Some program details have now been released for the first of TVNZ’s new digital channels TVNZ 6, which will launch on the 30th September. The channel will be broken down into three different branded areas.
For more details take a look at the new TVNZ 6 website.
Their additional channel TVNZ 7 is currently due for launch in March 2008, and both of these new channels will be advertising free.
TVNZ have now officially announced the date at which their channels will go widescreen on freeview and Sky Digital. This follows TVWorks who’s channels TV 3 and C4 already transmit in widescreen. To look for widescreen information at www.tvnz.co.nz use the keyword ‘widescreen’.
Existing and potential myPVR customers should take a look at our freeview information page and the myPVR FAQ for more details on these widescreen transmissions.
Keep your eyes open for the OpenMedia team in Portland Oregon over the next week as we will be attending both UbuntuLive and O’Reilly’s OSCON 2007.
There are some great sessions on emerging technology including OpenMoko, as well as a chance to catch up with the Mythbuntu team.
Feel free to catch up with us over one of Portland’s many excellent Micro Brew beers.
The former freeview V8 channel has now been renamed TVNZ Sport Extra, bringing additional sports content to freeview digital on top of the existing V8 coverage. Initially this will include the Junior All Whites competing in the FIFA Under-20 World Cup.
For some more details take a look at
Existing myPVR customers with freeview can already get this channel as shown below, with full schedule details in our EPG.
| Only freeview channels | Channel 20 |
| Dual Sky TV and freeview | Channel 1903 |
Once again this weekend you can watch live V8 coverage exclusively on freeview. Full details of the coverage are available via both the freeview MHEG-5 EPG and the myPVR standard EPG as shown below.
OpenMedia’s myPVR customers who have our freeview upgrade can find this coverage as follows
| Only freeview channels | Channel 20 |
| Dual Sky TV and freeview | Channel 1903 |
Three articles on freeview from this weekend’s Herald are available on their website
It would appear that the switch to wide-screen by TV3 and C4 has provoked a negative reaction from a number of consumers. Time will tell if NZ is really ready for 16:9 TV.
We also expect the initial use of the DTH (satellite) service exceed the 30,000 predicted by the Herald. Even in the larger cities there are a lot of people who won’t be able to get the DTT (terrestrial) service. The recent advertising blitz by Sky TV to get people with old unused dishes to reconnect is also a good sign.
A lot of consumers will be holding out for the arrival of TVs with integrated digital tuners. Word of warning – make sure that that will support the NZ terrestrial service as existing units designed for the UK and Australia might not work here.
Also OpenMedia would like to clarify that we don’t provide EPG data. We have been working on supporting the EPG data streams that are part of the freeview platform. As well as supporting the official freeview MHEG-5 based EPG, we provide our own integrated EPG software that allows consumers to record from a Sky Box, directly off freeview in digital quality, and off their old VHF/UHF aerial. No need to worry about selecting the correct input as myPVR does it all automatically. Lastly unlike the new official freeview STBs, myPVR provides a digital video connection for newer screens.
Its a week before the official launch and we are very pleased to announce that TV 3 and C4 have just started transmitting on the second freeview satellite transponder of 12456 H. As well as a reasonably high bit rate 16:9 picture they are using a higher audio bit rate of 256K compared with 192K for TV One and TV 2.
There still appear to be some minor technical issues with the TV3 and C4 wide-screen transmissions, in particular if you are watching the picture on a 4:3 screen that will hopefully be resolved prior to the official launch.
This update has also heralded the arrival of the Radio New Zealand National and Concert services on the freeview transponders. Unlike the previous Sky TV transmissions they are now using a full 48KHz audio stream which sounds considerably better.
We finally get to see some official information on the pending freeview launch on May 2nd thanks to the arrival of the official website. As well as service details it includes information on the separate terrestrial launch in 2008. Until then there will be a DTH (satellite) service that will cover the whole of New Zealand.
We advise any customers with Sky TV who are interested in freeview to take a look at the “Dual installations of freeview and Sky from one dish” in their troubleshooting section. Until Sky TV complete their transition to horizontal polarity on the Optus D1Satellite there is a technical conflict if Sky and freeview tuners share a common satellite dish.
For all of the information on myPVR‘s support for freeview see our new new info page, or contact OpenMedia for more details on how myPVR provides a full feature freeview compatible PVR. Why get a basic freeview STB when you could have the power of a myPVR.
OpenMedia and myPVR got a special mention in this weekends Herald article titled “TV – but not as we know it“.
Sadly the on-line version of the story doesn’t include the picture of Steven (our self confessed geek) demoing myPVR that is included on page B9 of the printed edition.
For more details on myPVR‘s support for freeview see our new info page.
OpenMedia have now launched a website dedicated to myPVR. This new website mypvr.co.nz will have all of the most up-to-date information on myPVR and where it stands in the world of freeview digital television.
OpenMedia is also pleased to announce that myPVR now ships with a dual core CPU as standard. By using AMD energy efficient CPUs we can provide the best levels of computing power, whilst maintaining a low system temperature.