Introduction
In Australia, the major capital cities, and a majority of the regional areas, are served by three commercial broadcasters. However, some less populated areas are only granted two licenses (and until the early 2000s, one in some cases). This is because the Australian Broadcasting Authority (ABA) believes that there is not enough advertising revenue in some areas to keep three broadcasters afloat.
In 2002, WIN Television, who had a Nine Network affiliation in Tasmania, and Southern Cross Broadcasting, who held dual Seven and Ten Network affiliations, lodged a joint application under the Broadcasting Services Act (1992) to establish a third commercial broadcaster in Tasmania. The application, by TasTV Pty Ltd (not to be confused with the former name of WIN Television in Tasmania) was successful.
TDT was the first digital-only commercial channel in Australia. TDT's effect on the digital television market in Tasmania was widely anticipated, as success or failure would strongly guide the digital plans of other broadcasters.
TDT began broadcasting on VHF channel 11 from Mount Wellington in Hobart in late December 2003, and on UHF to north-eastern Tasmania (including Launceston) in August 2004, and in 2006 Kelcey Tier, Devonport. Rollout is expected to continue to the rest of the state, including the rest of the north-west coast, the west coast and the east coast before the digital switchover in 2013.
It was a resounding success. Sales of set-top-boxes and digital televisions exploded.
Further expansion around the state will occur at the same time the existing analog FTA broadcasters start digital services. A high definition version of the service was launched in April 2005 and broadcasts using the 1080i format.
As part of the joint venture, Southern Cross Broadcasting is responsible for handling playout (from their Canberra facility), and transmits this signal via satellite to WIN Television transmission facilities in Tasmania. WIN Television handle the business administration and advertising sales for TDT.
Read more about this topic: TDT (TV Station)
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