OpenMedia

Chris Barton at the NZ Herald poses the question in a recent article on whether his perfect FreeView set top box ever appear. We at OpenMedia like to think that we already have such a unit. Take a look at the Herald’s article below for more details

• Chris Barton: Lack of vision threatens our brave new world

Also this week the Sunday Star Times covers the additional channels that the new FreeView platform is supposed to be offering. Catch the article on stuff.co.nz‘s website.

• Digital to open up TV channels

Canwest MediaWorks – owner of TV3 and C4 – have confirmed they plan to launch a new channel on the digital network early next year, with perhaps an additional channel to follow in 2008. Follow the links below for more details as well as other news over the last week on digital TV in New Zealand.

There were a number of interesting articles in the NZ Herald over the last couple of days, and someone has been updating the Wikipedia page on FreeView-

• More channels to watch with free digital TV
• Please adjust your set for a digital revolution
• Sky TV shrugs off free-to-air competitor
• Digital TV restrictions for set-top boxes cause ruckus
• Wikipedia’s FreeView page

TVNZ will be making changes to its Free-To-Air test channels that its had up there as part of its experimental digital platform. The changes prepare for FreeView.

On Tuesday 25th July 2006 beginning at 0200 hours (2am) the present content on 12.456GHz will appear on the frequency 12.483GHz as well as 12.456 GHz. Then, on the 31st of July, the two carriers will reduce to just one, namely 12.483 GHz.

Set Top Boxes may need re-tuning.

The rearrangement means one of the experimental channels, showing NASA activities, will not be restored to the test platform.

The list of test channels after the changes on the 25th July will be:

• MTS
• TVONE (Wellington)
• TV2 (Wellington)
• TVONE (Christchurch)
• TV2 (Christchurch)
• Bloomberg
• DWTV
• CCTV9
• TVNZ WIDE

This is the first of a series of changes as FreeView eventuates. Everyone should remember that these channels, including CCTV9 and DWTV, continue to be part of our digital testing and may not be included in the FreeView bouquet.

Ric Carlyon, TVNZ Digital Group, (09) 916 7658 or  email
digital@tvnz.co.nz

There is a press release from BCL on the Scoop website indicating that a independent broadcaster has been signed up for the new NZ Freeview platform. At this stage they haven’t confirmed the name, but the rumour mill is suggesting it might be Triangle. The information is now also available on BCL’s own website.

Well the big news of the week is the Governments announcement on the future of Digital TV in New Zealand. It appears that we will be going with a dual DTT (Digital Terrestrial TV) and DTH (Direct To Home via satellite) path. This is great news for the New Zealand consumer as it will provide up to 18 TV stations in a high quality digital format. The “Freeview” group will be made up of TVNZ, TVWorks (CanWest), Maori TV and TAB.

For more details take a look at the following media releases -

• New Zealand Government Release
• NZ Government Digital Background Document
• TVNZ’s Media Release
• BCL’s Media Release

Plus TVNZ have just launched a Digital TV Website.

The story has also been featured in most of the New Zealand press -

• 18 TV channels and it’s all free
• Free-to-air digital TV from next year
• Digital TV to cost taxpayers $25m
• Future of free-to-air digital TV revealed
• Free TV Enters Digital Age. Finally.
• Freeview is coming to a small screen near you
  

So far we have yet to see any online announcements from CanWest.

Now what does this mean for existing, and potential, myPVR users? Well once we have full technical details then we can confirm support, but we are already testing myPVR with the initial DTT test broadcasts.