If you’re hanging out for that day, hoping to see a heap more Neighbours spin-offs quality programming, you’re about to be disappointed. The Age is reporting that Channel 10 boss Grant Blackley doesn’t think we’ll see any extra channels until well into 2009.
“We’re capable of launching from January 1 (but) I don’t think any network has said they will physically launch on January 1.”
The hangup seems to be not just finding the programs to show, but also the long search for advertising dollars – at the moment, the free-to-air networks have no OzTAM ratings data for their HD channels to take to advertisers to help sales. That will change by the end of the year, but it will still take a couple of months before the networks will be comfortable launching a third channel.
Of course, Channel 7 was tight-lipped as to whether they’re targeting the Jan 1 date, and Channel 9 are far behind when it comes to digital technology (plus they’re too busy wasting money suing IceTV), so when they launch a second SD channel is anybody’s guess.
Hopefully when they do launch we won’t have to sit through B-grade entertainment – if I have one complaint about the HD channels it’s that sometimes the selection of HD programming is terrible. Just because a show is high-definition doesn’t mean it’s high quality…
[The Age]
David D.
Monday, May 12, 2008 at 3:10 PMABC is by far the best at using the second channel at the moment although it has a heavy music bias (which I like) to repeating programs at an alternate timeslot. TEN got me with the Thursday night Sci-fi on the HD offering but then blew it by showing identical programs on both stations and not starting the highly publicized IPL coverage until after midnight. I mean’ c’mon, is having letterman on both channels really necessary?
Seven just seems to repeat the same shows over a monthly period.
And NINE, well I gave up on them long ago due to their random programming that made it impossible to follow a show. In fact I have NINE to thank for getting me in Bit Torrent.
kymehra
Monday, May 12, 2008 at 3:36 PMI’ve come back to Australia having lived in UK for a couple of years and it is sad that digital hasn’t been as well adopted here. Its good to see that they are pushing HD, but I would take additional content over better quality any day. There are over 40 digital channels free-to-air in the UK, built largely of of the five primary channels (BBC1, BBC2, ITV, etc). A lot of the content is just time shifted, but at least its something.
bingbong
Thursday, September 11, 2008 at 11:47 PMI find 10′s comments amusing – content…indeed. Why not look at their Music video strand and turn it into a music channel? No end of free cheap content. come on 10. Choice. Its novel, I know…. but it would be an easy channel and a popular one…
ozzy
Friday, December 5, 2008 at 12:09 PMIf we get 24 hour music channels, we need to be able to choose what music we want to watch. 20 years ago when mtv was in its prime the music was great, then rap and boy bands and la de da pop took over and thats 99 percent of what free to air and cable channels play now. If you want to watch certain types of music you should be able to have a choice. Weather it be rock rap or whatever.
jonti
Tuesday, December 16, 2008 at 12:07 PMThe Broadcasting Authority responsible for digital TV have stated that all HD programs must be transmitted in SD at the same time so that TV sets not capable to receive HD TV can receive the program in SD. How is it then that I cannot record 7HD, 9HD, and 10 HD programs on my SD DVD recorder?
Brooke
Wednesday, December 17, 2008 at 2:05 PMThis is great news for Australian tv, after all, pay tv has become so popular because of it’s variety of channels and content that its not suprising that free to air are doing this. ABC are having a children’s channel and Ten are having a sports channel what about movies or docos? Maybe thats something channel nine can offer?
nunyabizniz
Tuesday, January 27, 2009 at 6:13 PMWell isn’t that just the same as the government… all talk, all hype and a huge let down at the allotted time… I’m bored to death with the channels we have now. ABC runs all the old black and whites after midnight most nights and I enjoy them. Music channels bore the bejeezuz out of me. And if I see one more “Proactive Skincare” commercial I’m throwing my set in the rubbish.
All I’ve been seeing is commercials everywhere saying these extra free to air channels are coming beginning 09. I keep shouting at the tv is “WHEN?” I’m sick of all the hype. JUST DO IT or SHUT UP about it!!! Stop blowing smoke up our proverbials, we have the government covering that department.
frankenberry
Tuesday, February 17, 2009 at 3:28 PMi just want to get these digital channels up so my girlfriend will stop coming to mine to watch Foxtel
max
Sunday, February 22, 2009 at 6:52 PMi live in cairns just bought a set top box and can’t get any HD programs here.i also checked the net to see when the freeview channels are coming. they may not come at all. what a load of BS. i just wasted my money.