Will blog more on this later. Am at NZ Computer Society 50th anniversary conf in Rotorua and about to speak, but want to say that it’s the right decision. Am a bit suprised. it loooked as though the government was going to delay til 2015.
Wonder why they changed their minds. The mobile companies investing in 4G will be pleased. And it means that we wont lag in the next generation of ultra-fast broadband over mobile.
It means that a comprehansive education campaign will be needed to make sure that low income, and older people are left out and without TV coverage.
But it’s the right decision. Haven’t had time to look at the detail yet. Will have more to say later.
My colleague Brendon Burns, Broadcasting spokesperson, is also tied up (doing a public meeting on the earthquake in the Chch Central electorate). Good excuse. He told me that this announcement should now be followed by Cabinet announcing a willingness to open up to some public input on future of public service broadcasting, as per Future of Television.
He also commented that doing Digital Switchover by regions, could benefit Sky as they will be able to systematically put in sales teams region by region. Freeview hasn’t got the budget to do that.
NBR has written a piece here.
They point out that: The switch date will put New Zealand on a par with other OECD countries, with the United Kingdom switching over to digital by 2012 and Australia by 2013. The US and parts of the EU have completed the switch.
I can find scant info on this in the press and nothing on funding. How do they intend to do this?
And can all govt MPs please out their shares in SKY please. I seriously suspect some back door deals being done.
And when you auction of the spectrum, make sure it’s to a telco which can deliver a consistent service.
I wonder if there is a plan on disposing the old TVs in green/sustanable way
There must be millions of then lurking about in spare rooms through out the country indeed the world
On another point I wasn’t aware that ownership of a working TV was a human right that needed government intervention
[...] are supportive: Am at NZ Computer Society 50th anniversary conf in Rotorua and about to speak, but want to say [...]
“I seriously suspect some back door deals being done.”
!
Typical
@Raymon – good point about the tvs. I’m thinking that the digital tv has to be done fairly, expensivetosetupandnotfaircosnotallplacesgetallthechannelsview needs work frankly, before we can switch off analogue