NOTE: There are now later posts on the state of play for Freeview than this story, please refer via search function or News posts.
Freeview will launch in Australian in 2009.
The ABC, SBS, the Seven Network, the Nine Network, Network TEN, Prime, WIN and Southern Cross have joined forces to deliver the free-to-air digital television platform. The media companies will comprise a new not-for-profit organisation, chaired by the ABC’s Kim Dalton.
Freeview will offer 15 television channels from free-to-air broadcasters on digital platforms, including new channels from the big three commercial networks. It will not include subscription TV.
Freeview operates in the UK with an EPG at no cost to viewers, with no satellite dish, no subscription, no ties, no contracts, and no installation costs.
Press Release:
Australia’s free-to-air commercial television networks together with the nation’s public broadcasters today formally announced the establishment of Freeview.
The consortium has been formed to help drive take-up of the free-to-air digital television platform in Australia.
Freeview shareholders include the ABC, SBS, the Seven Network, the Nine Network, Network Ten, Prime, WIN and Southern Cross. The ABC’s Director of Television, Kim Dalton, will Chair the not-for-profit organisation.
Mr Kim Dalton says Freeview will work to ensure all Australians continue to enjoy the great range of programming offered by free-to-air broadcasters as the nation transitions from the analogue to the digital platform.
“This is an extraordinary step forward for the free-to-air broadcasters. Together we have pioneered digital television in Australia, investing millions in infrastructure and converting our equipment and studios accordingly. Now it’s time for Australians to reap the rewards; Freeview will offer viewers more channels, great content and the very best quality picture and sound,” Mr Dalton said.
From next year, Government legislation will allow the commercial free-to-air networks to broadcast an additional standard definition (SD) channel each, in addition to their primary SD channels, and their recently added high definition (HD) channels. The three new channels, together with the two ABC and two SBS channels and their respective HD channels, will bring to 15 the suite of channels to be marketed under the Freeview umbrella.
To receive all the Freeview channels, consumers will need an HD digital-set-top box, digital video recorder or an integrated digital television.
Freeview will be launching an awareness campaign in the coming months to ensure consumers are ready for when the full suite of 15 Freeview channels are available next year.
Ahead of the launch, Freeview is working with manufacturers to ensure appropriate technical standards are met on all television or digital set-top-box equipment that will carry the Freeview badge.
Freeview will work closely with all relevant areas of Government to ensure consistent messaging.
Kindly link to this site when sourcing or posting in messageboards, thanks!
Like to know what channels are to be used for HD Tv out of Adelaide.
Is the analogue switch-off another way to further disadvantage regional Australia? Located just 8km from town, digital TV sucks. It nearly always has interference. Try watching anything when it is jerky and pixelated. What will we watch when analogue is gone? I suppose we won’t have to listen to politicians’ empty promises about services to regional Australia. We still don’t have the service we had with CDMA. 3G signal is near non-existent. We have to go for a walk to use our Telstra blue tick Country-phone. Wireless broadband with one bar of signal on Edge connection? Sorry but you don’t qualify Broadband Guarantee! I’m sick of this!!! Can’t they wait till a new service is ready for roll-out?
please let their be foxtel
Sydney area is already covered. Try Freeview site.
Can you please inform me as to when the new free to view channells will be coming to Glenwood, sydney new south wales as I ive there and still do not have it.
I know of some people in newcastle and peakhurst in sydney that have it on their televisions but we do not.
Can you please tell me when we are getting it and also if it is available now then what do we have to do to get it, just incase we are doing something wrong.
Valma
Sadly so would the rest of the country. No date Robyn.
i would like to know when 7two is coming to prime nsw orange.
I hear 72 may be the band what do you think.
Nothing official.
