Digital switchover begins
Analogue television in Mildura/Sunraysia ceased broadcasting at 9am, kicking off the digital switchover plans that will conclude on December 31, 2013.
According to the Digital Switchover Taskforce, “virtually all households in the region” had made the switch, with more than 2500 households receiving help under the Household Assistance Scheme.
“Based on experiences overseas, we know there will be a few people – 1 or 2 percent – who will not be ready for the switch. The Taskforce is ready for this and has help available for any viewers who did not make the switch in time,” said Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy Stephen Conroy.
Three new transmitters were installed to serve the blackspots in Ouyen, Underbool and Robinvale.
Conroy argued that people in that area had moved “from having some of the worst television reception and the most limited choice of channels, to leading Australia in the move to 16 or more channels of clear pictures and crisp sound.”
The Government-funded satellite Viewer Access Satellite Television (VAST) service provides access to the same number of digital television channels that are currently available in capital cities, including multi-channels such as ABC2, ABC3, SBSTwo, 7Two, Go! and OneHD.
The next switch off will take palce in regional South Australia and Broken Hill in NSW on December 15.
