Freeview Officially Launches, Get Ready For The Mass Confusion…
Tonight titled as a new era in Australian Television the new marketing tool for the free to air broadcasters ‘Freeview’ was launched with blanket advertising on all of the analogue channels at the exact same time 6:29pm. The one minute ad makes the point of pointing out that from 2009 there will be 15 free digital television stations on the ‘Freeview’ platform.
Now for the confusion to start and while it is a relatively simple concept, the problem is especially for older Australians ‘Freeview’ is going to be seen as something extra and not that appealing when ‘normal television’ is still working. Another problem is with the ‘Freeview’ website which has a list of channels being offered in 2009, except it is incorrect in saying Ten HD will be apart of the line up next year as this will be turned into ‘One HD’ and it also lists a channel called ‘SBS 2′ which is currently a relay of the normal SBS channel. There is no mention of the SBS World News Channel on the site at all.
The ad shown which can be viewed below also adds that their are no contracts or fees which is a positive however the mere mention of the word contract and fee is going to confuse people further implying that they will need to subscribe to some sort of service.
[flashvideo filename=http://whatsonthetube.net/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/freeview.flv /]
The Freeview website can be found here at freeview.com.au
Below is the official media release from ‘freeview’…
FREEVIEW UNITES NETWORKS IN THE DIGITAL REVOLUTION
The digital television revolution moves a step closer tonight with all of the nation’s major free-to-air broadcasters uniting for the launch of the Freeview brand. Australia’s free-to-air broadcasters reach more than 99% of Australian homes.
Freeview will offer viewers better picture quality and more program choices than ever – with access to 15 digital channels and an Electronic Program Guide on ABC, SBS, the Seven, Nine and Ten Networks, as well as regional broadcasters WIN, Prime Media and Southern Cross.
Network Heads and CEOs will gather in Canberra tonight with stars from every free-to-air channel to launch Freeview with the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy.
At 6.29pm, viewers get their first taste of Freeview when a 60-second announcement promoting the next generation of free-to-view digital television goes to air on all networks around Australia.
This is the first time all of Australia’s free-to-air broadcasters, including the public broadcasters, have joined forces to pool resources for a major television campaign. It is a milestone in the drive for the take-up of digital television as Australia phases out analogue transmission, which is due to switch off in 2013.
As well as much more content being provided on the multi-channel digital platform, the Freeview Electronic Program Guide (EPG) will make it simple for viewers to find what they want to watch quickly and easily on every network.
In 2009, most Australian viewers will be able to receive five High Definition (HD) and 10 Standard Definition (SD) channels, making a total of 15 Freeview digital channels.
To receive all 15 Freeview channels, along with the Freeview EPG, households will be able to purchase digital set-top boxes to work with their existing analogue television sets. These boxes will be badged with the Freeview logo and available in stores next year.
Alternatively, people will be able to buy a Freeview branded integrated flat screen plasma or LCD digital television. In addition, a Freeview branded Digital Video Recorder will allow viewers to use the electronic program guide to record their favourite programs and watch them whenever they like.
Freeview is – and will remain – a free-to-view service. Once you have the digital equipment there is no contract and no subscription fees or ongoing costs.
The Chair of Freeview, Mr Kim Dalton, ABC Director of Television, says the new service will change the face of television while ensuring all Australians continue to enjoy the great range of programming offered by free-to-air networks.
“Freeview is perhaps the most important thing to happen in Australian television since Bruce Gyngell made history back in 1956 with those three simple words, ‘Welcome to television’,” Mr Dalton said.
“Tonight’s event is historic because every free-to-air television network is represented. Our traditional rivalries have been suspended in the name of a shared vision, ensuring that every Australian is ready for the future of digital television.
“The free-to-air broadcasters have pioneered digital television, investing millions in infrastructure and converting equipment and studios.
“Now it’s time for viewers to reap the rewards. Freeview will offer Australians more channels and more choice, better pictures and sound, an electronic program guide and all the other benefits that digital technology provides,” Mr Dalton said.
The Freeview consortium will be a major driver of digital television in Australia, with the free-to-air broadcasters collectively backing the venture with more than $50m worth of air-time over the next year.
Filed Under: ABC • ABC HD • ABC1 • ABC2 • Network Ten • Nine HIGH-DEF • Nine Network • One HD • SBS ONE • Seven HD • Seven Network • TEN HD
another milk the market campaign to raise more revenues…. i didn’t hear nothing about brand new channels, once we get some new channel there then it is worth of buying it otherwise no need at all. Been in many countries and we Australians, have such poor choice of free to air channels, so little compared to such big country….in germany they have 48 free to air chANNELS and etc…. and we tink we have some choice of tv service…whatta laugh
Well I actually like only having the 5 major broadcasters, it keeps things simple, well that is just my opinion after all.
You might wanna check the site for the right channels (hint SBS and TEN).
Give regional WA and remote viewers their third broadcaster before even considering digital promotion. I heard GWN only screened a 10 second promo with the words “Fifteen new channels” The most they’ll get is twelve if broadcaster #3 ain’t set up.
Well as it currently stands with sd and hd not much really changed, channel 7 and ten are putting in some effort with there brothering hd channels but if in 2009 its anything as bland and dissapointing as the overhyped hd revolution so far is I dont think the older generation well be confused too much. All they will probabbly need to know is that there will be other channels with slightly different rubbish and maybe on a rare occasion something good if an opposing channel has something big on that day.
as a confused younger person does that mean my inbuilt hd lcd without a freeview logo on it will be unable to receive the magical 15 channels?
No you will get all channels, infact you can get most of them now.
Im confused, none of these channels are actually new… they are already up and running. (other than 1HD)
Thats exactly right. plus Seven and Nine are supposed to introduce a new SD channel each
Why do I feel that foxtel is responsable for all the confusion about freeview.
Most of the BS you read on the internet is only speculation, nobody really knows how freeview is going to work.
Why cant people just wait and see, before they make judgement.
“You cant judge a book by its cover”, isnt that what we all learned at school.
I come from Italy, On the digital TV we have 24 FREE national channels, I mean real channels all different and with different themes…Here is a list:
1 Class News, 2 Coming soon, 3 BBC World, 4 Canale 5, 5 Boing, 6 Italia 1, 7 Rete 4, 8 Iris, 9 QOOB, 10 LA7, 11 MTV Italia, 12 SportItalia, 13 SportItalia24, 14 Mediashopping, 15 Ted, 16 Rai Uno, 17 Rai Due, 18 Rai Tre, 19 Rai 4, 20 Rai Gulp, 21 RaiNews24, 22 Rai Storia, 23 Sat2000, 24 Rai Sport Più.
I won’t mention the 34 pay per view channels that work as sat TV. Here freview talks of about 15 channels…2 don’t actually even exist! Out of the remaining 13 only 7 are really different from the others! Is this all about protecting FOXTEL ???!!!
Nothing to do with Foxtel. FreeView is simply a poorly thought out marketing tool to promote digital take up in Australia by the Free to Air networks. All the channels are there now, in fact there’s 24 of them, but most are simulcasts. Best we’ll have is 11 unique channels at that is on the assumption that both 7 and 9 get their 2nd SD channels up and running and the rumoured ABC3 gets the go ahead.
The new FreeView marketing team need to clear up the confusion once and for all otherwise it is doomed to fail. This includes making it clear for regional Australia who won’t even have ONE HD as of tomorrow. Calrify channel launch dates. Channel names. Content. Accurate count of unique channels. Some serious and meaningful communication needed – not just maybes and “mid-year” and “coming soons”.