Ericsson: All Australians to get digital free-to-air TV
September 10, 2010
A new five-year deal between Australia’s national broadcaster, the ABC, and Ericsson will help address rural DTT blindspots. Thanks to Ericsson’s latest satellite video compression technology, the ABC will be able to expand the reach of its high-definition and standard-definition digital TV programming across the country.
As Australia undergoes the switch from analogue to digital free-to-air TV, the Australian government is funding a new satellite service to provide digital television to viewers in remote areas where free-to-air digital TV can’t be received by TV antennas. About 247,000 Australian households in these “digital black spots” will benefit from the initiative.
Sam Saba, head of Ericsson Australia & New Zealand, says: “According to a recent study, all Australian households watch free-to-air TV and spend almost three hours a day watching it on average. Since this service is central in the life of Australians, we value being part of digitalising it and ensuring that all Australians can enjoy a rich, high-quality television experience.”