Southern Cross Austereo admits 9HD and 9Life will be taken off-air in switch-over
Southern Cross Austereo (SCA) has admitted it will have to take the high definition channel 9HD and lifestyle channel 9Life off-air as the regional broadcaster prepares to switch over its content in regional areas in Queensland, Southern NSW and Victoria from Ten to Nine.
The TV network says it has ordered the technology but has admitted it will not be ready for switch-over on July 1 and that it could be up to six weeks before it’s ready.
“SCA will broadcast 9HD on channel 50 on viewers’ remote control and 9Life on channel 54 of viewers’ remote control but the two channels will not be immediately available on 1 July,” said an SCA spokeswoman.
“We have ordered the new equipment we need to broadcast the two channels and as soon as we are able, we will put them to air.
The move means major sporting events such as the final State of Origin match, potentially, may not be broadcast in HD.
Regional viewers impacted by the change do have the option of watching a live stream of 9Life via the 9Now website while its unavailable for broadcast.
“They will both be up and running by mid-August at the latest,” said the SCA spokeswoman.
Nine launched both channels late last year with the TV network announcing at the end of April that it would switch its affiliate TV broadcast rights to Southern Cross Austereo from WIN Corporation as of July 1.
Over the weekend, in the key market of northern New South Wales, where Nine owns a licence through NBN, SCA announced it has renewed its affiliation agreement with the Ten Network and will continue to broadcast TenNetwork programming.
The Northern NSW licence area includes the Gold Coast, Newcastle, Coffs Harbour and Tamworth. Unchanged, SCA will continue as before to sell these Ten programs to its national and local clients.
Hi Nic – couple of small things – it won’t be taken off in Northern NSW, Nine owns the Channel 9 NNSW market station, not WIN or SCA. It’s business as usual for 9NBN and the 9Go, 9Gem, 9Life and 9HD stations in NNSW.
Also I got this from SCA regarding their SCTen station in NNSW:
“In answer to your question about SCA Ten getting HD in Northern NSW. Yes we will be installing HD In northern NSW but it will take us a little longer – it will probably be more like September. Again we have to order equipment, get it installed tested etc.”
User ID not verified.
Thanks for flagging Mark.
The line about Northern NSW has been corrected.
Cheers
Nic – Mumbrella
Looks like SCA are not having any more success with their gear than I am with my LCD TVs trying to watch 9HD. When your regional affiliate can’t get it to work either then you know you are in trouble. Bring back MPEG2 (like 7 did) I say!
User ID not verified.
I’m in south Gippsland will SC programs still b availabile after 1 July.
User ID not verified.
Why not just shell out $30 for a MPEG-4 capable receiver like a normal person?
User ID not verified.
Yes SC programs will still be available but they will be broadcasting Nine Network Programs on Southern Cross from July 1st, Channel 10 Programs which is currently broadcast by Southern Cross will move to WIN TV on the same date, WIN TV will still be on LCN 8 (With Channel 10’s programming) while Southern Cross will stay on LCN 5 (With 9’s programming).
However HD/9Life which is currently broadcast by WIN (under their current affilation with Nine) will be off air until further notice (but it will be back on air by mid August), WIN’s HD Channel will continue on LCN 80 Broadcasting TEN HD.
User ID not verified.
What about ten’s other channels One and eleven?
User ID not verified.
With the movement of tv association do I need to reprogram my tv set to watch nine programs?
User ID not verified.
When will 9 life be returning to Hobart television
User ID not verified.