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December 31, 2013

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December 31st 2013 remains the target cut-off date for all Australian television sets to be converted to digital.

The switchover date was confirmed by federal Communications Minister Stephen Conroy at the Australian Broadcast Summit in Sydney today.

Conroy also announced a $37.9 million strategy to drive the digital transition. He said the announcement of new money for digital television should bring joy to broadcasters.

“The analogue to digital switchover could well be the largest change on the national scale since the introduction of decimal currency in 1966,” Senator Conroy said.

“It will affect every household and every TV receiver in the nation, including those in VCRs and other recorders.”

The government has allocated $1 million over two years to research digital reception problems.

It has also allocated $4.8 million for a digital tracker to assess issues such as public awareness of the switchover, intention of households to convert and actual conversion rates.

The sum also encompasses $8.5 million to the Australian Communications and Media Authority to undertake switchover-related projects and $16.9 million for the digital switchover taskforce, Senator Conroy said.

The taskforce will coordinate the switchover with the Department of Broadband Communication and the Digital Economy.

“The government digital switchover taskforce … will work with the industry advisory group on a range of issues, including the provision of reliable information to consumers when purchasing digital equipment,” Senator Conroy said.

The first meeting of the advisory group would convene on April 9 this year, he said.

“The Australian Government is committed to digital television and this funding will help drive a smooth transition,” Senator Conroy said earlier today.

Source: news.com.au

One Response

  1. How about the Gov actually ensures a steady supply of HD converter boxes for Australian households; for the millions who can’t afford to drop two grand on a new hi-def lcd.

    At the moment, there’s just about no set top boxes available anywhere. That’s hardly helping the transition for many people.

    Even the US has coupons for low-income viewers to afford a STB.

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