Tasmanian Digital Television
Encyclopedia
Tasmanian Digital Television (TDT, callsign TDT-11) is a digital
television station in Tasmania
, Australia
. It is jointly owned by the WIN Corporation
and Macquarie Media Group
, and largely managed by WIN Television
.
(ABA) believes that there is not enough advertising revenue in some areas to keep three broadcasters afloat.
In 2002, WIN Television
, who had a Nine Network
affiliation in Tasmania, and Southern Cross Broadcasting
, who held dual Seven
and Ten
Network affiliations, lodged a joint application under the Broadcasting Services Act (1992) to establish a third commercial broadcaster in Tasmania. The application, by TasTV Pty Ltd (not to be confused with the former name of WIN Television in Tasmania) was successful.
TDT was the first digital-only commercial channel in Australia. TDT's effect on the digital television market in Tasmania was widely anticipated, as success or failure would strongly guide the digital plans of other broadcasters.
TDT began broadcasting on VHF channel 11 from Mount Wellington in Hobart
in late December 2003, and on UHF to north-eastern Tasmania (including Launceston
) in August 2004, and in 2006 Kelcey Tier, Devonport. Rollout is expected to continue to the rest of the state, including the rest of the north-west coast, the west coast and the east coast before the digital switchover in 2013.
It was a resounding success. Sales of set-top-boxes and digital televisions exploded.
Further expansion around the state will occur at the same time the existing analog FTA broadcasters start digital services. A high definition
version of the service was launched in April 2005 and broadcasts using the 1080i
format.
As part of the joint venture, Southern Cross Broadcasting is responsible for handling playout (from their Canberra facility), and transmits this signal via satellite to WIN Television transmission facilities in Tasmania. WIN Television handle the business administration and advertising sales for TDT.
Southern Cross didn't want to disrupt its existing programming, so the agreement TDT signed with the Ten Network still allows Southern Cross to have 'first pick' of Ten programming. If both networks wish to broadcast a program, Southern Cross must broadcast it at the same time as TDT. If Southern Cross wishes to broadcast a Ten program at a different time, TDT will often show repeats or substitute programming instead. Examples of this include Thank God You're Here, The Bold And The Beautiful, and The Wedge. Huey's Cooking Adventures was an exception, with both networks screening it at different times.
From its initial broadcast in late December 2003, to late January 2004, TDT showed a direct feed of ATV-10
in Melbourne. Southern Cross dropped Rove Live and Totally Wild in 2004, Big Brother in 2006, The Bold and the Beautiful in 2007, Hueys Cooking Adventures, Australian Idol and Thank God You're Here in 2008 (though it was brought back in 2009 with its move to Seven), and Neighbours and The Simpsons in 2009, TDT now broadcast these shows. Southern Cross as of 2009 does not show any Ten programming, except for AFL telecasts, and is almost fully aligned with Seven.
During the AFL
season, Ten News is presented by George Donikian
in Melbourne, Adelaide, Hobart & Perth on Saturday nights at 6:00pm, as well as a local edition of Sports Tonight
. On Sunday, Ten News is presented by Natarsha Belling
from TEN-10
Sydney.
For the 2010 Commonwealth Games
(which Network Ten has terrestrial broadcasting rights) on One HD, TDT will use its digital channel 5 for the coverage.
In 2011, TEN Evening News Melbourne is broadcast on TEN Tasmania airs on weekends at 6pm.
Notes:
and 720p
high definition
(One HD). TDT is broadcast in most areas across Tasmania
. TDT is an affiliate of Network Ten
and One, carries their branding and most programs.
Digital television
Digital television is the transmission of audio and video by digital signals, in contrast to the analog signals used by analog TV...
television station in Tasmania
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. It is jointly owned by the WIN Corporation
WIN Corporation
The WIN Corporation is a Wollongong based media company, that owns the WIN Television network, NWS, and STW in Australia.It began broadcasting in Wollongong with one station in 1963. Bruce Gordon acquired control of the company in 1979 and initiated a period of growth which has seen the Network...
and Macquarie Media Group
Macquarie Media Group
Southern Cross Media Group is one of Australia's major media companies. On 3 July 2007 Southern Cross Broadcasting recommended Macquarie Media Group's offer of A$1.35 billion, for a takeover of the corporation. Under the deal, Macquarie Media Group will then on sell the metropolitan radio...
