http://www.aupaytv.com/index.php News and information dedicated to the Australian media and the digital television industry, including Subscription TV, Satellite TV and Terrestrial TV. en-us Nucleus CMS v3.50 � Weblog http://backend.userland.com/rss http://www.aupaytv.com/index.php/nucleus/nucleus2.gif http://www.aupaytv.com/index.php http://www.aupaytv.com/index.phpindex.php?itemid=1154
On 5 January 2010, Senator Conroy announced the Government would fund a new satellite service to bring digital television to all Australians who cannot adequately receive terrestrial digital television services.

The Broadcasting Legislation Amendment (Digital Television) Bill 2010 provides the legislative framework for the implementation of the new satellite service."The Bill will help broadcasters provide the same number of digital television services to all Australians wherever they live, whether they access television through terrestrial transmission or via satellite," Senator Conroy said.

The amendments will create three new commercial television licence areas specifically for the new satellite service:

* Northern Australia – encompassing the Northern Territory and Queensland
* South Eastern Australia – encompassing the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania and Victoria
* Western Australia.

"The Bill will dramatically improve the choice and quality of digital television services for regional Australia as we move towards digital switchover," Senator Conroy said.

"The legislation also requires commercial broadcasters to provide all local news and information programs to the satellite service licensee, and will ensure that viewers who rely on satellite are able to access their local news as soon as possible after bulletins commence on the terrestrial channel."

The Government intends to refer this legislation to the Senate Environment, Communications and the Arts Committee immediately, so that it is able to be debated in the Budget sittings.

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http://www.minister.dbcde.gov.au/media/media_releases/2010/024]]> Press Releases http://www.aupaytv.com/index.phpindex.php?itemid=1154 Thu, 18 Mar 2010 16:36:00 +1100 http://www.aupaytv.com/index.phpindex.php?itemid=1153
The broker said publishers traded on lower multiples and weren't subject to ratings volatility.

RBS noted Ten shares have had a good run in recent weeks.The analyst noted there was increasing evidence of a strong rebound in the TV ad market, with RBS tipping 10 per cent growth in six months to June.

"However, risks are emerging on ratings, multi-channel audience fragmentation and cost growth," the RBS analyst said in a research note.

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Dow Jones Newswires
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/city-beat/ten-network-downgraded-to-hold/story-e6frg9no-1225841728683]]> News http://www.aupaytv.com/index.phpindex.php?itemid=1153 Wed, 17 Mar 2010 23:12:00 +1100 http://www.aupaytv.com/index.phpindex.php?itemid=1152
Deloitte says the free-to-air (FTA) TV industry is forecast to grow at a compound annual revenue growth rate of 4 per cent from 2009 to 2014.

"Steady growth levels are expected to benefit from the recovery in the ad-spend market and also from incremental government election ad-spend of which FTA has historically captured a high share," Deloitte says, referring to the traditional election year jump in advertising."Despite an increasingly competitive operating environment, steady growth is expected as a consequence of the continuing convergence of FTA TV with digital format technologies such as mobile phones and internet sites as well as podcasts."

Deloitte's view is FTA TVs are set to benefit relatively more from the disruption the transition to digital will cause, stealing back some viewers and ad dollars from pay-TV players such as Foxtel.

But it warns that user generated content and social networking sites are increasingly regarded as threats to FTA, as viewers are spending more time on the internet and less time watching television.

It reports that Australians on average spend 13.3 hours a week watching television and 13.7 hours surfing the internet, and that 58 per cent of internet users have watched internet-protocol TV (IPTV) while online.

"In order to combat the threat of new channels such as IPTV, Australian FTA networks are expected to continue protecting their market share and related revenues by utilising hybrid revenue models, sharing more content with new media companies Yahoo!7 and Ninemsn and creating micro-sites like those set up by Network Ten," Deloitte says.

"New multi-channelling services available to FTA broadcasters may expand the overall FTA audience."

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Geoff Elliott
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/free-to-air-tv-seen-as-on-the-mend/story-e6frg8zx-1225841589972]]> News http://www.aupaytv.com/index.phpindex.php?itemid=1152 Wed, 17 Mar 2010 23:02:00 +1100 http://www.aupaytv.com/index.phpindex.php?itemid=1151
Media reports have this week suggested that Freeview will soon roll out an ad campaign proclaiming that the VCR is dead.

