Media Release

Helping Australians make the switch to digital TV

The Gillard Government is extending its support to assist Australians to make the switch to digital television, the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy announced today.

The 2011-12 Budget provides $376.5 million funding for ongoing assistance, including measures such as:

• $308.8 million for continued support for the Household Assistance Scheme (HAS) into regional New South Wales/ACT, Tasmania, Northern Territory, Western Australia and State capital cities, so that eligible pension recipients are provided with the professional assistance they need to convert to digital television;
• $44.1 million for extending and enhancing on-the-ground community engagement through localised communication within each switchover area, backed up by targeted advertising campaigns and the comprehensive digitalready.gov.au website;
• $21.3 million to continue the work of the Digital Switchover Taskforce for the remainder of the switchover process; and
• $2.4 million to the Australian Communications and Media Authority to continue its coverage evaluation program to ensure that broadcasters are meeting their statutory obligations and inform consumers of digital reception in their areas.

“For most people, making the switch to digital television is straightforward and inexpensive,” Senator Conroy said.

“However, the Government recognises that some Australians, particularly the elderly, people with disabilities and their carers, may require assistance to switch to digital TV.

“The Household Assistance Scheme therefore remains the centrepiece of the Government’s ongoing assistance to Australians in making the switch to digital TV.

“The HAS, at no cost to eligible households, supplies a high-definition set-top box, installs it on the person's existing analog TV and demonstrates how to use the equipment.”

The 2011-12 Budget provides funding for the HAS until the end of the Digital Switchover program across Australia in December 2013. The HAS will become available in each switchover region six months prior to the switch off of analog signals, and eligible recipients will receive a letter from Centrelink at that time, inviting them to opt in to the scheme.

The Government also announced it will support the conversion of 59 ABC and or SBS self-help analog television services across Australia, which includes some assistance towards ongoing costs. An estimated 31,000 households are expected to benefit from having this analog self-help equipment converted to digital.

The funding in Budget is in addition to funding already provided by the Government for:

• The Viewer Access Satellite Television (VAST) service which provides a full suite of digital television channels for viewers in remote areas and digital blackspots;
• The Satellite Subsidy Scheme which provides assistance to viewers currently served by analog community operated ‘self help’ transmitters, to enable them to convert to the VAST service; and
• Supporting broadcasters in regional South Australia and remote areas to provide the full suite of digital TV channels from their terrestrial towers.

Further information on the timetable for digital switchover is available from the Digital Ready Information Line on 1800 20 10 13 or from www.digitalready.gov.au

Date: 10 May 2011
Contact: Suzie Brady 0408 258 457