Apsattv
11-03-2008, 02:15 AM
From http://www.stuff.co.nz/4433285a28.html
Consumers waiting for the launch of Freeview's digital terrestrial television (DTT) service next month have been told most prime-time programmes on TV1 and TV2 are unlikely to be broadcast in high-definition till the start of 2010.
Freeview will only broadcast TV1, TV2 and TV3 to DTT customers in a high-definition signal format, but that will make no difference to viewers till programmes are shot and broadcast in high- definition.
TVNZ chief executive Rick Ellis says that there may be some "disconnect" between people's expectations for the availability of high-definition (HD) programming and the actual schedule.
TVNZ budgeted $40 million over 18 to 24 months to manage the transition from traditional tape-based analogue systems to its new "fully digital high-definition environment", where programmes will be shot and stored as Mpeg4 files.
Mr Ellis says the technology is relatively straightforward and TVNZ is likely to keep within budget, but the switch is a "huge change management journey" for staff. "The processes around managing media content are vastly different in many areas."
TVNZ's head of broadcast services, Helen Clifton, expects some programmes made or commissioned by TVNZ will be broadcast on Freeview's DTT service in HD by the end of the year, along with the Beijing Olympics, which takes place in August and September.
Ms Clifton was director of operations at Al Jazeera, where she implemented its HD systems, till she joined TVNZ in October.
"There will be a progressive availability of HD content, some off the back of our international supply agreements, and others progressively as the local New Zealand production industry – including ourselves – begins to commission and produce more and more content in HD," Mr Ellis says.
Ms Clifton says TVNZ now has some HD digital cameras, which are coming down in price.
In an era when programmes are stored as files on a server rather than tapes on a shelf, ensuring programmes are properly tagged in a media asset management system with appropriate descriptive data will be critical to the success of the project, she says.
Jacqui Loates, a spokeswoman for TV3 owner TVWorks, says the privately owned free-to-air broadcaster is still finalising details of the programming it will make available in HD on Freeview's DTT service, but an announcement will be made soon.
Sky TV has spent $55 million making the switch from tape-based to digital production systems.
Spokesman Tony O'Brien says it plans to broadcast two sports and two movie channels in high- definition from July.
Customers will need a new MySky set-top box to see the channels in HD.
Mr Ellis says the increased availability of "new features that enhance the television experience" has changed sentiment surrounding the prospects for the television industry over the past two years.
"It is not tracking irrevocably to a death knell; in fact it is going in exactly the opposite direction.
"I have no doubt HD will increase the 'stickiness' of television and yield good solid audiences we can monetise through advertisers," Mr Ellis says.
Consumers waiting for the launch of Freeview's digital terrestrial television (DTT) service next month have been told most prime-time programmes on TV1 and TV2 are unlikely to be broadcast in high-definition till the start of 2010.
Freeview will only broadcast TV1, TV2 and TV3 to DTT customers in a high-definition signal format, but that will make no difference to viewers till programmes are shot and broadcast in high- definition.
TVNZ chief executive Rick Ellis says that there may be some "disconnect" between people's expectations for the availability of high-definition (HD) programming and the actual schedule.
TVNZ budgeted $40 million over 18 to 24 months to manage the transition from traditional tape-based analogue systems to its new "fully digital high-definition environment", where programmes will be shot and stored as Mpeg4 files.
Mr Ellis says the technology is relatively straightforward and TVNZ is likely to keep within budget, but the switch is a "huge change management journey" for staff. "The processes around managing media content are vastly different in many areas."
TVNZ's head of broadcast services, Helen Clifton, expects some programmes made or commissioned by TVNZ will be broadcast on Freeview's DTT service in HD by the end of the year, along with the Beijing Olympics, which takes place in August and September.
Ms Clifton was director of operations at Al Jazeera, where she implemented its HD systems, till she joined TVNZ in October.
"There will be a progressive availability of HD content, some off the back of our international supply agreements, and others progressively as the local New Zealand production industry – including ourselves – begins to commission and produce more and more content in HD," Mr Ellis says.
Ms Clifton says TVNZ now has some HD digital cameras, which are coming down in price.
In an era when programmes are stored as files on a server rather than tapes on a shelf, ensuring programmes are properly tagged in a media asset management system with appropriate descriptive data will be critical to the success of the project, she says.
Jacqui Loates, a spokeswoman for TV3 owner TVWorks, says the privately owned free-to-air broadcaster is still finalising details of the programming it will make available in HD on Freeview's DTT service, but an announcement will be made soon.
Sky TV has spent $55 million making the switch from tape-based to digital production systems.
Spokesman Tony O'Brien says it plans to broadcast two sports and two movie channels in high- definition from July.
Customers will need a new MySky set-top box to see the channels in HD.
Mr Ellis says the increased availability of "new features that enhance the television experience" has changed sentiment surrounding the prospects for the television industry over the past two years.
"It is not tracking irrevocably to a death knell; in fact it is going in exactly the opposite direction.
"I have no doubt HD will increase the 'stickiness' of television and yield good solid audiences we can monetise through advertisers," Mr Ellis says.