Feel as though the networks have done themselves few favours with viewers with this hodge-podge mix of SD and HD channels across MPEG2 and MPEG4 and lack of coordination and clear communication. All it’s done is resulted in confused and annoyed viewers (typically of the older generation), and probably driven them towards streaming services in some case.
What I’d like to see is a two-part process to transition from MPEG-2 to MPEG-4 reviving the Freeview branding:
The first part would be to move all channels on their primary LCN (i.e. LCN9 in the case of Nine, 93 in the case of 9Gem), and broadcast them in MPEG4 (either HD or SD). Call this service either just ‘Freeview’ or ‘Freeview Pro/Max/Next etc’.
The second part would be to phase out the MPEG-2 services to the bare minimum (i.e. main channels) Use LCNs 102, 103, 107, 109, 110 (or another suitable range- maybe the 900s?)). Call this service ‘Freeview Lite’. Before and once in place, run an advertising campaign with something along the lines of ‘Freeview has upgraded it’s broadcast technology to allow for more great channels in better HD quality. Most TVs and set top boxes should be compatible but older TVs may require a new set top box. In the meantime Freeview Lite will continue broadcasting the main channels until (insert date here).’
Run an advertising campaign and partner with retailers to provide set top boxes for something like $20-$30 during the transition period too to assist those that don’t want to upgrade their whole TV.
I’d also have the MPEG-2 channels broadcast an on screen reminder every 15 minutes (with a pop up or crawler message).
This is what I would do, based on the network. In this scenario all channels would be MPEG-4 by 2025 or 2026.
Nine: Mid to late 2023, move 9GemHD to 92 with the SD removed and 9Life, 9Rush and Extra are turned into MPEG-4 SD. On a later date 9Go! is moved to MPEG-4 HD. Finally, Nine moves to MPEG-4 HD as well as 9Life and maybe 9Rush. Extra would be MPEG-4 SD.
Seven: Use 73 for 7twoHD, then after three months a placeholder is placed on 72. Then after 2 months a reshuffle will happen with 7twoHD and 7mateHD moved to 72 and 73 respectively. The final stage would be making 7 MPEG-4 HD only and flicking 7flix to HD. Racing would remain MPEG-4 SD.
Ten: Flick 10 Peach to MPEG-4 HD. Then after 6 months, switch 10/10 Shake to MPEG-4 HD only. TVSN and gecko would remain MPEG-4 SD.
SBS: Move SBS Food and NITV to MPEG-4 SD. Then, move SBS to MPEG-4 HD only. Not sure if the bandwidth would fit all 6 SBS channels in HD.
ABC: Move the multis to MPEG-4 HD. Then after a few months, put ABC in MPEG-4 HD only.
The Govt are more happy to sit back and let industry self-regulation occur instead of driving public policy on behalf of the viewing public like did they before the 1990s. All the networks think of their spectrum space as private property to do with as they please, include in that the ABC and SBS.
There’s really no need for the Government to get involved unless it is going to be a more substantial shift like trying to achieve a second digital dividend.
A minimal intervention might be along the lines of updating what a compatible Australian market receiver is, to discourage importation and sale of non-compliant receivers, specifying HEVC+DVB-T2 and having a labelling scheme like the old Digital Ready.
SEN recently did a tie up in Kalgoorlie with Harvey Norman to provide radios capable of tuning up to their off band AM frequency to listeners - there’s nothing stopping the FTA networks jointly or individually doing such a thing for set top boxes for MPEG-2 only viewers, should they wish to hurry up a conversion and are concerned about lost viewers.
To me it’s all about networks just needing to bother doing communication - even Seven’s recent efforts sucked "this channel has moved’ - but doing nothing to assist those who the new channel doesn’t work for. A hotline with a recorded message and offer to mail out a pamphlet, a “talk to your retailer” etc.
I like the careful consideration for older viewers in these scenarios, as well as using ‘Lite’ branding for the legacy services. Also the collab with manufacturers to get some cheap or even free set-top boxes out to households is a great idea.