These reports are incorrect and Freeview is not intending any ad campaign about the VCR.Freeview CEO Robin Parkes said: “Speculation in the media this week that Freeview is planning an ad campaign about the VCR is not correct.

“We do have plans for an exciting new advertising campaign which will be launched soon highlighting the many benefits viewers of Freeview free digital TV for Australian viewers, so stay tuned,” she said.

ends

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http://www.freeview.com.au/news/view.aspx?newsId=37]]> News http://www.aupaytv.com/index.phpindex.php?itemid=1151 Tue, 16 Mar 2010 20:06:23 +1100 http://www.aupaytv.com/index.phpindex.php?itemid=1150
Some executives at the Seven Network were surprised by the announcement from Yahoo7 -- which is led by Rohan Lund, who reports to Seven's advertising and digital chief James Warburton -- that it was going to make about 20 of Seven's TV shows available on a catch-up basis on Sony's soon-to-launch Bravia Internet Video service. That would have meant viewers could choose to watch high-rating TV programs such as City Homicide and Home and Away the same night as they went to air over an internet connection on Sony's Bravia TVs rather than via Seven's broadcast or on the Plus 7 catch-up website.

The backlash within the television arm was immediate as executives considered pulling programs from the service and allowing only library content to be shown on the Sony Bravia service.The tensions between Seven and its digital arm, which is a joint venture between the network and global internet publisher Yahoo, are being felt throughout the media landscape as traditional publishers and broadcasters struggle to make the transition to the digital era.

Nine is yet to launch a comprehensive catch-up service, while Ten has made several programs available but stopped short of launching a separately branded catch-up portal.

The ABC and SBS, which are public broadcasters, are the only two other networks to make a number of full-length TV shows available online. Last week ABC announced it would even air its new Dr Who series online two days before the official broadcast on April 16.

As digital TV channels launched in the past year begin to cannibalise the audiences of the main channels, TV network executives are reluctant to make key programs available to be viewed on channels that are not counted in their television ratings.

Similarly, newspapers are struggling with balancing the need to break stories on their websites to keep up with new internet-only competitors while keeping key content for the next day's newspaper and also eyeing new devices like Apple's iPad to carry exclusive content.

Last week it emerged some shows, including Home and Away, which is attracting significant audiences on the Plus7 site from viewers who miss the live broadcast, would now only be made available on the Bravia service on a hold-back or delayed basis.

One source said there would be two or three shows that might be delayed rather than made available for immediate catch-up viewing. "This is currently in discussion . . . and has not been locked down either way."

Another source questioned whether Yahoo7 had the rights to make Seven's programs available to a third party and the Sony service was problematic as it used a separate server to deliver the TV shows on demand rather than simply connecting viewers to the Plus7 site.

But Yahoo7 spokeswoman Amanda Millar said there were no rights issues for Plus7.

The Bravia used an internet browser to access Plus7, she said. No content leaves the Yahoo7 domain and no content is sub-licensed to Sony.

Sony's technology spokesman Paul Colley could not be reached for comment last week.

Numerous Seven media group sources attempted to hose down the controversy, but admitted there had been tensions over the Bravia launch.

"There is always a bit of argy-bargy but at the end of the day there was no issue as that's how the group works," a source close to Yahoo7 said.

"Two blokes in our company wanting something the other doesn't want to hand over is no story in here," said a Seven executive. "That's why we go OK. We're feisty.

"I'd be surprised if anyone would go to the brink."

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Lara Sinclair
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/media/net-plan-triggers-digital-divide-at-seven/story-e6frg996-1225840643633]]> News http://www.aupaytv.com/index.phpindex.php?itemid=1150 Mon, 15 Mar 2010 02:53:19 +1100 http://www.aupaytv.com/index.phpindex.php?itemid=1149
Sky chief executive Angelos Frangopoulos will today announce the Australian Public Affairs Channel -- a not-for-profit channel funded by pay-TV operators Foxtel and Austar, and produced by Sky -- has launched Australian Parliament on the C-SPAN public affairs channel in the US and CPAC in Canada.

