Government refuses to intervene in Freeview satellite picture quality problem

[Biggles]

I just received a email confirming that the government won't/can't do anything to fix the picture quality issues on the freeview satellite feeds.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thank you for your email of 31 May 2009 requesting a Picture Quality Standard
For satellite digital television in New Zealand

As Minister of Broadcasting, I am responsible for setting the government’s broad
agenda for broadcasting. At this point, managing the transition from analogue to
Digital free-to-air television is a government priority. I am sure the majority
of viewers who have already switched to digital will be enjoying a significant
improvement in their viewing experience, and government is not considering
the introduction of regulations governing picture quality at this stage.

In general, all inquiries regarding technical issues are best directed towards the
Relevant broadcaster. You will appreciate that under the Television New Zealand
Act 2003, I cannot intervene in the day-to-day operations of TVNZ. I am aware
There have been some recent technical problems resulting in pixilation, but these
are being addressed. I am informed the bit rate quality has remained within the
normal range since the introduction of TVNZ’s regionalized transmissions.

If you have any further questions regarding the issues you raised on your letter, I
Suggest you direct then to TVNZ or MediaWorks

Yours sincerely
Hon Dr Jonathan Coleman
Minister of Broadcasting
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Looks like we might be stuck with crap satellite digital TV in New Zealand.

Maybe we can contact their advertsiers with recorded examples of pixelated adverts? that might make TVNZ take notice!!!

Any one have any Ideas?

[finethen]

Think you might have sent your message to the wrong bloke somehow, ya need to petition the Kordia and Freeview people.

[openmedia]

Think you might have sent your message to the wrong bloke somehow, ya need to petition the Kordia and Freeview people.

Actually you need to speak to TVNZ and Mediaworks. Freeview have no control over the video quality.

[Biggles]

Think you might have sent your message to the wrong bloke somehow, ya need to petition the Kordia and Freeview people.

I got sick of getting stock responses from those causing the problems & decided to go right to the top, after all its the Govt. that is forcing the switch to digital with the analogue switch off & they should have some responsibility to ensure that FTA TV is of a acceptable quality (which IMO it was until all the unnecessary duplicate feeds went up on the satellite - thanks TVNZ & Mediaworks)

Lets face it, the company's causing the picture quality issues aren't likely to do much about it, they care more about advertising revenue than viewer's opinions, you just have to look at the dumb programing decisions made by TVNZ & Mediaworks based on the flawed rating system which doesn't include recorded programs in its final ratings (if a program has been recorded & watched - ads aren't being watched so it doesn't count towards final ratings)
:mad:

[grolschie]

What about sound quality of 1 & 2 on DVB-T like? Worth the switch from DVB-S? Thanks.

[butlerboy]

What about sound quality of 1 & 2 on DVB-T like? Worth the switch from DVB-S? Thanks.

As far as I'm aware it's the same. Although TVNZ are changing to Dolby Digital AC-3 on DVB-T at some stage.

[allstarnz]

As far as I'm aware it's the same. Although TVNZ are changing to Dolby Digital AC-3 on DVB-T at some stage.

that'd be good, AAC-LATM is a real pain.

[kiwisteve]

DVB T picture is much better I will not watch the satellite service any more !!

[krs]

It would be nice to have to choice.

[kiwisteve]

you should contact your local MP and ask why the delay on DTT at Hedgehope !! :D:D after all its a major site !!

[Biggles]

you should contact your local MP and ask why the delay on DTT at Hedgehope !! :D:D after all its a major site !!

Govt. don't want to get involved, they say its up to the broadcasters.
I talked to my local MP today and he didn't know anything about Freeview :confused: I think that we will probably never get DTT here in Nelson.

[openmedia]

I now have a sample from an advert that I'm planning on passing to TVNZ + freeview to see if that provokes a more positive response.

[InTheSand]

I think that we will probably never get DTT here in Nelson.

I hope we do at some point! The Grampians site is prominent enough to benefit the majority of the Nelson/Stoke/Richmond area and that's quite a few tens of thousands of people after all! But I guess there are more important / larger catchment sites to be done before we are...

- Ali

[wiilliiss]

wouldnt mt campbell be better?

[Apsattv]

Nope, as people in town are shielded from MT Campbell.

That it why Prime and TV3 and Maori have a little low power transmitter on Kaka Hill that covers central Nelson

A mess really...all signals coming off the same main site would eliminate the situation you see here where some people have about 4 antennas to get all the channels.

[kiwisteve]

Same up here the same channel is used twice twice and in Primes case the polarity is the same , result big mess !! :D:D

DVB T at The Grampians ?? well good luck there :mad::mad:
there are much bigger population areas with no signal

[InTheSand]

DVB T at The Grampians ?? well good luck there :mad::mad:
there are much bigger population areas with no signal

Hehe! Thought as much, can still dream! Ah well, DVB-S will have to do for now!

- Ali

[Biggles]

Unfortunately Freeview has turned out to be bit of a joke (management wise), Sky has walked all over them & Freeview have let them (why would they give them (sky) all their exclusive channels with nothing in return??? I don’t think Prime was part of the swap?, I could be wrong)
Having Freeview viewers split between DVB-S & DVB-T is nuts, people don't want to pay hundreds of dollars on DVB-S when DVB-T is perceived as becoming the standard (unfortunately most people are unaware of the amount of time it will take to expand the DVB-T network then they buy their "Freeview Tuner" LCD TV's)
With Sky still creaming Freeview (Sky = all of Freeviews channels + TV1,2,3 etc in HD available on one network *at a cost), Freeview are not in a position to spend millions of dollars expanding its DVB-T network.

[kiwisteve]

well they are going to have to expand DVB T as the ASO gets closer .

It would also be nice to see sets with a DVB S internal tuner as well .

One of our local retailers staff was telling people there is a satellite tuner built in . I then asked where the F connector was , the guy went a bit pale !! lol :D:D He had assumed that built in freeview was satellite !!

[shadownz]

you should contact your local MP and ask why the delay on DTT at Hedgehope !! :D:D after all its a major site !!

Taranaki is a major site too given its height/reach! :D

[krs]

well they are going to have to expand DVB T as the ASO gets closer .



Yeah that's why they are starting to talk about putting the date back!

[krs]

Taranaki is a major site too given its height/reach! :D

I think the plan was to expand to 87% coverage in one step so that would mean several transmitters being upgraded over a short period of time, rather than just doing them one at a time as public pressure rises in each area.
But we'll still have Hedgehope first thanks..!! ;)

[kiwisteve]

problem is some sites cover a big big area , but with a low population , thats why Taranaki missed on the original install

[nzoliver]

Hmmm,
And who said DTT is the standard? :pugno: Freeview could do MPEG2 HD just like SBS in Oz if they wanted to. Receivers are cheap enuf. MPEG4 receivers will be soon too. Frankly, with our terrain in NZ satellite is the BEST way of getting to ALL the country. DTT is only there 'to stop a foreign power controlling NZ's television transmission'. If we had our own bird DTT would probably have never been used. :aspetta:

Something to think about.

[kiwisteve]

I dont know of any country , apart from Antartica , that is satellite only
apart from Pay TV operations .

Mpeg4 mode is a more efficient use of the spectrum