, and largely managed by WIN Television
WIN Television
WIN Television is an Australian television network owned by the WIN Corporation that is based in Wollongong, New South Wales. WIN commenced transmissions on 18 March 1962 as a single Wollongong-only station, and has since expanded to 24 owned-and-operated stations with transmissions covering a...
.
Introduction
In Australia, the major capital cities, and a majority of the regional areas, are served by three commercial broadcasters. However, some less populated areas are only granted two licenses (and until the early 2000s, one in some cases). This is because the Australian Broadcasting AuthorityAustralian Broadcasting Authority
The Australian Broadcasting Authority was an Australian government agency whose main roles were to regulate broadcasting, radiocommunications and telecommunications....
(ABA) believes that there is not enough advertising revenue in some areas to keep three broadcasters afloat.
In 2002, WIN Television
WIN Television
WIN Television is an Australian television network owned by the WIN Corporation that is based in Wollongong, New South Wales. WIN commenced transmissions on 18 March 1962 as a single Wollongong-only station, and has since expanded to 24 owned-and-operated stations with transmissions covering a...
, who had a Nine Network
Nine Network
The Nine Network , is an Australian television network with headquarters based in Willoughby, a suburb located on the North Shore of Sydney. For 50 years since television's inception in Australia, between 1956 and 2006, it was the most watched television network in Australia...
affiliation in Tasmania, and Southern Cross Broadcasting
Southern Cross Broadcasting
Southern Cross Broadcasting Limited was a diversified Australian media company, that owned and operated a variety of media businesses, primarily radio and television.-History:...
, who held dual Seven
Seven Network
The Seven Network is an Australian television network owned by Seven West Media Limited. It dates back to 4 November 1956, when the first stations on the VHF7 frequency were established in Melbourne and Sydney.It is currently the second largest network in the country in terms of population reach...
and Ten
Network Ten
Network Ten , is one of Australia's three major commercial television networks. Owned-and-operated stations can be found in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth, while affiliates extend the network to cover most of the country...
Network affiliations, lodged a joint application under the Broadcasting Services Act (1992) to establish a third commercial broadcaster in Tasmania. The application, by TasTV Pty Ltd (not to be confused with the former name of WIN Television in Tasmania) was successful.
TDT was the first digital-only commercial channel in Australia. TDT's effect on the digital television market in Tasmania was widely anticipated, as success or failure would strongly guide the digital plans of other broadcasters.
TDT began broadcasting on VHF channel 11 from Mount Wellington in Hobart
Hobart
Hobart is the state capital and most populous city of the Australian island state of Tasmania. Founded in 1804 as a penal colony,Hobart is Australia's second oldest capital city after Sydney. In 2009, the city had a greater area population of approximately 212,019. A resident of Hobart is known as...
in late December 2003, and on UHF to north-eastern Tasmania (including Launceston
Launceston, Tasmania
Launceston is a city in the north of the state of Tasmania, Australia at the junction of the North Esk and South Esk rivers where they become the Tamar River. Launceston is the second largest city in Tasmania after the state capital Hobart...
) in August 2004, and in 2006 Kelcey Tier, Devonport. Rollout is expected to continue to the rest of the state, including the rest of the north-west coast, the west coast and the east coast before the digital switchover in 2013.
It was a resounding success. Sales of set-top-boxes and digital televisions exploded.
Further expansion around the state will occur at the same time the existing analog FTA broadcasters start digital services. A high definition
High-definition television
High-definition television is video that has resolution substantially higher than that of traditional television systems . HDTV has one or two million pixels per frame, roughly five times that of SD...
version of the service was launched in April 2005 and broadcasts using the 1080i
1080i
1080i is the shorthand name for a high-definition television mode. The i means interlaced video; 1080i differs from 1080p, in which the p stands for progressive scan. The term 1080i assumes a widescreen aspect ratio of 16:9, implying a frame size of 1920×1080 pixels...
format.