The launch comes at a critical time for Mr Frangopoulos, who has criticised the ABC's plans for a 24-hour news service and is competing with the public broadcaster for the Department of Foreign Affairs contract to deliver the Australia Network diplomatic service. "APAC's latest initiatives is more evidence that public service broadcasting can be delivered outside the traditional taxpayer-funded model," Mr Frangopoulos said.The federal government told the ABC and Sky in January that it would invite each to effectively pitch for the $94.2 million Australia Network contract.

ABC managing director Mark Scott believes the public broadcaster is best placed to run Australia Network and argued in November it should be merged with the ABC's other international broadcasting arm, Radio Australia, as part of a global expansion to aid Australia's "soft diplomacy" efforts.

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James Chessell
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/media/sky-launched-australian-parliament-in-north-america/story-e6frg996-1225840643862]]> News http://www.aupaytv.com/index.phpindex.php?itemid=1149 Mon, 15 Mar 2010 02:51:24 +1100 http://www.aupaytv.com/index.phpindex.php?itemid=1148
On March 28, the Digital Switchover Taskforce will launch its second targeted local advertising campaign in the area to start the 100-day countdown.

At the same time it will begin its first targeted campaign in the next four TV licence areas to switch: Spencer Gulf, Riverland and Mt Gambier in South Australia and Broken Hill in NSW.The taskforce had a communications budget of $23.1 million in 2009-10 and $22.4m next financial year, chief executive Andy Townend said.

"Our campaign is designed to first of all make everyone aware, secondly help everyone who needs helps, and thirdly provide information and advice to everyone who wishes to convert," he said.

"We think we have spread the net wide enough. We are using every communications channel we can think of: radio, TV, press and on the ground."

The taskforce's Digital Tracker survey estimated 85 per cent of Mildura Sunraysia's roughly 25,000 households had switched to digital at the end of January, from 79 per cent at the end of December.

Mr Townend said that figure didn't include about 1300 households that had been switched over for free under the Household Assistance Scheme, started on January 20. Including them took the take-up rate to about 90 per cent.

"Guaranteeing that 100 per cent will have converted by a particular date is tricky, but (the take-up rate) is where we would want it to be at the moment," he said.

"We're on track to switch off by that date (June 30). All of those who wish to convert will have converted and all who have asked for assistance will have been assisted."

A satellite TV service announced by the federal government in January would bring digital to about 250 households located in signal blackspot areas, while another 500 or so would be helped by upgrading a transmitter in Underbool and building a new one in Ouyen.

To mop up stragglers and holdouts, the local information campaign and the assistance scheme would continue until the end of July. Households were eligible for the assistance scheme if at least one resident received the maximum rate of the age, disability support or veterans pension or the carer payment.

The taskforce is seeking contractors to provide the assistance scheme in the next four markets, which have a switchover deadline of December 15. Already 64 per cent of households in those areas had converted, Mr Townend said.

More information: 1800 201 013 www.digitalready.gov.au

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Sally Jackson
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/media/region-readies-to-leave-analog-behind/story-e6frg996-1225840657780]]> News http://www.aupaytv.com/index.phpindex.php?itemid=1148 Mon, 15 Mar 2010 02:48:48 +1100 http://www.aupaytv.com/index.phpindex.php?itemid=1147
Fetch TV, led by former ACP Magazines chief Scott Lorson and backed by Malaysian billionaire T. Ananda Krishnan, is rumoured to be close to announcing deals to provide the catch-up TV services of some free-to-air networks on the company's internet protocol TV platform.

Catch-up TV allows viewers to watch shows they have missed, mostly by downloading or streaming TV programs via a computer. A Fetch set-top box, however, could perform the same kind of service using an internet connection.Fetch, which is expected to announce a line-up of 20 pay-TV channels and other interactive services when it unveils its product, has not made any public comment and Mr Lorson remained tight-lipped last week.

One industry executive said more networks were shying away from a deal with Fetch than were signing up with it. "Nine isn't, Ten are clearly considering it, the ABC definitely not," the source said.

But a source close to Fetch said two or three announcements were "imminent".

