Tech
The New Zealand government is expected to give the greenlight to proposals for a DTT service moulded on Freeview.
Like the highly successful UK service - around 10 million DTT units are thought to have been sold - NZ consumers would be able to access a number of free digital channels for a one-off payment for the digital set-top box.
The proposals are being developed by TVNZ, the country's public broadcaster, and will be presented for approval next month.
The move would also allow TVNZ to launch spinoff channels for the first time. At present, it operates the terrestrial channels One and TV2 but new digital offerings could include a factual/news channel and a kids channel with serious drama and arts at night.
One point of contention is likely to be the funding required to establish the venture, estimated at between £100 million and £200 million. Other terrestrial broadcasters, including the CanWest-owned TV3 and C4, have backed the idea but are not officially committed. Meanwhile, Rupert Murdoch's Sky, which currently has a monopoly on digital TV in the country, has launched intense lobbying against the proposals.
If approved, the service would most likely be on air by late 2007 / early 2008.
Like the highly successful UK service - around 10 million DTT units are thought to have been sold - NZ consumers would be able to access a number of free digital channels for a one-off payment for the digital set-top box.
The proposals are being developed by TVNZ, the country's public broadcaster, and will be presented for approval next month.
The move would also allow TVNZ to launch spinoff channels for the first time. At present, it operates the terrestrial channels One and TV2 but new digital offerings could include a factual/news channel and a kids channel with serious drama and arts at night.
One point of contention is likely to be the funding required to establish the venture, estimated at between £100 million and £200 million. Other terrestrial broadcasters, including the CanWest-owned TV3 and C4, have backed the idea but are not officially committed. Meanwhile, Rupert Murdoch's Sky, which currently has a monopoly on digital TV in the country, has launched intense lobbying against the proposals.
If approved, the service would most likely be on air by late 2007 / early 2008.
More: Tech, Terrestrial TV
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