Viewers in remote areas to benefit from changes in the Commonwealth Government's management of the switch from analogue to digital transmission

25/11/97

Television viewers in remote areas of Western Australia will benefit from changes in the Commonwealth Government's management of the switch from analogue to digital transmission, Regional Development Minister Hendy Cowan said today.

Mr Cowan said today's statement on satellite broadcasting services by Federal Communications Minister Senator Alston dealt with many of the issues raised by the Western Australian Government.

"Senator Alston's announcement means that households receiving transmissions direct from satellite will need only one dish and one integrated receiver decoder (IRD) to receive ABC and GWN," he said.

"And, for the first time, they will be able to receive SBS television broadcasts as well as ABC radio services, including Triple J, and a commercial FM radio broadcast.

"I also welcome the commitment to provide $750 towards the cost of an IRD able to process digital signals to each of the 3500 households currently receiving direct-to-home satellite services.

"I have viewed transmissions of both GWN and ABC television using the digital system and was impressed with the quality.

"In the future, digital transmissions may enable remote viewers to access a wider range of services including the Internet.

"Only a few weeks ago Western Australia's remote viewers were faced with the prospect of a much higher bill or more restricted viewing and listening choices."

However, Mr Cowan said he was disappointed that the program would be mainly funded by Western Australia's already inadequate allocation from the Regional Telecommunications Infrastructure Fund, which was intended to fund innovative new telecommunications services.

Mr Cowan said the Western Australian Government had made extensive representations to the Commonwealth at both a ministerial and a departmental level, seeking changes in the satellite television policy.

"The Office of Information and Communications in the Department of Commerce and Trade has also worked closely with all three broadcasters ABC, GWN and SBS and the satellite carriers Telstra and Optus towards this result," he said.

Mr Cowan said that GWN had also indicated to him that it would meet the cost of providing new equipment at 36 community-based receiving stations in major WA towns.

The Office of Information and Communications would continue to liaise with GWN to seek an extension of the cut-off date for its analogue services, currently set at January 31, 1998.

The State Government would write to all direct-to-home viewers this week explaining the likely impact of the latest changes and the conversion to digital broadcasting.

Media contact: Peter Jackson (08) 9222 9595