086/06
Thursday September 7th 2006

Greater reliability for ABC regional television in Victoria

The Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, Senator Helen Coonan, today announced more than $700,000 in funding to improve the reliability of the ABC’s Victorian television content.

This funding will improve the reliability of ABC television by upgrading current program feed arrangements for 12 regional Victorian ABC analogue television transmission sites.

“The upgrade will give an estimated 1.3 million viewers in regional Victoria consistent and more reliable access to the ABC’s Victorian television content,” Senator Coonan said.

The 12 transmission sites previously received analogue television signals from one of two satellites, but at certain times it was necessary to switch between the two satellites to give viewers relevant Victorian content.

The 12 sites now receive the ABC’s Victorian digital television signal from one satellite, and translate this to analogue for broadcast to homes, improving the reliability of the transmission.

These 12 sites in turn provide the input signal for the remaining ABC television transmission sites in regional Victoria. This means that all viewers of ABC Regional Victorian television will benefit from the upgrade.

The 12 coverage areas and transmission sites are as follows: