TV services, the expected coverage of transmitters serving local areas, the frequencies services are transmitted on, and information about switchover dates for specific locations.
The Digital Ready Information Line is open from 8.00 am to 10.00 pm seven days a week to answer public enquiries, and along with the Digital Ready website, is recommended as the primary source of information about the digital switchover, reception issues and questions about technical matters.
Access to Digital Television Services
Most households in the defined northern NSW switchover region will receive digital free-to-air television services from terrestrial transmitters operated by the broadcasters. Broadcasters are required by law to provide the same level of coverage and potential reception quality for their digital services as they currently provide with their analog services.
In preparation for digital switchover, broadcasters are assessing digital coverage from existing transmitters across Northern NSW, and, where necessary, are upgrading digital transmission infrastructure to improve the reliability of digital television reception. In some areas this involves the construction of new transmitter sites (sometimes referred to as ‘gap fillers’) or the addition of new digital services to existing transmitters to provide television viewers with access to the full suite of digital television channels for the first time.
New transmitter sites currently proposed by the broadcasters will service the following areas; Anna Bay, Belmont North, Broken Back, Warners Bay, Boambee Peak, Emerald Heights/Forest Glen and Woolgoolga.
In some areas, analog television services are provided to a community through ‘self-help’ retransmission sites. These are usually operated by local councils. Under an agreement between the Australian Government and commercial television broadcasters across Australia, broadcasters will upgrade a number of self-help sites to operate in digital. As site upgrades are being carried out by the broadcasters, the choice of sites to be upgraded is a matter for them to determine. Site upgrades are not being funded by the government.
Broadcasters are not in a position to upgrade all self help sites, and the majority—including all sites in remote areas—will not be upgraded. People living in areas served by self-help sites that are not upgraded and who are not able to receive digital television from a local terrestrial transmitter will be able to receive their digital television services from the new government funded direct to home Viewer Access Satellite Television (VAST) service.
The VAST service is also available to all people who live in remote licence areas, to people who are not able to receive adequate reception from a local terrestrial transmitter, people who currently receive their television services through the Aurora service, and to travellers to parts of Australia where terrestrial television services are not available. More information about the VAST service is provided under the Satellite Television section of this site.
Household Assistance Scheme
For most people the switch to digital television will be relatively straightforward and inexpensive. However, the government recognises that some people may require additional, practical support to make the switch. To provide this assistance the government has introduced the Household Assistance Scheme.
The Scheme is available to people who have a working television, have not yet converted to digital television and receive the maximum rate of the Age Pension, Disability Support Pension, Carer Payment, Department of Veterans’ Affairs Service Pension or Income Support Supplement.
The Household Assistance Scheme includes, at no cost to eligible people, the supply and installation of a high definition set-top box by a government-contracted installer and, as necessary and where eligibility requirements are met, upgrading of antennas and cables.
More information about the Scheme is available at
www.digitalready.gov.au or by calling 1800 20 10 13.
Satellite Television/ Viewer Access Satellite TV
Households that do not have adequate reception of commercial terrestrial digital television services in their local area may be eligible to receive digital free-to-air television from the Viewer Access Satellite Television (VAST) service.
The Australian Government is providing funding of $375.4 million over 12 years for the VAST service to help close the gap for so many Australians living in regional and remote locations with poor or no terrestrial free to air television services.
The VAST service provides channels carrying programs sourced from Southern Cross Seven, Imparja Nine and TEN, and the main national broadcaster services, ABC1 and SBS ONE, together with the digital standard definition (SD) channels ABC2, ABC3, SBS TWO, 7TWO, GO! and ELEVEN, and the high definition (HD) channels ABC News 24, SBS HD, 7mate, GEM and ONE.
The service also provides viewers with access to all regional news services currently broadcast by the commercial broadcasters in their terrestrial licence areas. Viewers in NSW will therefore be able to access all regional NSW news bulletins broadcast by Prime7, Southern Cross and WIN, as well as the local news bulletins from other parts of regional eastern Australia. These news services are provided through dedicated news channels.
The news services of the national broadcasters, the ABC and SBS, are also provided on the VAST service. ABC news is provided through ABC1 on a state basis, so viewers in New South Wales will be able to receive ABC1 NSW, and through the ABC’s news channel, ABC News 24.
To determine eligibility and apply for VAST, residents should enter their address into
mySwitch at
www.digitalready.gov.au or call 1800 20 10 13. Note, while there is an approval process for accessing the commercial services on VAST (which is managed by the commercial broadcasters), the national services—the ABC and SBS—are available to all VAST users without restriction once they have registered their satellite set-top box.
To access the VAST service viewers need a high definition (HD) VAST-compatible satellite set-top box, a satellite dish and appropriate cabling.
Viewers are advised not to purchase any VAST equipment before they have determined their eligibility to access the VAST service.
Satellite Subsidy Scheme
Households in Northern NSW that receive their analog television services through a self-help site that is not being converted to digital may be eligible for assistance to convert to the VAST service under the Satellite Subsidy Scheme.
The householder will be required to make a one-off contribution of $200–$350 towards the cost of the VAST subsidised installation package. A list of towns that are eligible for the Satellite Subsidy Scheme will be published on the Digital Ready website.
For the list of eligible towns and for information about the Satellite Subsidy Scheme, please go to
www.digitalready.gov.au or call 1800 20 10 13.
Improving Digital Television Reception
In most cases, viewers with good analog reception should receive good digital reception. However, some households may have questions about the quality of their digital television reception. These might relate to pixelation, picture freezing or signal drop-out.
These are symptoms of poor reception or interference and are roughly the equivalent of ghosting or snow in analog television. To improve digital television reception, viewers should ensure that their antenna is in good condition and is correctly set up to receive local digital signals, and their plugs and cables are securely connected and in good working order. Some viewers may need to upgrade their antenna if it is in poor condition (for example, if it has broken or missing elements), or if it is not designed for the channels used for local digital television services.
Reception can also be improved by checking that the antenna is correctly positioned and pointed towards the digital TV transmitter that provides the best coverage. Television reception can also be affected by household appliances that generate electrical interference, and by severe weather. These effects can be minimised by ensuring that antennas are correctly set up and through the use of good quality shielded cabling and connectors.
The Digital Switchover Taskforce recommends that householders consult an Australian Government Endorsed Antenna Installer for advice about how to obtain the best reception at their location.
Residents can find their nearest Endorsed Antenna Installer as well as helpful hints to remedy reception issues by entering their address into
mySwitch at
www.digitalready.gov.au or by calling 1800 20 10 13.
Approved Digital Advisors
Retailers who supply digital television equipment can register to have their business licensed to use the Australian government
Get Ready for Digital TV campaign logo and nominate staff to become approved Digital Advisors.
Approved Digital Advisors from participating retail stores can inform consumers about their options to get ready for digital television and where to find more information.
Participating retail stores also have access to digital television communication material which may help local householders.
Contact details for retail stores with approved Digital Advisors in switchover regions are available at
www.digitalready.gov.au or by calling 1800 20 10 13.
Digital Switchover Liaison Officers
Digital Switchover Liaison Officers will be on the ground in switchover areas during the months leading up to switchover. Liaison officers work with local communities, local councils and community organisations to provide up-to-date switchover information and assistance.
The liaison officers work to help groups of residents who may find it more difficult to switch to digital TV by themselves, such as those who are less mobile, or who find technology challenging. They will provide information on the switchover process and inform residents about other government digital TV initiatives.
Digital Switchover Liaison Officers will be announced in mid 2012 with contact details and information to be made available at
www.digitalready.gov.au and through the Digital Ready Information Line on 1800 20 10 13.