Public Address | Monitor | TVNZ's Freeview: how's it look?

Lea Barker

Sun, 19 Nov 2006 13:36:30 +1300

Although it's meant for US audiences being bamboozled by retailers in the run-up to the February 17, 2009, deadline for analog broadcasts to end, the PDF booklet A Consumer's Guide to the Wonderful World of HDTV at Antenna Web might be of some general interest to y'all.

Tom Ackroyd

Sun, 19 Nov 2006 12:00:24 +1300

"TVNZ can (and occasionally do) transmit in 16:9"

Getting a bit off-topic – strictly speaking the only material reaching people's homes in true 16:9 is the Rugby Channel and one or two SKY Movie channels.

Yes, shows are produced 16:9, but then transmitted letterboxed. This is not true 16:9.

Why…

Felix Marwick

Fri, 17 Nov 2006 21:46:53 +1300

More local content .. yeah right. A dedicated news channel ... yeah right.

Remind me again what are the two most costly elements of TV production? Local programming and news maybe?

I'll be very surprised if the news channel is no more than a continual repeat of news stories, hefty…

Hadyn Green

Fri, 17 Nov 2006 08:13:14 +1300

Cheers Nigel.

I am really hoping that the new channels will mean more local content. Personally I think a 24hr news channel will be naff, doesn't the internet do that whole 24hr news bit so much better than anything else?

But the opportunity for good shows to be replayed at…

Nigel Caughey

Fri, 17 Nov 2006 00:17:56 +1300

Hadyn,

"The content is provided via a bidding/tender process"
Can you elaborate on what you mean by this?

For news I would have tendered for the prime 18 hours + updates a day ( 3-4 year deal ), open to any NZ based company ( Canwest/TVNZ/Sky/Telecom/Vodafone being the likely candidates…

Simon Bennett

Thu, 16 Nov 2006 22:54:41 +1300

TVNZ can (and occasionally do) transmit in 16:9. The Insider's Guide to... series were transmitted in this ratio. Most programmes are transmitted in 14:9.

The irony is that most programmes are made in 16:9 these days (even, believe it or not, Shortland Street). However in this country the broadcaster chooses…

Neil Sanderson

Thu, 16 Nov 2006 21:25:21 +1300

Do people still watch TV?

I think Cameron Pitches' point is well-taken. I certainly don't watch much. But, of more significance perhaps, my 18-year-old nephew in Toronto (where broadband is really broadband) just gave away his TV set. He gets all the video he wants on his 24" computer monitor.…

Michael Hogan

Thu, 16 Nov 2006 20:01:25 +1300

Ask The Doctor if he really believes the current Documentary Channel offerings are up to scratch.Maybe I'm not getting it, but with at least 4 full time channels screening docos, plus the Beeb and Rialto screening at least one or two a week, I have not seen any added value…

Russell Brown

Thu, 16 Nov 2006 18:09:22 +1300

My fear is that TVNZ again is moving behind the times. Sky has moved a long way ahead in terms of content and interactivity. TVNZ has yet to even start broadcasting in 16:9 ( or even 14:9). This feels like an attempt catch up, but what they will find when…

Cameron Pitches

Thu, 16 Nov 2006 17:14:56 +1300

Some random thoughts:

Do people still watch TV?

Agree that production and distribution need to be separate. Ever since the advent of the programmable VCR, DVD'S, Tevo, MySky and now YouTube, we are moving more and more to on-demand TV watching. Tying production and distribution together limits the audience.

Why…

johnno

Thu, 16 Nov 2006 17:05:50 +1300

Yep, we can probably expect to see Agenda, Frontseat, Marae, Waka Huia, and the rest of the ghetto charter fare at much more respectable times. I pray that we will get to see some real quality foreign current affairs, like Four Corners, Frontline and Foreign Correspondent. I would be very…

Russell Brown

Thu, 16 Nov 2006 16:28:36 +1300

The major issue I have with TV presently is the quality of so much of it – there are some gems out there (foreign and domestic) that are hidden a repeat of agenda at a more hospitable hour would be good, for example.

That's one thing you will absolutely get…

Hadyn Green

Thu, 16 Nov 2006 15:55:45 +1300

Nigel:

the content is provided via a bidding/tender process

Can you elaborate on what you mean by this?

Hamish.MacEwan

Thu, 16 Nov 2006 13:56:09 +1300

Three major points:

1. Production and Transmission need to be structurally separated and certainly can be with the developments that YouTube and StreamingNet taking care of the distribution. I suspect the output of Maori TV would be far more widely viewed if it weren't tied to the legacy broadcast transmission…

Nigel Caughey

Thu, 16 Nov 2006 13:40:26 +1300

I think the government has a conflicting interests here, a desire for public television, it's own Television station and for good measure NZ Onair & Maori TV.
That's too many pieces in the puzzle if you ask me, I'd prefer.
NZ Onair & Maori TV stay.
TVNZ sold off.
The two new…

Graeme Edgeler

Thu, 16 Nov 2006 12:44:32 +1300

Well I for one am really looking forward to a broader public broadcasting platform. And if the promises of in-depth coverage and analysis of current events actually come through it'll be a great thing.

The major issue I have with TV presently is the quality of so much of it…

Russell Brown

Wed, 15 Nov 2006 10:53:08 +1300

TVNZ has finally provided some information about how it will fill its two new digital channels on the Freeview platform, and the government has come up with five years' funding for a largely non-commercial venture. Have they got it right? The ringing press statements are here. Absorb and opine ...