Digital television in Australia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Digital television is a technology which is available via a number of types of services and providers in Australia. They mostly broadcast in high-definition television, which has become the de facto national standard.
History
Between 2001 and 2009, the number of homes with digital television rose from around 10,000 to an estimated 4,000,000.[1]
The first digital channels provided by the national broadcaster, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation were the multi-channels, ABC Kids and Fly TV, between 2001 and 2003. The first enduring digital channel was launched in March 2005, named ABC2 (now ABC Family).[1] Now, all five broadcasters, such as ABC, SBS, Ten, Seven and Nine, are transmitting their 24/7 program services in different capital cities in Australia, including Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, Hobart, Canberra and Darwin. [2]
Types of providers
- Australian digital terrestrial television, branded as Freeview, is provided by a number of free-to-air channels in Australia, including that provided by the national broadcaster, on ABC Television.
- VAST, a free-to-view satellite television service that provides a service to remote areas, which replaced Optus Aurora.
- Foxtel, a commercial subscription satellite and cable television service.
- Optus Television, a subscription cable television service.
- TransTV, from TransACT, a subscription cable television service.
Historical Services
- Austar, a subscription satellite television service.
- Optus Aurora, a free-to-view satellite service, which ceased transmission in December 2013.
- UBI World TV was a subscription satellite television service offering predominantly ethnic channels between 2004 and June 2012. The company filed for bankruptcy and ceased trading in June 2012.[3]