As part of the joint venture, Southern Cross Broadcasting is responsible for handling playout (from their Canberra facility), and transmits this signal via satellite to WIN Television transmission facilities in Tasmania. WIN Television handle the business administration and advertising sales for TDT.
Programming
There was significant public speculation about what programming the new station would carry. One of two options was suggested; Southern Cross would drop one of its affiliations (either Seven or Ten) and TDT would pick it up; or TDT would also become a dual Seven and Ten affiliate, and carry the programs that Southern Cross didn't broadcast.Southern Cross didn't want to disrupt its existing programming, so the agreement TDT signed with the Ten Network still allows Southern Cross to have 'first pick' of Ten programming. If both networks wish to broadcast a program, Southern Cross must broadcast it at the same time as TDT. If Southern Cross wishes to broadcast a Ten program at a different time, TDT will often show repeats or substitute programming instead. Examples of this include Thank God You're Here, The Bold And The Beautiful, and The Wedge. Huey's Cooking Adventures was an exception, with both networks screening it at different times.
From its initial broadcast in late December 2003, to late January 2004, TDT showed a direct feed of ATV-10
ATV-10
ATV is a television station in Melbourne, Australia, part of Network Ten - one of the three major Australian commercial television networks.-History:...
in Melbourne. Southern Cross dropped Rove Live and Totally Wild in 2004, Big Brother in 2006, The Bold and the Beautiful in 2007, Hueys Cooking Adventures, Australian Idol and Thank God You're Here in 2008 (though it was brought back in 2009 with its move to Seven), and Neighbours and The Simpsons in 2009, TDT now broadcast these shows. Southern Cross as of 2009 does not show any Ten programming, except for AFL telecasts, and is almost fully aligned with Seven.
During the AFL
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
season, Ten News is presented by George Donikian
George Donikian
-Radio career:George commenced his media career as an announcer with Radio station 4AM in far North Queensland in the mid 1970s, and was soon lured in a southerly direction and arrived at 2WL in Wollongong, New South Wales....
in Melbourne, Adelaide, Hobart & Perth on Saturday nights at 6:00pm, as well as a local edition of Sports Tonight
Sports Tonight
Sports Tonight was an Australian sports information program broadcast on Network Ten . The program was broadcast on Weeknights at 10.30 pm; at 11.00pm , Fridays at 12.00am , and on Sunday from 7:30pm AEDT Sports Tonight was an Australian sports information program broadcast on Network Ten (and on...
. On Sunday, Ten News is presented by Natarsha Belling
Natarsha Belling
Natarsha Belling is an Australian news presenter on Network Ten.Belling is currently presenter of Ten Morning News and Ten News at Five: Weekend with Matt Doran.-Career:...
from TEN-10
TEN-10
TEN is the callsign of Network Ten's flagship Sydney television station. It was originally owned and operated by United Telecasters Sydney Limited , and began transmission on 5 April 1965 with the highlight of the opening night being the variety special TV Spells Magic.-History:TEN often lagged in...
Sydney.
For the 2010 Commonwealth Games
2010 Commonwealth Games
The 2010 Commonwealth Games, officially known as the XIX Commonwealth Games, were held in Delhi, India, from 3 to 14 October 2010. A total of 6,081 athletes from 71 Commonwealth nations and dependencies competed in 21 sports and 272 events, making it the largest Commonwealth Games till date...
(which Network Ten has terrestrial broadcasting rights) on One HD, TDT will use its digital channel 5 for the coverage.
In 2011, TEN Evening News Melbourne is broadcast on TEN Tasmania airs on weekends at 6pm.