Has there been any updates from 7 yet.
mind the spelling errors- i should be in bed (unlike Freeview that is- and foxtel for that matter lol)
Jase
Well….I really want to give the foxtel away… I only really watch Nat. Geo, History, Comedy and 111 hits – and thats when Im home! The amount of crap/ads Im ‘privy’ to on foxtel is,in it self, almost reason enough to cancel foxtels subscription but who know’s whats going on with ‘Freeeeeview’ – Australia’s free to air TV broadcasters are thinking one of two thins, one- the entire world stops to sleep at 10.30pm (go ‘Pro-active’ and the ‘ab roller’!) or they think we are the dumbest audience on the planet – and dont mind 10 year old, 2-3 week cycles of the Simpsons bombarding our television every night at dinner time – twice if your lucky enoough with desert.
Im feelin pretty duped hey. Lets not hear anything alse about this until the ‘powers that be’ can spew out a date.
Fingers crossed and ets hope we stop being taken for morons by the TV networks someday soon. I suppose thats like saying we will be paying cheap prices for petrol in the next 10 years – laughable jase
No, no and no.
Can anyone tell me what the name of channel 7 ’s new freeview channel will be. Also do you know if it will be a movie channel or documentaries or mix of both. Can you tell me when it will be announced?
Can anyone tell me what the name of channel 7 ‘s new freeview channel will be. Also do you know if it will be a movie channel or documentaries or mix of both. Can you tell me when it will be announced?
I know there is an ABC kids channel coming at the end of the year. Are there more coming after that? Are there going to be more than the 15 at some point?
ok freeview is almost here i understand that , but why have 15 channels if the h.d. for example: one h.d. when the standed on has the same show on it . if the big offer for more channels is there then why have the same show on it i, I personally don’t want to see the same show three times; really do you want to how about getting some new shows on the hd channels.
Freeview suite of channels are already airing: 7 , 9, 10, ABC, SBS, ABC2, 7HD, SBS TWO, ONE HD etc….no dates fpr new 7 and 9 channels yet.
can you send me the dates of this free to air broadcast when is it please reply
Given that Freeview is actually a bunch of channels, including the ones we already had, you already technically have it: 7, 9, 10, ABC, SBS plus ABC2, 7HD etc. Some of these are available on Foxtel depending on where you live and how you access it. There is no official start date, but a rollout of extra channels such as SBS2 this week. Freeview says their new EPG will be up by the end of the year.
Can I receive Freeview on Foxtel. When is it starting/ Can not get it at the moment.
i see the ‘born free’ advert of tv quite regularly. when will us tasmanians get to view the new channels? especially one hd? cant they just flick a switch?
Why is everyone promoting Freeview saying that an HD set top box is required? Some retailers are not even stocking SD set top boxes! Surely an ordinary TV will not reproduce the quality of HD and it appears the HD channels will also be simulcast on an SD channel (as 1HD is also on 12) so an SD set top box is sufficient. Should the viewer update to an HD capable TV in the future, it will have an HD tuner in it. This needs to be clarified, so the technology challenged do not waste money.
regards
Denis
is tasmania going to get channel one sport if so when
dont it sux that we have to wait all this time as they make enough money from advertising and yet they make us wait and it just going to be another let down dont expect anything different than to what you have know as if it is going to be that good well they would put austar out of buisness just go get austar on know i did. there will not be any difference than what you have know people. It just plain free advertising on the t.v. stations behalf come people yous arnt that stupid to expect something great.
Southern Cross and TDT are expecting to air ONE mid year in regional areas. Plese refer to later stories published on this site.
is tassie going to recieve these channels because we never got one hd after running out and spending big money on a tv being a massive footy fan
When will Freeview broadcasts for the Newcastle / Central Coast start in NSW,
Thanks David. Check out freeview website and read their Media Release statement in response to the Herald Sun report which is the cause of my concern. I am sure it will put you in the picture.
Hope other TV Tonight bloggers will do the same.
Paul I’m not a tech blog so I don’t want to give you any incorrect info, plus it sounds like conflicting info out there, even from where I stand.
I have read where the television network stations are considering a change to broadcast in MPEG4 format to replace the current MPEG2. This is to take place about the same time as the introduction to Freeview, therefore rendering current TV’s , set top boxes, PVR’s useless, as they will not be able to receive the updated MPEG4 system. The article also stated that the Freeview branded products will conform to the new MPEG4 standard.
