Digital Switchover Marks a New Milestone This Weekend

Digital Switchover Marks a New Milestone This Weekend

This coming weekend marks a significant milestone in the conversion of the nation’s television broadcast signals from analogue to digital. The analogue transmitters of all major broadcasters will be shut down in Hawke’s Bay and on the West Coast in the early morning of Sunday, 30 September. These will be the first regions of the country to have migrated to a fully digital television environment.

Industry and the Government have cooperated to provide an extensive programme of engagement and information to all consumers in those regions, including radio and television ads, direct mail, retail point of sale advertising, door to door discussions, group meetings and online and print advertising.

Greg Harford, National Manager of Going Digital, says “This is the most significant technical change to the television industry since the advent of colour TV in the early ‘70s. We believe that West Coast and Hawke’s Bay viewers are well-informed about what they need to do to keep watching TV.”

For any households in Hawke’s Bay and the West Coast who have not made their TVs and recorders go digital by 30 September, Going Digital will have staff available to provide advice on the conversion process. The toll free number is 0800 838 800.

Rick Friesen, Chair of the NZ Television Broadcast Sector Group, says “The consumer campaign has been extremely thorough. Consumers now know the advantages of digital television and have embraced the change wholeheartedly. Broadcast television is of better quality and with more features than ever before.”

The remainder of the country will go digital as follows:
• 28 April 2013 – Remainder of the South Island
• 29 September 2013 – Lower half of the North Island (including Taranaki, the East Cape and generally south of Taupo)
• 1 December 2013 – Remainder of the North Island

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