According to TV Tonight, a couple of days ago Channel 9 finally started airing breakout programming during the day on their high definition channel. But is it really worth it if the TV shows being aired are over 40 years old?
After months of not saying anything much at all regarding its second SD digital channel, the Nine network has confirmed that rather than just time-shifting content, there’ll be a heap of original programming. And by original, we of course mean repeats of old sitcoms.
Following up on Wednesday’s announcement that Channel 9 are playing friendly with that crazy Internet thingy by letting people legally download the second season of Underbelly for free, comes the shock announcement that it’s actually successful. According to a press release, the Aussie crime drama has “smashed” NineMSN’s previous download record with over 6000 downloads in 60 hours. And considering the reports online that the NineMSN servers kept crapping out during downloads, that figure potentially could have been even higher.
I just don’t get it. For years and years, the free-to-air networks argued that it wasn’t free EPG information or decent programming that would drive people to digital TV, it was the ability to multi-channel. Yet here we are in February 2009, the networks have been legally able to launch a second digital channel since January 1, and Channel 9 announces that they won’t be joining the multi-channel party until July because they need to upgrade their digital equipment.
Can it be true? A commercial network actually embracing the internet? For real?
Apparently it is, with Channel 9 letting viewers not only download free episodes of the second series to last year’s hit show Underbelly, but also letting viewers distribute it online through file sharing portals like Bittorrent. If you don’t believe me, check out the text from NineMSN’s CatchUp TV section:
Yesterday may have been the first day of 2009, but it was also the first day the Australian free-to-air TV networks could legally begin broadcasting a second digital SD channel. But here we are, 1.5 days into the new year, and none of the FTA networks have actually made good on their chance to launch a second channel and according to the Australian, aren’t likely to for several more months.
Just a little over a week since the ABC launched their iView service for video on demand, executives from Hulu, the NBC/News Corp video streaming service from the US, have flown into Australia to meet with all the Australian networks to try and launch Hulu down under.
According to the SMH, all three free-to-air networks have met with Hulu, and seem to be fairly optimistic about the proposition, although whether or not we see an Australian version could come down to what kind of business deals are offered to the local networks.
But most interesting is the fact that network executives are also considering using the ABC’s iView to do the same thing – act as a central content hub for programming from all the Australian networks.
We all know that TiVo is coming soon, but if the rumblings coming out of the SMH are true, then we’ll be getting it without the usual subscription fee that TiVo charges.
I don’t know about you, but the whole Australian launch of TiVo just got mighty exciting.
The last we heard, they were planning on cutting the subscription fee right down. But by making it a premium box without ongoing fees, the TiVo will stand out against PVRs from other manufacturers thanks to its proven EPG data and internet capabilities.
Apparently we’re looking at a July launch for teh TiVo box, which looks like a month later than Foxtel’s new iQ2. The SMH reckons that the move to a subscription-free TiVo will push Foxtel into dropping their price, but I’ll believe that when I see it.
On a side note, both Channels 9 and 10 have confirmed that they will share their EPG data on the TiVo, which is a nice touch from Channel 9 considering their ongoing litigation against IceTV.
The other interesting thing is that all the extra features that TiVo offers – like online entertainment, for example, won’t be available at launch. Instead they’re focusing on the EPG and getting it launched for the Olympics.
In any case, this is awesome news for PVR enthusiasts in Australia. I’m actually excited by this now. How about you guys?
[SMH]
On January 1 2009, all the commercial free-to-air networks are entitled to launch a second SD channel, to show unique programming in conjunction with their original SD and HD channels.
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]
