This is a genuine case study in what’s going to happen to FTA. If the solution is you can just watch on 10Play what does that mean for FTA spectrum across the country?
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Exactly, over time it will be game over for FTA transmission. WIN, SCA (television) and Imparja will fade into oblivion being they can not stream their metro partner’s content.
Don’t discount Seven starting a TAS stream of their linear channels on 7plus to bypass SCA over time. Legally nothing stopping them. By then I can well see all networks only running national TV bulletins, so not being able to stream SCA 7News Tasmania will not be an issue as it will most likely not exist by then given the ever-shrinking revenue pie all broadcasters face.
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Nothing to scramble on at this stage. If it shuts down, it shuts down. Next on the chopping block should be CDT and WDT. Although I am unsure if Imparja are hampered by the same 50% subsidy cover that other JVs have.
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Imparja certainly do. They may themselves implode sooner than some JV’s. Without Fed Govt subsidy of VAST transmission, Imparja would have shuttered shop long ago.
I would argue WDW is next, given they have same JV ownership as MDV. But don’t discount that service does get Fed Govt subsidy for VAST transmission that MDV does not. They may shut some or all their FTA sites for WDW leaving those areas with TEN content only on WA VAST, but may elect to continue local FTA transmission in same areas of WAW (Seven) and WOW (WIN).
Is DDT in Darwin and TDT in Tasmania safe?
Who knows? If they break even, they are safe. Different sets of owners for both.
I’m sure another restack is on the cards in the future. I dare say they won’t do anything with the current spectrum arrangement until then.
Both probably looking precarious but TDT might have a better chance given larger population compared to DDT. But both will probably be looking to see how Mildura plays out before making any moves of their own.
I think this will only be the first of many- I can see there being a lot of rationalisation in the non-major regional markets from three commercial multiplexes down to two and possibly even one later down the track.
The days of dual affiliation could be back before we know it! (except in this case I would imagine instead of mixed scheduling on one channel like the old days, the multiplex would have a mix of the most popular channels from the two affiliated networks)
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I agree re the likelihood of more 2 station markets only, but I think only major sporting events from the 3rd network will make it onto either 7 or 9 in that market.
Now that there is streaming, anyone who wants to watch a regular 10 show like Masterchef will have to use that avenue.
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The metro areas still have vacant VHF10 allocated as a 6th FTA service. That will never be used now for broadcasting, not even for DVBT2 which I fully doubt will ever come to Australia now.
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I’d say that’s also quite possible, I guess it would come down to whether or not 10 is willing to offer their main channel on attractive terms and whether the regional network thinks it will bring in more revenue than say, 9Life or TVSN.
Interesting times ahead nonetheless!
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And sad/scary… The days of having 3 free to air commercial free to air networks in this country are coming to an end, slowly but i think surely. This is just the start.
Seeing reality starting to kick in is making it hit home a little.
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A temporary fix is fine for now but they need to be working to proper legislative change for the licenses and a full restock
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The WIN-led initiative to combine regional operators was the last throw of the dice. Slowly but surely the ball is rolling down the hill now.
Is it likely that Mildura may lose the 3rd station temporarily to be replaced by a different 3rd station or is it gone for good never to return?
TBS MediaCloud.
Prime, as it was at the time, got a super cheap deal on playout as part of the package when they switched distribution from DDA to Telstra DVN.
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There is another solution. If SBS was able to air even just Channel 10s main channel instead of maybe the food channel or the movie channel. This could be similar to the secret agreement where SBS would have aired Nines Summer of Cricket from 1 January 2016 if an extension agreement wasn’t reached by 31 December 2015.
Yes it would mean a loss of those channels to lower populated areas but it would demonstrate a government commitment to aggregated markets
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Most areas these days can get SBS even here In Ouyen we have a transmitter but bandwidth is an issue if they were to broadcast channel 10 & their other channels.
Irrelevant what WIN desires, as over time with streaming, they will be bypassed into oblivion.
Won’t happen, that would cost money SBS does not have and be of no benefit as there is no revenue to sustain the existing TEN service in Mildura. And besides, it would encourage other JV’s to quickly do the same. Why should the taxpayer bail out TEN in this fashion?
All goes back to the way the Fed Govt of both political persuasions has allowed regulation to not keep up with the times.