What are program enhancements?
What does free-to-air digital television offer me?
The four key offerings of free-to-air digital television are Sharper Pictures (including some programs in High Definition), Clearer Sound (including some programs with Dolby Digital), Widesceen Programs and Extra Channels.
- Sharper Pictures
- Clearer Sound
- Widescreen & HD Programs
- Extra Channels
- Program Enhancements
How do I receive free-to-air digital television?
There are two ways to receive digital television.
1. connect your antenna RF cable to a digital television receiver set-top box then connecting the set-top box to your current analog television screen using AV cables.
2. connecting your antenna RF cable to an integrated digital television.
When will free-to-air digital television be available in my area?
The free-to-air broadcasters are now transmitting their digital television services in all capital cities (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, Hobart, Canberra & Darwin) and a number of major regional markets, 24 hours a day/7 days a week.
Do I need to upgrade my antenna system?
Generally no. But if after acquiring your new digital television receiver you are experiencing interference problems, you may need to install better cables or even a better antenna.
People in home units may need to check the capability of the antenna and signal distribution system in the building to receive digital television.
What is digital television?
Digital television is a replacement technology for existing free-to-air analog services. It provides better picture quality and reception, plus a variety of new features that enhance the viewing experience.
The digital television industry in Australia is using the DVB standard, first developed in Europe, rather than the American-developed ATSC standard. DVB is proving to be a very high quality system and is being used in many countries around the world. In Australia it will replace the analog PAL system.
When does free-to-air digital television commence?
Digital television commenced on 1 January 2001 in Australia's five major capital cities - Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth.
Outside of the major metropolitan areas, digital broadcasts will begin in all regional areas. For further details go to Digital TV Reception Locator
A timetable for the commencement of digital broadcasting in remote parts of Australia has not yet been settled.
What benefits will digital television provide?
Digital television is a far more efficient and flexible transmission system than the current analog system. It allows broadcasters to offer viewers a range of new and different services.
Australian digital television features include:
- 'Ghost free' reception
- Widescreen 16:9 pictures
- Standard Definition pictures (SD)
- High Definition pictures (HD)
- High quality audio and surround sound
- Multi-channel programming SBS
- Closed Captioning of programs for the hearing impaired
- Electronic Program Guides (EPGs) with 'now & next' program information for some channels
- In selected markets, on-screen program guide channel with today's program information for Nine Network, Seven Network & SBS
- In selected markets, HD demonstration channels
- Multi-camera views and enhancements during selected programs
Not all features are available at all times, in each market.
What happens to my existing analog TV set?
Free-to-air broadcasters will simulcast (ie, broadcast both analog and digital signals) for at least eight years in an area, so metropolitan viewers will continue to be able to use current analog television sets to receive broadcasts without the need for a set top box until at least the end of 2008.
After the end of simulcasting in an area, the addition of a digital set top box will allow viewers to receive and display digital transmissions on their analog TV sets.
Viewers using set top boxes will be able to receive other features of digital, such as sharper pictures, clearer sound and extra channels. However, as most existing analog sets have a 4:3 screen aspect ratio (shape), using a digital set-top box with a 4:3 analog television set may affect the way widescreen transmissions are displayed. Use of a widescreen analog display will enhance the digital experience.
The full picture quality benefits of digital television, including High Definition pictures, will require a High Definition digital receiver that is capable of receiving High Definition transmissions and a screen that is capable of displaying the HD television signal.
Can my 4:3 analog TV set display digital TV to its full effect?
No. You can view digital television on your 4:3 analog receiver with a digital set top box, but you will not be able to see widescreen pictures displayed to full effect. Some set-top boxes give you the option of viewing widescreen pictures in 'letterbox' format (black bars top and bottom) or 'centre cut' full screen format (with the 4:3 section 'cut out' of the 16:9 picture).
Will my Video Cassette Recorder (VCR) still work?
Yes. During and after the simulcast period, you will be able to record the digital channel on view - provided that your set-top box or digital television has an analog output - and VCRs will also continue to play back pre-recorded tapes. Many will find the picture quality of recorded digital programs is better than that of analog programs.
During the simulcast period VCRs will be able to record any analog program while a different digital program is being viewed. However VCRs will not be able to record a separate digital broadcast from that being viewed.
Current VHS video recorders will still only record VHS-quality pictures.
In some cases, as the channel used by the video output may be the same as that used by a digital channel in the area, the video output on your VCR may need retuning or require the use of the audio/video (A/V) connection.
Will digital televisions connect with VCRs, DVDs and sound systems etc?
Yes. Although connection options will vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, all digital televisions are likely to have audio/video (A/V) inputs that accept external devices such as VCRs, DVDs, sound systems and video cameras.
Will I need to upgrade my antenna?
In general - no. However if your antenna and antenna cabling is not in good condition you should consider replace the antenna and cabling to receive uninterrupted digital television viewing.
Viewers in areas of poor analog reception may need specialist advice about antenna requirements for digital reception in their area.
DBA recommends that viewers use quad shielded cable from the antenna to the television to ensure electrical impulse noise does not interfere with the digital
Why are digital TV pictures sharper than with analog TV?
Analog television can suffer from multipath interference, which results in a 'ghosted' picture on your screen.
Digital television is not affected by multipath interference, 'snowy' pictures (common in areas of poor reception) and picture 'flutter'. So the digital result is a sharper, cleaner and clearer picture.
DBA recommends the use of quality F-type connectors and quad shielded coax cables to ensure optimum picture and sound performance. For expert advice, please contact one of DBA's antenna installer members.
When will interactive television (iTV) be available?
To receive interactive TV services the set top box or the digital television requires special software called an Application Program Interface (API).
