Beyond the Crystal Set

The Labor Opposition had been strangely silent about their plans for digital at their national conference held over the weekend 27-29 April, a fact not missed by the Minister.

On 4 April the Industry Advisory Group to Digital Australia was announced. According to the Minister, the Industry Advisory Group will meet regularly to consider matters referred to it by Digital Australia, or issues which its members may identify as requiring consideration.

The group is expected to provide advice on issues of concern to industry and strategies for meeting the switchover timetable, including ways to coordinate information campaigns for consumers.

The Digital Australia Industry Advisory Group will comprise one representative from each of:

• The Seven Network;
• Network Ten;
• The Nine Network;
• The Special Broadcasting Service;
• The Australian Broadcasting Corporation;
• The regional commercial broadcasters;
• The Australian Retailers’ Association (from a member company);
• The Consumer Electronics Suppliers’ Association (from a member company);
• The Australian Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers’ Association (from a member company)
• Digital Broadcasting Australia;
• The Community Broadcasting Association of Australia;
• Broadcast Australia;
• Australian Subscription Television and Radio Association; and
• The Australian Communications and Media Authority.

The Government also expects to appoint an appropriate person or organisation to represent the interests of consumers.

On 23 November 2006 the Minister announced the establishment of the Digital Action Plan to assist with the move to digital and the switch off of analog TV.

The Digital Action Plan had been proposed on 14 March 2006 so that the Government would work in partnership with stakeholders to expedite digital conversion, bring the simulcast period to an end and achieve analogue switchover.

The proposed Digital Action Plan would contain:

• a roadmap to guide the process and a time frame for the closure of analogue television services in Australia;
• measures aimed at providing appropriate incentives to broadcasters, receiver manufacturers/importers and others to move to digital television;
• appropriate incentives and potential assistance that may be required for consumers to move to digital television; and
• the roles that various stakeholders and agencies would play in working together to achieve switchover, including the potential formation of a dedicated new organisation to oversee and co-ordinate the activities necessary to achieve analogue switchover.

The Digital Action Plan would recognise the different requirements for achieving analogue switchover in metropolitan and regional areas nationally.

It is proposed that the Digital Action Plan aim for an analogue switchover period commencing in 2010 to 2012, consistent with the targets set in many other industrialised nations and subject to the development of the roadmap.

On 27 September 2005, the Minister released an issues paper to examine the current arrangements for analogue television switch-off and seek feedback on a range of matters which will help formulate a Digital Action Plan to drive take-up of digital television.

Analogue broadcasting is currently scheduled to cease at the end of 2008 in the five main metropolitan markets. Analogue signals in regional markets are scheduled to switch-off by the end of 2011.

“Given the current level of digital take-up, an analogue switch-off date of 2008 in metropolitan areas seems unachievable. We need a Digital Action Plan to drive digital take-up and a plan for the transition to the point where Australia will be ready to end the expensive simulcast period,” Senator Coonan said.

“The issues paper is an important step. It will examine not only the timetable for analogue switch-off, but also the agenda which needs to be adopted by industry, the Australian Government and others to achieve switch-off.”

The review will cover a range of matters including whether the switch-off date should be market driven or whether a firm date should be set; measures to drive digital take-up; barriers to digital take-up; whether technical and standards issues need to be addressed to further encourage consumers to make the transition to digital and what measures can be brought together into a Digital Action Plan.

“The Australian Government has invested significantly in digital technology. Our existing commitment to digital TV is well over $1 billion to help both our national broadcasters convert to digital,” Senator Coonan said.

“We are also spending around $250 million on the Regional Equalisation Plan, which is assisting regional broadcasters in their conversion.

“I encourage all stakeholders and interested members of the community to participate in this review by responding to the issues paper.”

The issues paper is available at http://www.dcita.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/32142/Review_discussion_paper.pdf