Seven quickly ruled itself out. "We have not made, and at this stage we are unlikely to make, any commitments to Fetch TV," Seven corporate affairs chief Simon Francis said.

The network is considered unlikely to do content deals that compete directly with the digital video recorder TiVo in the set-top box market (Seven owns a stake in TiVo parent company Hybrid Television Services).

SBS spokeswoman Jane McMillan said "misinformation" was circulating about who had signed up. "We've spoken to them and so has everyone," she said. "Nothing's been signed off and we're not close to a deal."

The ABC and Ten declined to comment.

A Nine spokesman did not return calls.

But Ninemsn head of communications Kylie Speer said that she was not aware of any imminent announcements regarding Fetch.

The Fetch TV model is based on the company aggregating pay-TV style content and interactive services and connecting them with smaller internet service providers via Fetch's set-top box and IPTV platform.

The ISPs would sell the box and additional content to their customers for a fee, expected to be priced at $20-$25 per month, on top of their broadband plan.

In November, both iiNet and Internode confirmed that they were keen to launch the Fetch product.

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Lara Sinclair
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/media/networks-snub-internet-player-fetch-tvs-plan/story-e6frg996-1225840655673]]> News http://www.aupaytv.com/index.phpindex.php?itemid=1147 Mon, 15 Mar 2010 02:47:13 +1100 http://www.aupaytv.com/index.phpindex.php?itemid=1146
Yahoo!7 chief executive Rohan Lund said there had been a particularly strong response from 18-35-year-old viewers watching Seven programs such as Home and Away and Lost online. "Younger users consume most of their content online," he said. "So it's great to be able to introduce them to Seven's programming and give them a legal alternative for watching the top shows."

Plus7 has run limited advertising so far, but Mr Lund said inventories would increase over time.Seven is the only commercial network to join the ABC and SBS by offering comprehensive catch-up services. ABC acting head of multi-platform Arul Baskaran said the catch-up services would be a "game changer" as download speeds increased.

ABC iView had a record 411,000 visitors -- defined as an individual computer -- last month. Mr Baskaran said launching a new series of Doctor Who on iView two days before its broadcast on ABC1 was a "sign of things to come".

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James Chessell
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/media/online-viewers-getting-the-taste-for-catch-up/story-e6frg996-1225840655698]]> News http://www.aupaytv.com/index.phpindex.php?itemid=1146 Mon, 15 Mar 2010 02:45:45 +1100 http://www.aupaytv.com/index.phpindex.php?itemid=1145
The TV industry is set to launch an advertising campaign predicting the death of VCRs as people embrace PVR technology.

It is understood more than 100,000 devices a month are being sold around the country as householders make the step from analog to digital TV and more homes embrace digital video recorders capable of pausing, rewinding and time-shifting shows.Julie Powell, national sales coordinator of Strong, one of a handful of digital set-top box distributors in Australia, said sales accelerated in May last year when Freeview began a major advertising campaign promoting the switch to digital broadcasting and new channels on offer.

However, she predicted a new wave of sales was about to hit as people understood the capabilities of the devices, such as how to use electronic program guides.

"The majority of sales are the base HD set-top box," Ms Powell said.

"But people are starting to catch on slowly."

Between them Strong, Topfield, Tivo, Dgtec and Bush, among others, are seeing sales increase, with many homes preparing to buy the devices for the second and third TVs in their homes.

Freeview is also understood to be getting ready to air a new ad campaign proclaiming the death of the traditional video recorder.

The campaign, "the VCR is dead", is expected to break in coming months, with most recorders unable to cope with digital broadcasts.

Robert Bonanno, marketing director of Topfield, which has been selling PVRs in Australia for seven years, said the penetration of devices such as PVRs was now heading over the 50 per cent mark.

And he said where in early years the market was confined to people looking at top-end devices, increasing interest meant sales were beginning to boom in the mid and low end.

"Where we used to sell one or two models, now we have five," Mr Bonanno said.

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Simon Canning
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/media/stampede-of-set-top-boxes-to-continue/story-e6frg996-1225840657620]]> News http://www.aupaytv.com/index.phpindex.php?itemid=1145 Mon, 15 Mar 2010 02:41:43 +1100