Freesat one step closer in Oz

Website: Rapid TV News

Australia’s federal government has introduced legislation which will pave the way for a “Freesat” service.

The free-to-air satellite platform will be aimed primarily at homes which cannot receive digital TV signals over the air.

Freesat will be a satellite-delivered version of the Freeview digital-terrestrial platform.

Each of Australia’s major broadcasters – the ABC, SBS, Seven, Nine and Ten, also operates one standard-definition digital-only channel (ABC2, SBS Two, Seven Two, Go! And One) as well as a high definition channel.

There are also high definition versions of regional networks Prime and WIN.

The Broadcasting Legislation Amendment (Digital Television) Bill 2010 provides the legislative framework for the new satelllite service.

It wil create three new commercial TV licence areas specifically for the new satellite service: Northern Australia (encompassing the Northern Territory and Queensland); South Eastern Australia (the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania and Victoria) and Western Australia.

Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy Senator Stephen Conroy said: “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.”

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.

Conroy added: “The Bill will dramatically improve the choice and quality of digital television services for regional Australia as we move towards digital switchover.”