TV Broadcasters welcome Government's Digital TV Plans

Television broadcasters today welcomed the Government's decision to work with the industry to establish a plan for the roll-out of digital television in New Zealand. The New Zealand Television Broadcasters' Council, representing the four national television broadcasters, said it was particularly pleased that the Government had agreed to make spectrum available to existing broadcasters for digital terrestrial television at no extra cost.

Ian Fraser, the chairman of the NZTBC, said the industry was now able to embark on a joint approach to planning for digital television. He said "it is critical that any move to digital television should be commercially viable for broadcasters and provide added and significant benefits to the viewer".

He said that the industry would watch international developments closely but New Zealand would also need to find its own solutions for any introduction of digital television so that everyone can benefit.

He added, "we believe that New Zealand is best served by a combination of terrestrial and satellite delivery and the final ratio between these two delivery technologies has yet to be established."

"We now need to work out in detail what actual spectrum will be required for both testing for digital terrestrial television and its implementation once we know much more about its costs and benefits."

The NZTBC is made up of the four companies operating national broadcast television channels. They are CanWest New Zealand, Prime Television New Zealand, SKY Network Television and Television New Zealand.

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