Now, I am a fan of digital television, especially HDTV.  When HDTV is done right it is truly a joy to watch (thanks to One and 7HD when they pull their finger out).  However, there are many flaws in the current system, which primarily relate to lack of access and government red tape.  Let it be known that Optus Aurora is no longer an appropriate solution for remote viewers.

Here I will list a few changes that I hope are implemented for the sake of the Australian public (and I hope you are reading this Senator Conroy).

1) Removal of certain conditions in Broadcast Licences

Currently free to air stations have a requirement that states the broadcaster can not broadcast to more than 75% (or something like that) of the population.  I would like to see that requirement removed for two reasons. First, this would eliminate the need to encrypt all Free to Air satellite broadcasts.  This would not only allow the operator of the satellite broadcaster to reduce their costs, this would also enable more people to access such a satellite platform.  Secondly, this would benefit the regional affiliates as they do not need to produce their own  HD channel, they can retransmit the national HD feed of a major broadcaster (which I will talk about next).  If the Government does not want to remove the 75% quota for at least the main SD channel, then they can look at a system such as freesat in the UK where the proprietary EPG only displays the local channel based on a post code that was entered into the set top box.

2) Introduce requirement for national feeds for HD and secondary SD channels

This here makes perfect sense.  Broadcasters would benefit as they could reduce their costs by not producing the same content in each metro and regional centre (ask ABC, they are already doing this.  If anyone in Melbourne pays attention, the ABC HD feed that we receive comes from Sydney), those in regional centres would benefit as they would be able to receive the same broadcasts those in the cities can, and it would use less satellite space as the need to retransmit every local HD affilate under the sun would become non existent.  This way, if you are a massive fan of the SBS TWO programs such as 112 Emergency, Epitafios or the delayed Bundesliga broadcasts on One HD to name a few, you will still be able to watch them no matter where you are.

3) Provide extra channels on the satellite platform

This is another initiative from the freesat folks in the UK.  They put in a stack of news and general entertainment channels on their platform.  I don’t see why such a platform can’t retransmit the likes of BBC World, Deutsche Welle TV, France 24, Euronews and Al Jazeera (all in English), along with A-PAC (which everyone in Australia is supposedly able to access for free), Sky News, Aurora (the community channel) and maybe even the Australian Christian Channel if there is demand.  I don’t think that it would be a bad idea to get Foxtel into the act.  There could be an opportunity for Foxtel to retransmit their HD channels on this platform as a “lite” pay tv service to target those who want but can’t receive Foxtel for whatever reason.  I wouldn’t mind paying a small fee per month for Fox Sports HD and BBC HD.  Setanta Sports Australia could use such a platform to get more subscribers on board.  The possibilities here are endless, but the inclusion of extra channels would help to garner interest in this kind of platform.

4) Stop programs that retransmit DTT in remote/country areas

I fail to understand why the government pushes terrestrial television in these types of areas.  Such a broadcasting medium is useless in places outside of metripolitan and country centres.  Instead the promotion of a satellite platform as hinted several times throughout this article would be better.  Instead of using government and broadcaster funds for installing transmitters, the money could be used for subsidising digital satellite installations and equipment.  With Satellite, in the majority of cases a good signal is guaranteed compared to “Self-Help Transmitters” and the like for terrestrial television.  It makes perfect sense.

5) Expansion of the Anti-Siphoning list to include Digital only stations

This is another way where the government can get more people onto digital TV.  Sport managed to increase the popularity of Foxtel, so I don’t see how it can’t have the same effect on FTA digital TV.

If we allow networks to screen listed events on their digital channels, that can help increase the intake of digital TV (just like in Mildura with the AFL on a digital only channel).  It would also help to get more FTA broadcasters showing events because they would have more flexibility over what channels they can broadcast the events.

Just a personal request, can all Socceroos matches and one game of the A-League per week please be put on the Anti-Siphoning list?  Myself and many other soccer fans in this country would be very greatful

Conclusion

These are just a few ideas here.  While yes it does heavily involve my preference for an unencrypted FTA satellite platform like the UK’s freesat, some of these ideas if implemented can help to a) improve the uptake of digital television, b) provide extra digital services to all Australians and c) reduce the costs of broadcasters.  If you wish to say anything, please post to the comments section of this post.