Media Release
Senator the Hon Stephen Conroy
Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy
Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate
Minister Assisting the Prime Minister on Digital Productivity
Full Digital TV services now available in Geraldton
Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, has today visited Geraldton to switch on a new digital TV transmitter, allowing locals to watch the full suite of 16 digital channels for the first time.
As part of the switchover to digital television, the Gillard Government has provided $34 million to enable commercial broadcasters to deliver digital TV channels in:
- remote and regional Western Australia
- regional South Australia, and
- remote and central Australia.
“The launch of commercial digital television services in Geraldton is great news for locals, who will now have access to the full range of digital channels for the first time.
“They join people living in Moora, Katanning, Mandurah, Fitzroy Crossing, Kununurra, Kununurra East, Mount Magnet, and Esperance where new transmitters have already been switched on.
“Under the Gillard Government, people all around Australia will have access to the same number of television channels. It doesn’t matter whether you live in Perth or Melbourne or in regional and remote areas like Geraldton or Kununurra, you’ll be able to watch all 16 digital channels.
“This will end once and for all the digital divide in TV services between regional and remote Australians and those living in our cities,” Senator Conroy said.
“The Gillard Government has funded these new towers to help commercial broadcasters deliver all of their digital services through a total of 50 new transmitters across Western Australia.
The new transmitters, combined with the Government’s new Viewer Access Satellite Television service, mean that people in regional and remote Australia will be able to watch the full suite of digital channels, including multichannels like ABC 2 and ABC 3, Gem, 7Two, 7Mate, Eleven and more. The SBS digital television service will also be available in most of these locations ahead of the switchover in regional WA on 25 June 2013.
To view the new services, you can either convert your analog TV by connecting a digital set top box or a digital TV recorder, or upgrade to a new digital TV.
Local switchover information can be found at www.digitalready.gov.au or by calling the Digital Ready Information Line on 1800 20 10 13.
Date: 6 September 2012
Contact: Adam Sims 0408 258 457
