53End of analog transmission and surrender of licences

53 End of analog transmission and surrender of licences

(1) At the end of the simulcast period for a coverage area, all transmissions of national television broadcasting services in analog mode in the area are to cease.

Note See Act, Sch 4, para 19 (3) (h).

Note about testing

An essential part of the conversion to digital transmission is the need for national broadcasters to test their digital equipment, and their capacity to provide transmissions of adequate coverage and quality.

Test transmissions are likely to take various forms, from full transmissions of broadcast material to short transmissions of test signals, and may happen at any time before or during a simulcast period. National broadcasters may need to use the channels allotted to them in the digital channel plan, or may want to use ‘spare’ channels for specific tests.

Although there may appear to be no visual difference between a test transmission and a ‘regular’ one, the Act treats them differently and allows this Scheme to impose different requirements for the kinds of transmission. This is particularly significant for a national broadcaster that wishes to transmit before the start of the simulcast period for the national broadcaster’s coverage area — the transmission may be a test or it may be an early start of full digital transmission.

Under this Division, the ACMA will be responsible for approving all test transmissions, either by approving specific tests or by approving a testing plan submitted by a national broadcaster.

the ACMA wishes to draw the reader’s attention to the provisions in this Division that state that permission to carry out tests in a particular way, or using a particular channel, is not a guarantee that a national broadcaster will have a permanent right, or obligation, to transmit in that way, or to use that channel.