Reducing the spectrum allocation is going to be the driver of any move toward T2 and it’s not going to come from the networks.
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My understanding is the Govt desires the commercials to share 2 mux’s in each market, and that ABC and SBS would also be back to sharing a TV mux (which was the initial proposal for the 2 national broadcasters when DTV planning started). Therefore, 3 mux’s in use in each market instead of the current allocated 6. Metro markets has planning for a 6th VHF mux (on VHF10) in their LAP’s. This means both Melbourne and Adelaide currently have 7 when you include those markets use of UHF for community TV, which only applies in those 2 markets LAP’s only.
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There are a few places with an open narrowcast station (e.g. Broome, Darwin) that also have seven reserved frequencies including one unallocated. There’s also Cobar, which for some reason has four commercial frequencies allocated (three from Remote Central & Eastern Australia, one from Southern NSW).
A few places have nine frequencies allocated because they have six commercial stations (three from each of two overlapping markets), e.g. the Gold Coast, parts of the Central Coast.
The rest of this post is my opinion only. If the ABC & SBS were to share a multiplex and each commercial, community or open narrowcast channel were share a multiplex with another such broadcaster/narrowcaster (with each having half a multiplex each), then all areas with six reserved channels (including one unallocated) could be accommodated on three frequencies. Instead of an unallocated channel, there would have to be a spare half-a-multiplex.
The places with seven reserved channels are few and far between and could probably be accommodated on four frequencies, or just three without a spare half-multiplex. The places with nine reserved channels could be accommodated on five frequencies including one spare half-multiplex.
Some here may have seen this document, but for those that haven’t, testing has already been done by Free TV Australia, with help & support from TX Australia/NPC, BAI & all the TV networks as to the suitability of going DVB-T2 & finding any issues with either transmission or receivers & sharing multiplexes between networks & a report was made for ACMA with all the details.
A number of different configurations were tested with sharing of networks across multiplexes, pages 22 - 24 of this report shows the different multiplex sharing configurations tested & possible.
https://www.acma.gov.au/sites/default/files/2023-12/Final%20report%20-%20TV%20receiver%20performance%20testing%20%20December%202023%20REDACTED.pdf
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Thanks for that. Is sad they tested with SD services still in the mix. Is high time SD was killed off. Being that the networks are streaming in HD in some cases what are SD broadcast services these days.
I don’t think this is going to happen. The networks have no money for this unless the Govt pays for the transition so as to free up spectrum. Not to mention ensuring that there is a sizeable proportion of the population with DVBT2 capable receivers.
If some networks are reluctant to retire SD mpeg2 services, what chance does any of this have?
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WIN in regional WA has finally placed 9HD on LCN 8 and removed Channel 9 SD, on both satellite and terrestrial.
Unfortunately, 9Gem and 9Go! are still in SD despite now having the capability to do HD multi-channels as seen on Seven Regional WA. They also gain some space by removing the SD primary. Come on, WIN!?
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Strange given they’ve already made 9Go! and 9Gem HD-only in other markets
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One observation about terrestrial TV whilst in Britain and France.
Almost every single TV antenna I’ve seen is a Yagi, I think I’ve only seen one phased array the whole time.
I thought that was interesting.
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Anyone here live in Yea, VIC? Just curious if it’s a relay from Shepparton (e.g. 7HD Shepparton)
Any log periodics?
In Rome in the 1990’s I saw some different looking antennas. I assume they were phased arrays but not sure, as they looked a bit like the ones I saw around Warrnambool in the 2010’s.
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I think i did see a few of those, but not many.
Only saw one phased array.
How do I know if a transmitter is still broadcasting channels from it’s site. (I’m wondering for Anglesea btw. I believe the retransmission license is still active)
Does anyone know if 7regional nsw will go HD. A scroller game up on home and away tonight mentioning new hd services
Yes, Anglesea is still transmitting all channels from the local site.
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At some stage yes, all 7 Regional stations/channels (ex-Prime7) will go identical to Seven Queensland, it’ll just take some time, how long I can’t answer that, but yes over the next 6 months or so.
Wish they would change their LCNs to 7 as well instead staying as 6. Even in metro overlap areas where the same company owns all the same Seven stations.
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What do you mean by 7 Regional going HD? Because it has the same channels as metro.
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Which area are you talking about exactly? Remote Central & Eastern is the only market left without 7HD.
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The Albury/wodonga region
What channel was it? 6? because 60 is already HD am i wrong?
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