Optus digital-TV deals out of this world as digital switchover gathers pace
Tuesday, 27 July 2010
OPTUS has secured four multi-million-dollar deals to deliver digital free-to-air television services over its fleet of satellites.
As the digital switchover gathers pace, it has made deals with the ABC, SBS, Southern Cross Media Group and Imparja Television.
Each of the broadcasters have signed a 10-year deal with Optus to transmit digital television signals into black-spot-bound households where terrestrial digital TV signals cannot reach.
Optus director of satellite Paul Sheridan said the telco had begun delivery of digital television satellite signals and said TV viewers in Mildura were already receiving the signals since the government started its analog switch-off program earlier this month.
The government plans to replace all analog television signals with digital-only signals by the end of 2013.
"Optus is proud to be working with the broadcasters to bridge the digital divide and ensure no Australian misses out on receiving next-generation digital free-to-air television services," Mr Sheridan said.
"Delivery of services via satellite continues to make sense for the size and scale of the Australian landscape and Optus's satellite solutions are a proven technology for the delivery of television services.
"We look forward to continuing to work with the broadcasters and the government in ensuring that everyone can continue to enjoy free-view television."
The contract agreements will allow Southern Cross, ABC, SBS and Imparja to deliver Viewer Access Satellite Television -- a service that offers viewers access to the same suite of digital channels available from terrestrial digital TV.
"As the switch-off of the analog services rolls out for anybody who falls into a black spot or where the digital transmitter serves, these satellite services will ensure that the viewers will get the new digital stations," Mr Sheridan said.
The deals were made possible after Optus upgraded capacity on its $600 million satellite fleet last year with the launch of a new D3 satellite.
The new satellite has provided additional capacity across the telco's fleet and is being used to support the growth of digital and pay-TV.
"When Optus launched the D3 satellite last year, it increased the capacity across the fleet by 30 per cent so that effectively gave us capacity to address opportunities like this," Mr Sheridan said.
Although the new satellite has bolstered Optus's ability to transmit digital television signals into rural Australia, it is not expected to feature in the government's plans for the $43 national broadband network as it is unable to deliver high-speed broadband.
--
* Mitchell Bingemann
* From: The Australian
* July 27, 2010 12:00AM
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/australian-it/optus-digital-tv-deals-out-of-this-world-as-digital-switchover-gathers-pace/story-e6frgakx-1225897183859
As the digital switchover gathers pace, it has made deals with the ABC, SBS, Southern Cross Media Group and Imparja Television.
Each of the broadcasters have signed a 10-year deal with Optus to transmit digital television signals into black-spot-bound households where terrestrial digital TV signals cannot reach.
Optus director of satellite Paul Sheridan said the telco had begun delivery of digital television satellite signals and said TV viewers in Mildura were already receiving the signals since the government started its analog switch-off program earlier this month.
The government plans to replace all analog television signals with digital-only signals by the end of 2013.
"Optus is proud to be working with the broadcasters to bridge the digital divide and ensure no Australian misses out on receiving next-generation digital free-to-air television services," Mr Sheridan said.
"Delivery of services via satellite continues to make sense for the size and scale of the Australian landscape and Optus's satellite solutions are a proven technology for the delivery of television services.
"We look forward to continuing to work with the broadcasters and the government in ensuring that everyone can continue to enjoy free-view television."
The contract agreements will allow Southern Cross, ABC, SBS and Imparja to deliver Viewer Access Satellite Television -- a service that offers viewers access to the same suite of digital channels available from terrestrial digital TV.
"As the switch-off of the analog services rolls out for anybody who falls into a black spot or where the digital transmitter serves, these satellite services will ensure that the viewers will get the new digital stations," Mr Sheridan said.
The deals were made possible after Optus upgraded capacity on its $600 million satellite fleet last year with the launch of a new D3 satellite.
The new satellite has provided additional capacity across the telco's fleet and is being used to support the growth of digital and pay-TV.
"When Optus launched the D3 satellite last year, it increased the capacity across the fleet by 30 per cent so that effectively gave us capacity to address opportunities like this," Mr Sheridan said.
Although the new satellite has bolstered Optus's ability to transmit digital television signals into rural Australia, it is not expected to feature in the government's plans for the $43 national broadband network as it is unable to deliver high-speed broadband.
--
* Mitchell Bingemann
* From: The Australian
* July 27, 2010 12:00AM
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/australian-it/optus-digital-tv-deals-out-of-this-world-as-digital-switchover-gathers-pace/story-e6frgakx-1225897183859