Freeview

Individual broadcasters are responsible for the rollout of channels to regional areas. Content and programming vary according to geographical area based on the ownership of commercial TV licences in particular markets. So, for example, most of Sydney does not receive the regional channels broadcast by the Prime, WIN and Southern Cross regional networks, while regional markets do not receive channels broadcast by the metropolitan commercial networks.

However, the Government has announced a satellite service to provide Freeview digital television to viewers in regional ‘blackspot’ areas. That is, for the first time, all free-to-air digital television services, including the original three commercial (7, 9, 10) and two national channels (ABC and SBS), as well as new digital services such as ABC2, ABC3, ABC News 24, SBSTWO, GO!, 7TWO and ONE HD, will be available to all Australians, no matter where you live.

Freeview is not a vehicle for resolving reception issues. You can call an antenna installer to check current equipment, tuning and orientation, and to investigate signal strength in the area and any other possible factors which might contribute to poor television reception. The installer may be able to advise on modifications to the current antenna system to improve reception, if required. Interference to the reception of television services may be related to the commencement of digital services. This is likely if the reception difficulties being experienced commenced at the same time as digital television services began in the area. Local digital reception quality can also be affected by trees, geography, buildings and other obstructions near a residence.

Many existing antennas will be able to receive digital transmissions without any problem, but in some cases equipment may need to be upgraded to receive reliable digital signals.

You will need to find out if the current TV antenna is designed for the same band of operation that the digital TV broadcasts in the area will be transmitted on. In some cases it will need to be upgraded because the new digital channels are in a new frequency band or because the antenna is older or not in good condition.

There is no such thing as a ‘digital antenna’, but some antennas have been manufactured specifically to receive both digital and analog channels (particularly those made after 2000). You can have your antenna system assessed by an antenna installer to find out whether it needs to be replaced.

Your building may need to upgrade its antenna system in order to ensure good quality access to digital TV. This may be necessary if, for example, components are broken, corroded, outdated or of poor quality.

You will need to find out if the current TV antenna is designed for the same band of operation that the digital TV broadcasts in the area will be transmitted on. In some cases it will need to be upgraded either because the new digital channels are in a new frequency band or because the antenna is older or not in good condition and can’t receive adequate signal.

The building’s antenna system (including cabling) can be assessed by an antenna installer with experience in master antenna TV (MATV) systems to find out if it needs to be replaced or upgraded.

Two handbooks have been produced that provide information about antennas and other issues that could affect digital television reception. There is one book for people living in apartment blocks and other buildings with a shared antenna system, and another book for people living in houses with a single antenna.

Click here to download The Digital TV Antenna Systems Handbook or Digital TV Antenna Systems for Homes Handbook.

If you have tried to switch to digital by installing digital equipment and cannot get it to work, you should first ensure that your cables are in good condition and connected properly. If you still cannot receive a picture, you should contact an experienced antenna installer to see whether digital signals are available in your area. If not, you may need to access free-to-view television via the Government’s satellite service which will provide Freeview to viewers in regional ‘blackspot’ areas.

Reception difficulties are often the result of a weak signal from a transmitter that is too distant to deliver an adequate or reliable service. In some cases, a qualified installer can advise on ways of improving reception even in areas of marginal coverage.

Viewers should check whether digital television signals are available in their area and whether coverage from the transmitter site is adequate. If a television service is not receivable in a particular area, first contact the relevant broadcaster who can confirm whether a television service is available in the area. Contact details for commercial broadcasters can be obtained from the FreeTV Australia website.

There are a number of factors that might lead to poor reception of digital television services. These may include the following:
1. Weather conditions, which can cause digital reception to break up or ‘pixelate’
2. Signal obstructions, such as the immediate local terrain, foliage, buildings and trees
3. An inadequate or excessive signal
4. ‘Impulse noise’ interference which may be generated by the use of household items such as domestic appliances, light switches or hair dryers.

A first step for trying to improve digital television reception is to re-scan your tuner or set top box. It may be necessary to re-scan more than once to tune in to all available services in the area.

If you experience continued difficulties with your television reception, contact an antenna technician who is qualified in analogue and digital television reception, and is able to measure television signal levels at residences. They will be able to recommend ways to optimize and improve your television reception. They will also be able to offer advice about:
1. Antenna selection, positioning and orientation
2. Correct cabling, connectors and distribution equipment.
3. The reception source that provides the optimium signal.

