New Zealand launches free-to-air digital television Freeview

BY A CORRESPONDENT

4 May, 2007: Freeview, a new digital television service, was launched in New Zealand on May 2, 2007.

The project, supported by the New Zealand government and costing $75 million, will enable the entire New Zealand to watch free-to-air television using digital signals provided by satellite.

This also ends Sky Television’s monopoly over digital broadcasting in New Zealand.

The launch of Freeview promises a wide choice of channels and programmes for the consumers. Freeview will initially broadcast TV One, TV2, TV3, C4, Maori Television, Radio New Zealand National and Radio New Zealand Concert. More channels will be added later on.

The launch of Freeview is being hailed as the most significant broadcasting event since the launch of colour television in New Zealand 30 years ago.

According to New Zealand’s Broadcasting Minister Steve Maharey, it was financially important to make the shift. “If we do this, within the next six to ten years, the financial gain for the country would be around $230 million,” he said.

With the onset of Freeview, people who have had to be content been with poor analogue signals, can now get crystal-clear digital picture. Setting up a set-top box and satellite dish could cost $600.

The basic requirement is a set-top box. The Freeview consortium has certified two pre-tuned models which retail for almost $300 each.

Chinese-made set-top boxes cost $160 each. Satlink managing director Peter Escher’s whole ‘do-it-yourself’ package is half the official cost. The package, Escher says, comprises a very simple dish for a caravan or a mobile home, and a satellite meter. The dish has to be lined up with a sat meter. The receiver, dish and meter cost about $240, according to Escher.

Those with a Sky dish can use that for the Freeview. The existing dishes, be it of Sky or another service provider, can be used for the Freeview.

Experts in the filed say that Freeview’s ultimate success will depend on new channels and content. Freeview needs quality programmes to capture public imagination. TV ONE has promised a lifestyle channel later in 2007 plus a news and information channel.

Sky faces a loss of revenue. Thousands of viewers who pay Sky $18 a month to watch free-to-air television could switch to Freeview.

However, Freeview expects only 20,000 viewers in its first year, compared with Sky’s 690,000 subscribers.

While people in remote areas might make a dash for the clear Freeview, city dwellers may wait till the launch in 2008 of digital terrestrial television, which uses a UHF aerial and needs a different set-top box.