Main Transmitters
| Region served | City | Channels Channel (broadcasting) In broadcasting, a channel is a range of frequencies assigned by a government for the operation of a particular radio station, television station or television channel. In common usage, the term also may be used to refer to the station operating on a particular frequency.-See also:*Broadcast... |
First air date | ERP Effective radiated power In radio telecommunications, effective radiated power or equivalent radiated power is a standardized theoretical measurement of radio frequency energy using the SI unit watts, and is determined by subtracting system losses and adding system gains... |
HAAT Height above average terrain Height above average terrain is used extensively in FM radio and television, as it is actually much more important than effective radiated power in determining the range of broadcasts... 1 |
Transmitter Coordinates | Transmitter Location |
| Hobart Hobart Hobart is the state capital and most populous city of the Australian island state of Tasmania. Founded in 1804 as a penal colony,Hobart is Australia's second oldest capital city after Sydney. In 2009, the city had a greater area population of approximately 212,019. A resident of Hobart is known as... |
Hobart Hobart Hobart is the state capital and most populous city of the Australian island state of Tasmania. Founded in 1804 as a penal colony,Hobart is Australia's second oldest capital city after Sydney. In 2009, the city had a greater area population of approximately 212,019. A resident of Hobart is known as... |
11 (VHF Very high frequency Very high frequency is the radio frequency range from 30 MHz to 300 MHz. Frequencies immediately below VHF are denoted High frequency , and the next higher frequencies are known as Ultra high frequency... ) |
January 1, 2004 | 50 kW | 1004 m | 42°53′42"S 147°14′10"E | Mount Wellington Mount Wellington (Tasmania) Mount Wellington is a mountain on whose foothills is built much of the city of Hobart, Tasmania, Australia. It is often referred to simply as 'the Mountain' by the residents of Hobart, and it rises to AHD over the city.... |
| North Eastern Tasmania | Launceston Launceston, Tasmania Launceston is a city in the north of the state of Tasmania, Australia at the junction of the North Esk and South Esk rivers where they become the Tamar River. Launceston is the second largest city in Tasmania after the state capital Hobart... |
52 (UHF Ultra high frequency Ultra-High Frequency designates the ITU Radio frequency range of electromagnetic waves between 300 MHz and 3 GHz , also known as the decimetre band or decimetre wave as the wavelengths range from one to ten decimetres... ) |
August 2004 | 1250 kW | 839 m | 41°23′27"S 147°25′28"E | Mount Barrow Mount Barrow Mount Barrow is a mountain located 46 kilometres north east of Launceston, Tasmania. The three kilometre long plateau reaches a maximum altitude of 1413 metres above sea level and receives regular snowfalls in winter. Mount Barrow State Reserve occupies 459 hectares and is an important subalpine... |
Notes:
- 1. HAATHeight above average terrainHeight above average terrain is used extensively in FM radio and television, as it is actually much more important than effective radiated power in determining the range of broadcasts...
estimated from http://www.itu.int/SRTM3/ using EHAAT.
Availability
Tasmanian Digital Television is simulcast in digital standard definitionStandard-definition television
Sorete-definition television is a television system that uses a resolution that is not considered to be either enhanced-definition television or high-definition television . The term is usually used in reference to digital television, in particular when broadcasting at the same resolution as...
and 720p
720p
720p is the shorthand name for 1280x720, a category of High-definition television video modes having a resolution of 1080 or 720p and a progressive scan...
high definition
High-definition television
High-definition television is video that has resolution substantially higher than that of traditional television systems . HDTV has one or two million pixels per frame, roughly five times that of SD...
(One HD). TDT is broadcast in most areas across Tasmania
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
. TDT is an affiliate of Network Ten
Network Ten
Network Ten , is one of Australia's three major commercial television networks. Owned-and-operated stations can be found in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth, while affiliates extend the network to cover most of the country...
and One, carries their branding and most programs.
See also
- Darwin Digital Television
- Mildura Digital TelevisionMildura Digital TelevisionTen Mildura is a joint venture television station between Prime Media Group and Win Television. Based in Mildura, Victoria, Australia, it is a digital-only Network Ten affiliate, and began broadcasting on 1 January 2006....
Victoria - Southern Cross TelevisionSouthern Cross TelevisionSouthern Cross Television, or Southern Cross, is an Australian television network available in Tasmania, Darwin, Regional South Australia, and Central Australia. Although the programming varies from region to region, all areas are affiliated with the Seven Network and, in some areas, have a dual...
- Southern Cross TenSouthern Cross TenSouthern Cross Ten is an Australian television channel broadcast by the Macquarie Media Group in Queensland, New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory, Victoria and South Australia. The channel is owned by the Macquarie Media Group as is affiliated to Network Ten...
- Television broadcasting in Australia