FreeView

FreeView is a planned non-profit free-to-air digital television service in New Zealand. It will be available via satellite and terrestrial transmitters using the UHF frequency starting in 2007. FreeView will provide more channels, higher quality and prepare users for the analogue switchoff in 2012 to 2016. A set-top box costing around NZ$200, a suitable TV tuner card or a digital capable TV and an UHF aerial or a satellite dish will be required to access the service.

Initially, 7 companies will provide 18 channels. It will use the DVB standard on government provided spectrum. The government will also pay NZ$25 million or around one third of the total cost.

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}}Participating companies include TVNZ, CanWest, Radio New Zealand, MÄori Television Service, the New Zealand Racing Board, Alt TV and an unspecified independent broadcaster rumoured to be Triangle TV. There are ongoing negotiations with Prime, other regional TV operators, and overseas companies wanting to start up in New Zealand. However, Prime has said it will not make a decision before 2008. FreeView will be open to other free-to-air broadcasters if they want to join.

Channels

Initially 18 channels will be available, with 6 for TVNZ, 6 for CanWest and 6 for others, the six others may include Trackside, MÄori TV, Radio New Zealand channels, Prime and regional TV.TV ONE, TV2, TV3 and C4 will all be available on FreeView, giving 4 extra channels each to TVNZ and CanWest.

TVNZ and CanWest remained tight lipped in public on what new channels they will produce, claiming it was commercially sensitive. Various sources say that TVNZ will produce 2 new channels at launch. They may include a 24 hour news channel ("TVNZ News"), a public broadcasting channel, a channel with rerun and new New Zealand ("Charter") programmes, or an arts channel.

On the other side, CanWest confirmed it will produce one extra channel each in 2007 and 2008 targeting a niche market. The BSA expects it to screen imported programmes on its first extra channel. Since CanWest will not use all six channels allocated to it, it may sub-lease the spare capacity to other companies.

MÄori TV aims to launch more channels later.

Parliament will get its own channel ("Parliament TV") soon.

Although the satellite and the terrestrial service will both have 18 channels initially, there is space for only 20 channels on the satellite so fewer channels may be available on satellite than UHF in the future. Prime's contracts with sports bodies means it cannot broadcast its sports programmes unencrypted on satellites. Therefore, Prime may only be avaliable via terrestrial transmissions if it decides to join FreeView.

Quality

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The government will let the broadcasters decide whether to broadcast in high definition. TVNZ does not currently have plans on HDTV while Prime will start broadcasting in high definition by July 2008.

Technology

If the satellite Optus D1is successfully launched in September, satellite broadcasting covering the whole country will start in early to mid 2007. UHF terrestrial broadcasting covering 75% of the population initially will be introduced over a 12 to 18 month period. Terrestrial coverage may eventually reach 92%.

BCL will lease a transponder on Optus D1, which will be subleased to the FreeView broadcasters. BCL will also broadcast the digital terrestrial signals using its existing towers.

The broadcasters are currently discussing their broadcasting contracts with BCL. This is being done individually instead of collectively under FreeView.

New Zealand standardised on DVB in 2001 with NZS6610:2001. New Zealand's rugged topography means multipath is inevitable. ATSC cannot handle multipath well, so it was not chosen.

FreeView will certify set-top boxes but will not sell themâ€"this will be up to electronics retailers.

FreeView is currently discussing with Telecom about the provision of IPTV over ADSL.

Trials

TVNZ currently operates a test DVB-T broadcast from Waiatarua to the Auckland area. Five channels are available: TV ONE, TV2, DW-TV, CCTV-9 and a widescreen test channel.

TVNZ also has a DVB-S service on Optus B1. TV ONE, TV2, MÄori TV, DW-TV, CCTV-9, Bloomberg TV Asia Pacific Channel and a widescreen test channel are all available. TV ONE and TV2 each have 2 regional versions: Wellington and Christchurch; these only differ in the advertisements carried. NASA TV and the Auckland version of TV ONE and TV2 were dropped on 25 July 2006.

Finance

The government will pay up to NZ$25 million and provide free radio spectrum, estimated to be worth up to NZ$10 million, during the transition to digital. The companies involved will pay the remaining $50 million. The government claims a NZ$230 million benefit to the economy. This is the second digital TV system attempted by the government. The first attempt in 2000 wasted NZ$6.8 million. FreeView may turn into for-profit after the analogue switch off.

It will cost Alt TV NZ$0.6 million a year to broadcast on FreeView. Canterbury TV estimates it will need to pay NZ$1 million a year if it joins FreeView.

Competition

Sky currently has a service where channels similar to the ones available on FreeView are available for NZ$18.29 per month plus an installation fee. It is generally used by people who cannot get a high quality signal from analogue terrestrial free-to-air broadcasting. Sky stands to lose around 90,000 customers as FreeView provides a similar service for a one off fee only. A Sky dish can be used to receive FreeView but a separate set-top box may be required.

Political reaction

The Green Party said it wants more funding for New Zealand made programmes, a local content quota, a public service channel, and cheaper set-top boxes. The government said that no extra funding would be available, a quota is not necessary and the technology will get cheaper over time.