[opendtv] Re: Freeview in new Zealand?

I managed to see a demonstration of a Freeview set-up today.

First, I walked into a Bond and Bond store here in Napier. After I waited
for a very long time to be served when there were only 2 customers in the
shop including me, I asked the salesman if I could see a Freeview box and
possibly a demo. Well, he was somewhat taken aback by my inquiry. Then he
said yes, they had one. He then proceeded to go off into a locked storeroom
for 5 minutes to retrieve it.
When I asked why they did not have them on display and operating he said "We
don't have the shelf room". What a hoot!
Anyway, I then proceeded to walk 50 paces down the road to the local Dick
Smith store and would you believe it, there was a little display stand with
brochures, 2 brands of freeview box, a Dick Smith branded unit and a Hills
type. Price $289 and $299 respectively. Then I asked if they were able to
demo them. Another surprise. They had one of the Hills units set up by the
plasma and LCD screens. This unit was running on a 32" LCD and had
respectable image quality for SD. The salesman demoed the  functionality
briefly before scuttling away. The Hills unit was tiny but clean looking,
measuring only about 200mm x 100mm at a guess and only 20mm in height.
Barry

On 6/23/07, johnwillkie <johnwillkie@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:


 So, MHEG is "alive" somewhere.  It only took, what, 10 years?

 Yes, here and the UK - funny that.

Can't wait to see the interactive features on those boxes.  If and when …



John Willkie


 ------------------------------

*De:* opendtv-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:opendtv-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] *En
nombre de *Barry Wilkins
*Enviado el:* Thursday, June 21, 2007 12:31 AM
*Para:* opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
*Asunto:* [opendtv] Re: Freeview in new Zealand?



Hi Craig

Firstly, this satellite version of Freeview is (believe it or not)
actively advertised during prime time on the analogue channels it is
replacing and as these channels also piggyback on the pay Sky platform,
Freeview gets marketed here as well.

The STBs are available from a range of retail outlets, Dick Smith, Bond
and Bond etc. Typical pricing being  NZ $299 to $399. There was an initial
hiccup with a particular brand "Zinwell", that had lockup issues. These
units I believe are being recalled. Only a limited number of brands of STBs
have been "certified" as being fully compliant, i.e. have the full MHEG5
facilities for automatic program/channel update etc although any DVB-S
compliant STB will receive the broadcasts.

Trying to actually see one of these STBs being demonstrated is another
matter. I went into 2 retail outlets, both of which stated they had the
items in stock but not on display, were not in the slightest bit interested
in showing me the items and had nothing positive to say about Freeview.

Well, it is free to air! They will be adding 2 new channels by year end
and for those who do not get adequate analogue reception but do not want to
pay the typical NZ $70 to $100 per month for Sky, it has to be a good deal.
As you can see from the  Sky pricing we need some competition!!

I am personally more interested in the DTT version to be introduced next
year which will supposedly have HDTV content and will use H.264.

There is a high level of quality content on the few channels that
represent Freeview at present. Of the upteen channel Sky pay content, there
are only about the same number of "satisfactory" channels in my opinion.
With 3 or 4 more quality channels added to Freeview, it should be real
competition to Sky for those who can recognize and separate the wheat from
the chaff.

Regards
Barry


 On 6/21/07, *Craig Birkmaier* <craig@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Some input from our friends in New Zealand.

I am getting press releases about the launch of a Freeview service in
New Zealand. Apparently it is now operational via satellite using
DVB-S receivers, and wwill be available via DTT next year, as
indicated in the following release from the Digital TV Group in the
U.K.

Any feedback on public perception and interest in this service?

Regards
Craig



http://www.dtg.org.uk/news/news.php?id=1742

New Zealand's FreeView to launch next year

New Zealand is to adopt the UK's Freeview model, with a similar brand
name, for digital terrestrial television (DTT). Free-to-air
broadcaster TVNZ is teaming up with CanWest, Maori TV, The New
Zealand Racing Board, and Radio New Zealand to provide a free-to-air
DTT service from early next year called FreeView. FreeView will be
distributed via DTT to major towns and cities. Satellite transmission
will be used to reach 25% of the population outside those areas.
Transmission services will be provided by Broadcast Communications
Limited, part of the THL Group. The New Zealand government will spend
NZ$25m to get FreeView established, but as in the UK, most of the
cost in setting up FreeView will be met by broadcasters. THL Group
CEO Geoff Hunt said: "For a small up-front investment, viewers will
soon have access to free-to-air, quality programming, interactive TV
guides, wide-screen format and multi-camera viewing. "As a company,
we are pleased with the government's decision to go ahead with DTT,
but we are also excited about the technological and lifestyle leap
this represents for New Zealand." Lovelace Consulting  |  19.06.2006




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