Nine Network has commenced Nine Sports Active which can be received on digital TV receivers with a HTML browser based API installed.
Is audio better on digital television than on analog?
Yes. Australian television has traditionally been broadcast with FM stereo sound.
Digital television will be transmitted with MPEG digital stereo sound and/or Dolby" Digital Sound (6 channels), thereby providing markedly superior audio services.
What multichannel services are the ABC and SBS offering?
SBS broadcasts two additional program channels - SBS World News and SBS Essential. SBS World News broadcasts news bulletins in 15 different lanuages, 5.00am to midnight, seven days a week. SBS Essential is a program guide channel, and provides the day's program line-up, and latest news and weather.
What radio services are the ABC and SBS offering?
SBS is broadcasting its two multilingual radio services on all its digital television services.
The ABC broadcasts its internet radio service DiG - a diverse mix of blues, soul, country, roots, world music, jazz, rock, and lots in between.
Can I receive all my digital free to view TV services on Foxtel Digital?
For more information on Foxtel Digital compared to Free to View Digital download the Comparison Q&A (PDF).
Is digital television likely to cause interference?
No. Digital television is not inherently prone to causing interference and is markedly superior to analog television in that respect. But the planning of channel allocations for digital television has entailed the occupation by digital television broadcasts of some channels formerly used for other purposes, eg, as output channels for VCRs.
Explanations of Digital Television Terms
What is widescreen?
Digital television will be broadcast in widescreen mode. Widescreen television has a different aspect ratio (ratio of width to height) than traditional analog. The aspect ratio of a widescreen is 16:9, while Australian viewers have been accustomed to viewing a 4:3 aspect ratio since television began in this country.
Widescreen will, in many cases, literally mean you see more of the picture. Most movies are currently made in 16:9 and are converted to 4:3 to allow us to watch them on television or video, so there is a lot of information that you don't see on your television that you would see in the cinema version of the film. Live sporting events will benefit in particular from the extra detail and wider frame.
For some time now television production has been converting to widescreen, both locally and overseas. Widescreen programming is becoming more readily available
What is a digital television set top box receiver?
A set top box for digital television receives and decodes digital transmissions into a form suitable for display on analog television sets or other display devices, eg computer monitors or projection screens.
Analog television sets currently in use in Australia cannot display digital transmissions on their screens without being connected to such a set top box converter.
What does a set top box do?
The capability of a set top box will depend upon its specifications.
A set top box, when connected to a 4:3 analog television set, will usually give viewers an improved signal, better picture quality and multichannelling. Some set-top boxes may also provide viewers with datacasting services and video, audio and data enhancements.
Set-top boxes can provide a picture output to either analog or digital screen
What is an integrated digital television receiver?
This is a television set with built-in digital capabilities to receive and display digital transmissions.
Integrated digital television receivers are generally distinguished by wide screens, high-level audio capability and high quality displays. They will not require a set top
What are Standard Definition (SD) pictures?
SD picture quality is superior to that obtained from analog 4:3 sets, and is 'ghost free' and in widescreen format.
The SD picture resolution is 576 lines x 720 pixels @ 50Hz interlaced (576i).
The Federal Government requires broadcasters to provide a digital SD signal at all times, even when HD programs are being broadcast. This is to ensure that viewers with Standard Definition receivers will always be able to receive a digital television service even when the higher quality HD television signal is being transmitted.
What are High Definition (HD) pictures?
HD pictures have image resolution which is superior to SD pictures and to the existing analog, with up to six times the improvement in detail.
The minimum HD picture resolution is be 576 lines x 720 pixels @ 50Hz progressive (576p).
This means that the benefits of HD pictures are particularly noticeable on larger screen sets and when using projection equipment.
HD pictures are also ghost free and in widescreen format. When viewed on an HDTV screen the viewer can enjoy cinema-quality viewing with Dolby surround sound.
In August 2002, the Government announced that it will seek to change each broadcaster's obligation to broadcast HD programs to an annualised requirement of 1040 hours, including advertisements, and that these obligations will commence from 1 July 2003 or two years after the commencement of digital transmissions in an area. Programs transmitted in High Definition will also be simultaneously broadcast in Standard Definition.
The HD integrated television receiver (HDTV) or the HD set top box (HD-STB) are expected to cost more than SD integrated television receivers (SDTV) or the SD set
What is multi-view?
Multi-view lets you select from a variety of camera angles or may provide additional information related to an event. Multi-view is particularly suited to sporting events like cricket, tennis and motor racing.
On additional channels to the main program the viewer can select, via remote control, a different full screen views of the event, alternative audio commentary or related information.
What is multichannelling?
Because a digital signal can carry much more data than an analog signal, more than one channel of television programs can be broadcast in SDTV at the same time. This is known as multichannelling.
The Federal Government has decided that commercial broadcasters are not allowed to multichannel, but that the ABC and SBS may do so.
The ABC and SBS are allowed to broadcast, in addition to their main services, a wide range of programs including educational programs, regional news and current affairs, science and arts programs, children's programs, subtitled foreign programs, foreign language news and occasional dramas.
Currently, SBS provides the SBS World News Channel.
The ABC and SBS are able to transmit their radio services through their television channels, extending the reach of these services. The ABC also broadcasts its internet radio service - DiG - via digital television.
Broadcasters are also offering a number of program guide and information data channels and some are providing High Definiton demonstration channels.
What are program enhancements?
Viewers of digital television will have a wide choice of 'enhancements' to regular programming. Enhancements are separate channels of video, data or audio, which are related to the program on the primary channel.
Sports programs may offer the choice of a different camera angle, altenative audio commentary, action replays, player profiles or other information.
