Response to Herald Sun Report

The Herald Sun newspaper (16 march, 2009) has misled its readers in a report that claimed millions of plasma and LCD televisions would become obsolete from 1 May, 2009 due to changes in the way broadcasters transmit.

All existing plasma and LCD televisions and digital set-top-boxes will continue to work beyond 1 May, 2009.

The free-to-air broadcasters are strong proponents of providing a quality free-to-air service to all Australians, and so would never want to compromise the service by making televisions obsolete. The switchover from analogue to digital is being rolled out progressively for exactly this reason.

FREEVIEW CEO Ms Robin Parkes said: "The Herald Sun's report has cause great concern and confusion amongst Australians who place high importance on their free-to-air television service. We want to assure all Australians that their television equipment will continue to work after the launch of FREEVIEW."

Any HD digital television receiver can receive the suite of FREEVIEW channels. There are many of these already in homes across Australia and they will not become obsolete from 1 May, 2009.

Viewers who currently have analogue television will need to purchase an HD digital set top box or DVR/PVR device. Alternatively, they may replace their existing television with an HD integrated digital television. The integrated television will preform all the functions necessary to receive FREEVIEW.

From 1 May, FREEVIEW branded digital television equipment will be widely available from electronic retailers, nation-wide. Australians do not need to purchase FREEVIEW- endorsed equipment to gain access to FREEVIEW - the retailer will be able to guide customers on the most appropriate equipment for their needs. However, equipment branded with the FREEVIEW logo will include known technological advancements, such as the ability to decode MPEG4 transmission in addition to the existing MPEG2 broadcasts. This technology has been built in to future-proof these digital devices.

Currently, the free-to-air broadcasters have no plans to switch to MPEG4 transmission.It will be at the discretion of the individual broadcasters in consultation with the Australian Government as to when any transition might occur, and if such a switch did eventuate it would not be untill the vast majority of viewers had MPEG4 enabled equipment.

FREEVIEW Australia is a non-for-profit organisation comprising Australia's free-to-air television broadcasters.