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TEN wants access to 3D TV

TEN has called on the government to set aside broadcast spectrum to allow free-to-air broadcasters to provide new services such as 3D television.

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The Australian Broadcasting Summit in Sydney yesterday heard from an impressive list of speakers including media buyer Harold Mitchell, ACMA Chairman Chris Chapman, Foxtel’s Patrick Delany, Yahoo 7’s Rohan Lund, SBS’ Matt Campbell, BBC Worldwide’s Tony Iffland and TEN CEO Grant Blackley.

Blackley called on the government to set aside broadcast spectrum to allow free-to-air broadcasters to provide new services such as 3D television.

He argued that free-to-air networks’ access to valuable spectrum would be constrained once the switchover from analogue to digital television is completed at the end of 2013.

“We’ll have no capacity to launch further channels than those currently planned, or to increase our existing level of services in a structural sense.”

Retaining “a small portion of spectrum” would allow for the transition to new higher digital broadcast standards and encourage new technologies such as 3D TV.

“We also believe there is merit in a high-level reassessment of the regulatory framework which applies across the media sector as a whole and, increasingly, is relevant to a broader group of industry participants,” he said.

TEN is planning to launch a third channel later this year. Ironically of course it is calling for access to 3D Television when it no longer has any of its non-sports content available in HD.

Set to speak at the summit today are Senator Stephen Conroy, ABC’s Mark Scott, SBS’ Shaun Brown, ABC’s Kim Dalton, Nine’s Steve Weaver, XYZ Network’s Bruce Mann, Austar’s Deanne Weir and Tivo’s Robbee Minicola.

Source: The Australian

12 Responses

  1. I think 3D TV is a great idea, I loved it at the movies so I think it would work at home.

    But Ten shouldn’t jump the gun, first give us regular programming in HD again and after that I’m with 3D all the way.

  2. @Rhys: Spot on. I also love tech (and explosions & car chases in movies) but not at the expense essential core components (prog qual and sticking to advertised schedule for TV stations, storyline and acting for movies with explosions).

    @Craig: I nearly fell asleep during the Bahrain GP. The lack of refuelling seems to have taken all of the cut & thrust out of the strategy. I know it’s only been one race and it was at a wide circuit with lots of runoff (and drive straight back on). Hopefully Albert Park will provide some more action.

  3. It worries me everytime I read about another impending wave of technology that the key ingredient to television – that is the quality of programming – will continue to take a backseat in favour of the insatiable lust for whiz bang gadgetry. And no I’m not anti-tech, I love the advent of HD for example, but I just feel the balance is out of kilter. pietro is right – get HD sorted, and the quality and range of programming in place to showcase the medium – then set sight on the next big thing.

  5. Am I the only one completely underwhelmed by 3D? I don’t want to see 3D movies at the cinema or IMAX, so why would I want it in my home.

    Channel 10 needs to fix up their more obvious problems before throwing money away on a fad technology that will come and go in no time.

  7. How about they clean up their act, get another digital channel for all the shows they couldn’t be bothered to stick with. Honestly what is with this 3D thing, it comes and goes like the rain.

  8. Sure they can have extra spectrum, if they pay for it… The FTAs shouldn’t get any extra spectrum for free, they’ve already been given double their paid for frequency allocation while the digital transition is in progress (and have taken their sweet time about it). If they want more bandwidth post-2013 they can bid for it at auction like anyone else.

  10. Wow, as you point out David.
    Ironic much?

    Ten made the odd decision to axe Ten HD in favour of One in HD (Truck racing from Iowa over Masterchef in HD)

    and now they want a 3D network?

    Okkkkaaaaayyy.

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