The electronic programme guide (EPG), which for viewers is the key to digital television, has been divided by the pay TV barrier.

The free to view digital TV services, such as Freeview, have the basic version, whereas Sky+ HD has the more advanced version.

However, in Australia the free to view digital TV service, also called Freeview, is upgrading its EPG to resemble something similar to the Sky+ HD EPG.

Users of the Sky+ HD set top box would have no problem finding their way around this latest EPG as the only physical difference appears to be the colours.

The user gets the mini screen in the top right corner, so even though they may be planning what to record, they can still see what is happening on the channel and can also see when the adverts have finished.

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Freeview to launch EPG in Australia

FetchTV has selected Envivio’s Three Screens solution as the delivery platform for its subscription TV offering. The FetchTV service employs Envivio 4Caster-C4 video encoders, featuring Extreme-codec technology, to deliver visually stunning standard and high definition content over capacity restricted broadband networks without degradation. The 4Caster C4 allows FetchTV to create a high quality alternative to incumbent services that can be delivered by Australian ISPs over consumers’ existing broadband connections. The systems have been deployed at two head-ends located in Melbourne and Sydney.

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Australia’s FetchTV Selects Envivio to Deliver IPTV Offering

Website: Rapid TV News

With Samsung already advertising its 3D-capable TV sets on Australian television, all that is needed is some programming to watch on the set.

That will arrive next month, courtesy of Channel 9, which unveiled its surprise 3D plans today.

Channel 9 will be the first Australian network (and, it claimed, the first free-to-air broadcaster in the world) to go 3D, with a forthcoming rugby series to be broadcast in the third dimension.

Nine will require a temporary allocation of spectrum from the government for the service, and as it stands, 3D broadcasts will only be available in Sydney.

But Channel 9 hopes regulator the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) will allow the service to be extended elsewhere.

There are three matches in the State of Origin series, played between Queensland and New South Wales. The mini-tournament starts on May 26.

Retailer Harvey Norman is backing both the tournament and the 3D play.

Nine CEO David Gyngell said in a statement: “It’s early days of course because the technology is still developing, and its availability to consumers right now is limited.

But 3D is about to arrive with a bang across the world, and the Nine Network and Harvey Norman want to pioneer the revolution in Australia.”

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Website: Rapid TV News

Austar’s subscriber growth continues only to inch higher, with the Australian regional pay-TV provider reporting subscriber figures up just 2,112 for the quarter.

Total subscribers at the end of March stood at 743,759. But penetration of the MyStar PVR service, continues to show stronger growth, up 9% over the quarter to 144,256 subscribers.

The MyStar figure represents 24% of Austar’s residential subscriber base, with 22% of MyStar subscribers taking MyStar HD.

However, growth is weaker for the company’s additional outlets option. 31% of residential subscribers have additional outlets, but that is only an improvement of 21,357 on a year ago.

Austar accentuated the positive in the results.

Chief Executive Officer, John Porter, said: “The first quarter is seasonally slower for the industry and this is reflected in our subscriber figure.

“However our customers are even more satisfied with their AUSTAR service and as such we’ve seen a substantial reduction in churn compared with the two previous corresponding periods [1.39% compared with 1.52% in Q1 09 and 1.53% in Q1 08] as well as a significant increase in ARPU [ up from A$79.94 in Q1 09 to A$83.85].

“I’m also pleased with the continued growth in MyStar HD. These customers are our biggest advocates, with 90% saying they’d recommend the product to a friend.”

Revenues were up 7% on Q1 09 to A$174 million, with operating expenses down 2% to A$35 million.

Profit before interest and tax was A$34 million, a 22% increase. Cash capital expenditure decreased 8% to A$30.8 million for the quarter. Free Cash Flow increased 63% to A$10.1 million.

Austar will launch online and on-demand products, Austar AnyWhere and Austar AnyTime, this year.

Excerpted from:
MyStar shines in Australia

Website: Rapid TV News

Australia’s Sky News has won a programming deal with China’s CCTV (impressive Beijing HQ pictured) as the broadcaster seeks to establish its credentials ahead of a bid to take over the operation of the international Australia Network from public broadcaster the ABC.

Under the terms of the deal, Sky news programming will be broadcast in China while English-language CCTV programming will air on Sky News on a regular basis.

Business and trade news in particular, sourced from the Sky News Business Channel, will be a part of the deal.

CCTV will have access to programming and journalists from both Sky News and Sky News Business.

CCTV’s Dialogue will air weekly on A-PAC (Australian Public Affairs Channel), which is jointly funded by pay-TV platforms Foxtel and Austar and produced by Sky News.

Angelos Frangopoulos, the CEO of Australian News Channel that provides the SKY NEWS channels, said: “This is more than just a gesture between Australian and Chinese media that has occurred in the past.

The results of the agreement that SKY NEWS and CCTV have signed will materialize immediately into regular television broadcasts from next week.”

Sky News Australia is operated by Australian News Channel Pty which is a joint venture of PBL Media, Seven Media Group and BSkyB.

The company has indicated that it plans to challenge the ABC’s operation of the government-funded Australia Network at the next tender process, due later this year.

A close relationship with one of Asia’s most important broadcasters is likely to help the bid.

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