But I don’t know if the networks need to go to these extremes in this day and age. If this was done 10 years ago then it would be wise to be this thorough. But this is more of a technical change than a revamping of the entire Freeview platform. Communication is a must, but it doesn’t need to be so complex, in my opinion.
This is how I’d do it if I were somehow in charge of what every network does (lol)
Silently switch all the multi-channels to MPEG-4, HD or otherwise
Move 10 (SD) to LCN 1, move 10 HD to LCN 10
Rename the channels on LCN 1, 2, 3, 7 and 9 to include “SD” at the end of the name
Run a crawler every X minutes for 6 months across these 5 channels, advising of their future closure
Run a Freeview-branded campaign during commercial breaks a week before closure
Close the SD’s, replace their slots with simulcasts of the primary HD channels
I’d like the crawler to read as follows:
“This channel will only be available in HD from Friday, 3rd November 2023. If you currently receive this channel in HD on channel X0, you don’t need to do anything. If not, you will need to upgrade your TV or set-top box to continue watching. For more information, head to free.view/help or message Freeview on social media.”
Honestly, on one hand I am of the belief that one should be able to access the same FTA channels across Australia, which currently doesn’t happen even within O&O broadcast areas
On the other hand, why are we still holding out on MPEG2! Force a switch date of June 30 2023 and be done with it - if you haven’t changed, your loss!
The Communications Minister should set a timeframe of when all our free-to-air digital channels switch off their SD simulcasts and broadcast in DVB-2 HD and MPEG-4.
We are almost in 2023 and 7, 9, 10 as well as ABC and SBS have SD simulcasts of their main channels and the ABC News channel is in SD and MPEG-2 on LCN 24.
Yes that would be a good idea, also use the 4 LCN with the name “TV CHECK” like what @WAtvVideos suggested in the thread. You wouldn’t be able to use the other LCNs in areas like the GC as 4/40-49 are the only ones available.
I would assume it would be mandatory for all networks to switch to MPEG-4 incl. regional and joint venture (HD if a full MPEG-4 HD switch would happen) but they would not have to carry all channels.
There’s no reason for the Government to care, much less mandate a technology shift the networks largely voluntarily do. The legislative blocks on the networks doing so were removed, the networks can take it from here, coordinated or not - the Government shouldn’t be stepping in to mandate such a change.
For a similar example - other than the original analogue mobile network closure - none of the changes to mobile phone technologies have been government led. 3G switch off is unfolding fairly similarly to MPEG-4 - they have slowly degraded the service on 3G as some frequencies were shifted for 5G usage, but others remain and will shut off at a final date - these are different per mobile operator, per their requirements.
The networks worked out their own timeframes and made a decision - 2G/3G hasn’t been made illegal and the Government didn’t need to act.
Personally, I think that now that 7 owns Prime/GWN, they should renumber all the 6/6x channels to 7/7x, except where there are overlapping markets (e.g. gold Coast) or people are likely to get channels from a state capital and regional transmitter (e.g. Mandurah).
If a big switchover does happen, I would like to see it happen to all regional affiliates. However, because of overlap some markets would be excluded:
Sunshine Coast
Gold Coast
Toowoomba
Lismore
Central Coast
The other markets would be going to their respective LCNs, for example SCA10 is on 10-19, 7 on 70-79 and WIN9 on 90-99. I could also see a reshuffle of the channels for example the WIN channels would be made in line with Nine’s.
Exactly. And then you look at areas like Newcastle and Wollongong which would have overlaps with Sydney. You end up with so many exceptions then what’s the point of it. These services have had this channel numbering for almost 20 years, what’s really to achieve by changing it?
The regional stations overlap with themselves far more often then they in practice overlap with metro. If a receiver can deal with getting both a Bendigo and a Shepparton version of a channel, it can deal with getting a Bendigo and a Melbourne version of the channel. The strongest signal wins.
I’d agree they probably shouldn’t bother changing - but except for the genuine overlap markets where you expect the same level of reception - like Gold Coast or Central Coast - there’s no need for split LCNs.
Outside of those wanting 1:1 duplication of metro networks, regional viewers are likely to be more concerned on channel/program availability, as opposed to whether they move their thumb over their remote another couple of mm from 8 to 9
