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National Development Digital television broadcasting in Australia by Lyn Maddock, Acting Chair, Australian Broadcasting Authority Digital television broadcasting in Australia, which started in 2001, is now available in some form to more than 90 per cent of the population. The Australian Broadcasting Authority (ABA) has guided this process along, taking care to protect the rights of consumers and has endeavoured to create a competitive market place. The ABA is now studying uses for the radio spectrum that the move to digital broadcasting will free up by fostering the development of new broadcasting and data services. Lyn Maddock is the Acting Chair of the Australian Broadcasting Authority. Originally appointed in December 2000 for a three-year term as a member of the ABA, Ms Maddock has been reappointed for a further four years commencing 13 December 2003. Ms Maddock has extensive management and public policy experience across a range of areas, having held senior positions with the Productivity Commission, the National Occupational Health and Safety Commission, the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet and Westpac Banking Corporation. Ms Maddocks policy experience has been concentrated in the areas of transport, communication and resources, regulatory affairs and public sector management. The first of January 2001 marked the start of the transition from analogue to digital television broadcasting in Australia and signalled the biggest revolution since the change from black and white to colour television in the 1970s. Digital technology brings many advantages; analogue television has reached the ceiling of its potential while digital represents the floor of new possibilities; better quality pictures and sound, multi-channelling, programme enhancements and interactivity. If the sales of digital television set top receivers and integrated digital television sets are any guide, there is no doubt that digital television is taking off in Australia. From a standing start in January 2001, 75 per cent of the population now has access to all five free-to-air television networks in digital and more than 90 per cent has access to at least one digital service. A datacasting trial is currently being conducted in Sydney and the first digital subscription service has started this year, offering extra channels, programming, interactive and enhanced services, better picture and better sound. Introduction of digital TV For two years before digital television was switched on, the Australian Broadcasting Authority, or ABA, laid the groundwork by planning the channels for the digital services to use, broadcasters invested in the infrastructure for its delivery while industry, through Standards Australia, developed the standards and specifications for transmission and reception. Broadcasters in the mainland capital cities of Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth were required to commence digital services on at least one of their transmitter sites by 1 January 2001, as determined in the Broadcasting Services Act 1992. In regional markets, which cover the next most significant population centres, the ABA determined the commencement dates. The ABA had a degree of flexibility about the dates it could determine; however, the Broadcasting Services Act required that all regional broadcasters start by 1 January 2004. To meet their obligations, regional broadcasters commenced at least one transmitter within the market, simulcasting their services in both analogue and digital modes. Broadcasters must simulcast in their markets for eight years, or longer if prescribed, from the date of the first digital service in the market. Digital broadcasts must also match analogue broadcasts. Planning for digital services Both the analogue and digital transmission networks use channels in the VHF and UHF parts of the broadcasting service bands (those parts of the radio frequency spectrum assigned to the ABA for planning of broadcasting services) and the two transmission networks operate simultaneously. The ABA therefore had to find more than twice as many channels for television broadcasting. Fortunately, digital technology came to the aid of the planners, so they could use the channels for digital that could not be used for additional analogue television services and satisfy the increased demand for channels. 14
National Development Each area was planned with a least seven channels, to enable conversion of the five existing networks plus capacity for two future services. Preservation of viewers access to their existing free-to-air services in the simulcast area was of paramount concern for the ABA. The ABA was also concerned about potential interference to the reception of existing analogue services. So, when the switch-on of new digital transmissions results in any interference, the ABA expects the television industry to deal with the problem, in part through the mechanisms of the ABAs Interference Management Scheme. In general, the ABA has been pleased with the industrys response to managing the impact on viewers of digital transmissions. Following the introduction of the first services at the main transmitter in the metropolitan markets, broadcasters have expended considerable effort to increase the coverage of their networks in the rest of their metropolitan markets and to introducing digital transmission in regional areas. Current situation The challenge now facing Australia is to encourage the take-up of consumer equipment, such as digital set top boxes and integrated digital television sets. Although the switch-off of analogue transmission can, by law, occur as early as eight years after digital services began in each area, the government, through a series of statutory reviews, is only now considering the preconditions for turning off analogue services. Digital television set top receivers and integrated digital television sets sales had reached 530,000 units by the end of September 2004, and averaged 40,000 in each of the preceding three months, compared to 10,000 units for the September quarter 2003. On the basis of these figures, more than 700,000 homes (or eight per cent of all households) are expected to be (free-to-air) digital by the end of 2004. Digital subscription television numbers are also growing: passing the 900,000 mark by the end of 2004, if not sooner. Digital Broadcasting Australia believes that sales will continue to be “The challenge now facing Australia is to encourage the take-up of consumer equipment, such as digital set top boxes and integrated digital television sets.” strong as the number of suppliers grows, the range and type of receivers increases and consumers become more aware of the benefits of free-toair digital television. The number of transmitters continues to grow, enabling the continued roll out of digital services. More than 350 transmitters currently provide digital services, reaching more than 90 per cent of the population and at least another 50 are expected to be on air by the end of 2004. The commercial broadcasters have confirmed that they are committed to a common platform for digital terrestrial services based on open standards, with a minimum standard for set top boxes. They also agree that interactive set top boxes for the Australian market should be able to receive all interactive applications from all commercial broadcasters and that boxes should be forward compatible, so that applications for first generation interactive boxes will work with later versions. What can Australian viewers expect from this digital technology HDTV In Australia, it was decided from the outset that high definition television, HDTV, would be an integral part of the suite of facilities offered by digital services. Accordingly, the ABA planned a seven MHz television channel for each national and commercial service in each transmission area. Broadcasters must provide services in standard definition mode and, as well, a legislated minimum of 1040 hours per calendar year of high definition programming. To protect consumers from being forced to purchase a high definition digital receiver, any programme transmitted in high definition must also be transmitted in standard definition. There are signs the decision to adopt HDTV may be vindicated; large display units that benefit from the betterquality digital pictures have proliferated. As the availability of flat display panels increases, and prices continue to fall, more and more Australian consumers are switching to widescreen television. There are now an estimated 640,000 widescreens in Australian homes, of which 30 per cent are relatively expensive plasma or LCD screens. The average monthly sales of widescreen televisions to retailers for third quarter 2004 were 46,000 units. Uptake of widescreen displays is believed to be a key driver in viewer decisions to upgrade to digital reception. Meanwhile, there are indications that demand for true HDTV displays may follow close behind. DVDs will soon be available in high definition and television games will be available in HD, starting Christmas 2004. These, and improved compression technologies — such as MPEG 4 — Part 10 and Windows Media 9 Series — are all driving the demand for better resolution, larger monitors and, ultimately, high definition displays. Data broadcasting When planning for the conversion from analogue to digital television transmission, the ABA planned at Figure 1: Both the analogue and digital transmission networks use channels in the VHF and UHF parts of the broadcasting service bands. 15
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