A list of Government and Freeview-Endorsed Antenna Installers is available at http://www.digitalready.gov.au

If you are having problems with the reception and transmission of ABC services, please contact the ABC Reception Advice Line on 1300 13 9994 (Monday to Friday, 8am to 7pm EDT). Alternatively, you can send an enquiry through their website at http://abc.net.au/reception/contact

SBS transmission information is available on the SBS website at http://abc.net.au/reception/contact

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has published information about digital television reception that can be downloaded from the ACMA website.

The Australian Government is implementing a satellite service to give viewers living in regional and remote ‘blackspot’ areas of Australia access to the same number of free-to-air digital television channels that are available to those living the cities. This service is called Viewer Access Satellite Television (VAST).


For the first time, all free-to-air digital television services including the original three commercial and two national channels as well as the new digital channels (ABC2, ABC3, ABC News 24, SBS TWO, 7TWO, ONE HD) will be available to all Australians no matter where they live.

In addition, the VAST service will provide regional viewers with access to the local news currently broadcast in their TV licence area via a dedicated local news channel.
For more information on the satellite service, click here.

The new satellite service will be available to viewers who are unable to receive adequate digital television services from existing terrestrial transmitters. It will also be available to viewers in remote Australia, who currently rely on the Remote Area Broadcasting Service (RABS). This satellite service is also known as Aurora.

Households that currently rely on self-help retransmission facilities which are not able to receive digital terrestrial television services, either because their self-help re-transmission facility is not converted to digital or because reception from the site is not adequate, will be able to access a new satellite service.

The new satellite service will provide a greatly increased number of channels compared to the current limited satellite service, RABS, and viewers will for the first time be able to access local news content.
The Government is responsible for the timing and roll out of the satellite service. For more information, and to find out what you need to do to access it, please go to http://www.digitalready.gov.au/satellite-tv.aspx

Self-help retransmission sites receive and retransmit signals from the main television broadcaster towers or satellites to viewers in areas that cannot get any or adequate coverage from the main broadcaster towers. Located across Australia, they were established to provide analogue television signals in areas which were not serviced by the broadcasters directly, and tend to cover small population centres in remote and regional areas. Self-help re-transmitters currently broadcast in analogue only.

Broadcasters are not required to establish transmitters in every part of the licence area they have been licensed to serve. Whether or not a broadcaster establishes a transmitter in any particular part of their licence area is at their discretion.

Viewers that are reliant on a site that will not be converted to digital will be eligible to receive their television services from the Viewer Access Satellite Television (VAST) service, if they cannot receive an adequate signal from another transmitter in their area. For further information, visit http://www.digitalready.gov.au/satellite-tv.aspx

Under an agreement reached with all television broadcasters across Australia, broadcasters will upgrade a number of self-help retransmission facilities to operate in digital. Ultimately, it is at the discretion of the broadcasters as to which sites they choose to convert to digital, subject to planning approval from the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA). A list of candidate sites for conversion can be viewed by clicking here.

The Government is responsible for the timing of the roll out of the Viewer Access Satellite Television (VAST). The Government is working closely with broadcasters to make sure that the new satellite service will be available to viewers well before the area in which they live switches over to digital-only television. Please go to http://www.digitalready.gov.au/satellite-tv.aspx for the most up to date information.

In order to access the new satellite service, households will need to install direct to home satellite reception equipment including a satellite dish and set top box with smart card. The costs of installation will vary depending on the location, the size of the satellite receiving dish and characteristics of the receiving location.

Before installing a satellite dish, households will need to contact their local council to check if a planning permit is required. Please go to http://www.digitalready.gov.au/index.aspx for more information.

Households that currently rely on analogue self help transmission towers to receive television services, that are not being upgraded to digital by the broadcasters, will be eligible for a Satellite Subsidy from the Australian Government. For information about eligibility criteria and how to apply is available at http://www.digitalready.gov.au/subsidy/Default.aspx

Two handbooks have been produced that provide information about antennas and other issues that could affect digital television reception. There is one book for people living in apartment blocks and other buildings with a shared antenna system, and another book for people living in houses with a single antenna. Click here to download The Digital TV Antenna Systems Handbook or Digital TV Antenna Systems for Homes Handbook.