This news has delayed my decision to update my current CRT TV to a more modern LCD/LED TV.
Can you cast any further light on the planned move to MPEG4 transmission and when the new Freeview branded products will make their way to the stores?
Visiting for winter from UK. Dave is a great channel and you poor Aussies have so much rehashed stuff to suffer. Top Gear from 2003 is hardly new! All the channels mimic each other in awfulness and don’t even get me started on SBS. No wonder you all love sport – there is nothing else to do (well, sort of). Freeview is pretty pointless without some $$$ buys that are new by the TV companies so that they can show something fresh. Only public pressure will force tv moguls to get into the 21st century and give a set of schedules that is more than clone soaps and minority sports! Keep at complaining!
When are the ABC and SBS going to transmit in proper High definition?
Their “HD” channels are certainly not high definition at present, particularly when viewed on a full HD set. Wake up Aunty!
ABC “HD is never more then 720 and because 1080 divided by 720 equals 1.5 (not an even number) you get a degradation of sharpness caused by trying to fit 1.5 pixels into 2 on a proper HD set.
SBS is even worse. When their original material is in “HD 720″, their SD channel version is all crinkly because they apparently don’t have an expensive down converter to SD.
Every time the commercial channels show original material that is not high definition on their “HD” channel, the TV set indicator claims that it is HD – which of course it is a lie.
No wonder the average person can’t tell the difference between Full HD, HD & SD!
Wake up people the whole thing is just a marketing wank. All channels have 3 or 4 versions of their primary channels now, but whats on them? just a redefused version of the crap thats on the other ones. eg SBS three channels of the same program plus sometimes an allday weather channel. Australia is being sold a pup as ussual.
A-PAC on Digital TV in Jun-July 09.
What the? is Freeview a scam?, when are we expected to have these so called 15 new stations minus “one HD” Please advise, getting restless!
I have had digital tv for 5 years. So when will I get Freeview. What ever that is?? I have looked on your website but could not find a date other than maybe June 1 2009.
It’s not 15 new, it’s 15 digital. So you can include the channels we already have. (ABC, ABC2, ABC HD, 7, 7HD, 9, 9HD, TEn, ONE HD, ONE SD etc).
What channels are freeview on?
My Grandparents have a HD TV and I scrolled through it yesterday adn could not find these 15 new channels.
Can you please send me the channel numbers and/or how to get freeview on the TV.
Kind Regards
Adam Wilson
These channels are listed as I have scrolled down with the remote plus the radio channels I receive in Mackay. Whats the point if they play the same thing.
1. ABC 1 2. SBS 3. SC 10 Mackay
4. 7 DIG 5. WIN TV Mackay 6. ABC HDTV
7. ABC 2 8. ABC 3 9. SBS HD
10. SBS 2 11. SBS 3 12. SBS 4
13. SC TEN HD 14. SC TEN 15. 7 HD
16. 7 DIG 1 17. 7 DIG 2 18. 7 DIG 3
19. WIN HD Plus 4 radio Channels
No. There are plenty of articles on Freeview on this site. We already have most of these channels now (ie 7, 7HD, ABC, ABC2, 9, 9HD, etc.). It remains free to air with about 2 more to be announced.
what are the channels that are coming?
is there going to be fox 8
and mtv
and stuff like that?
I’m waiting….. ok so channel 10 is beginning on March 26, when are the other channels supposed to begin or do we have to wait another 12 months for them all to get their act together… Come on, you’ve all had enough time so lets get it on!!
tell me the truth when is freeview coming on please
Freeview is exactly the same as what you receive now minus a proper functioning EPG. This is just a marketing tool to get more people buying STB so that when analogue is switched off, there won’t be as many people complaining
Its a rollout. So far Only ONE is announced March 26.
the adds that where promotiong them (new channels)went off the air a few months ago now but were are they?
when is the suppose date of the channels going on air?
There is no official launch date. There will be a roll out in different stages. Further stories will be added to this site as information is received.
my name is craig i just want to know when is freeview on i am at bundaberg qld that is it thankyou
is a-pac on digital tv…