Northern Territory—Darwin switchover areaSwitchover window 1 January – 30 June 2013DECEMBER 2012

This switchover area report was prepared by the ACMA and provided to the Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy (DBCDE) approximately 12 months prior to the end of the identified switchover window for this area. The early provision of switchover area reports to DBCDE allows an appropriate amount of time for discussions between the government and broadcasters to address any identified issues prior to the switch-off of analog television services. This report does not account for any subsequent government policy decisions or changes in broadcasting infrastructure or programming since that time. For up-to-date information on the switch to digital television, visit the DBCDE Are you READY for digital TV website.

CanberraPurple Building Benjamin OfficesChan Street Belconnen ACT

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SydneyLevel 5 The Bay Centre65 Pirrama Road Pyrmont NSW

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T +61 2 9334 7700 1800 226 667F +61 2 9334 7799

© Commonwealth of Australia 2012This work is copyright. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part may be reproduced by any process without prior written permission from the Commonwealth. Requests and inquiries concerning reproduction and rights should be addressed to the Manager, Editorial Services, Australian Communications and Media Authority, PO Box 13112 Law Courts, Melbourne Vic 8010.

Published by the Australian Communications and Media Authority

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Contents

Coverage evaluation matrix 4

Executive summary 5

Darwin switchover area 7

Coverage evaluation 9The ACMA’s CEP methodology 9Digital channel plans 9Implementation plans 10Survey planning 10Field survey measurement program 10Same coverage 11Signal-deficient areas 11Fortuitous reception issues 12Conclusion 12

Appendix A 13Darwin switchover area 13

Appendix B 14Transmission sites in the Darwin switchover area 14

Appendix C 15Licence areas overlapping and adjacent to the Darwin switchover area 15

Appendix D 16Measurement locations in the Darwin switchover area 16

Appendix E 17Urban centre/locality-specific results for the Darwin switchover area 17

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Coverage evaluation matrixThe following table references typical terms used in this report as a description of digital coverage and reception. As these terms have specific technical and engineering definitions, the table has been prepared to provide the reader with a reference point.

Category Coveragedescription

Affected services

EvaluationDescription of issueField

strengthReception

quality

No issues

Strong

All

Suburban + 12 dB

Above threshold n/a

Very good Suburban + 6 dB

Above threshold n/a

Good Suburban Above threshold n/a

Potential minor issues

Adequate

At least one below suburban threshold

Rural Above threshold

While adequate coverage should provide good signal reception over an area, some statistical signal variations could potentially cause occasional reception difficulties.The rural notional receiving system with 10m antenna height* may be required in some areas to avoid digital reception issues.

*As defined in the Digital Terrestrial Television Broadcasting Planning Handbook, the ABA, 2005.

Issues

Poor

At least one below

rural threshold

Below rural Below threshold

Isolated^—affects less than approximately 5% of the populated areaPatchy^—affects between approximately 5% and 25% of the populated area

No coverage All

Widespread^—affects more than approximately 25% of the populated area^Please note that this percentage figure should not be used to calculate the percentage of affected population.

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Executive summary

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) performed field survey measurements as part of its Coverage Evaluation Program (CEP) across the Darwin switchover area between 9 and 15 August 2012. Based on the available information and the evidence gathered through prediction modelling and survey measurements, all planned digital services in the switchover area that have been rolled out are, in general, achieving the same level of coverage and potential reception quality in digital mode as is provided by existing analog television services(referred to as the ‘same coverage policy objective’)1. While the ACMA has determined that the licensed broadcasters in the switchover area are in general meeting their coverage obligations, it is likely that a number of households in marginal or signal-deficient areas will experience both poor analog and digital television reception (see Appendix E for area-specific details). The ACMA predicts that a comparatively smaller percentage of households may experience analog and digital reception difficulties in these locations compared to Darwin and Batchelor.

On 11 May 2010, the government announced that broadcasters will convert a substantial number of existing self-help retransmission facilities to digital as well as establish a number of new ‘gap filler’ sites that will provide terrestrial television coverage to a number of areas. Presently, broadcasters are not considering the installation of any gap filler site in the Darwin switchover area, but have implemented digital conversion of the analog self-help services at Batchelor hybrid site.

The gap filler and self-help retransmission sites are not planned in the digital channel plans (DCPs) and broadcasters are not legislatively obliged to submit implementation plans (IPs) or roll out the services at any given point in time. Until a finalised list of self-help conversions and gap filler installations is officially advised, this information should be considered as indicative only.

The ACMA has received and approved IPs for the planned commercial services listed in the DCPs for this switchover area. The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy has approved all IPs for the national services (ABC and SBS). The South Cross Media has an outstanding IP for its service from Batchelor site. According to the ACMA’s records, all planned national services and commercial services have been rolled out in the switchover area.

The exising analog only Darwin North transmission site is unlikely to be converted to digital. This transmission site will be replaced by a new Darwin City transmission site, which will provide alternative digital coverage to areas currently served by the Darwin North site. The Darwin City transmission site will also extend digital coverage to some of the signal deficient areas, currently not well covered by the main Darwin transmission site.

1 The same coverage policy objective as outlined in the Broadcasting Services Act 1992 states that as soon as is practicable after the commencement of the required analog/digital television simulcast period in an area, broadcasters must provide the same level of coverage in digital mode as is provided by existing corresponding analog television services.

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Households situated in remote licence area and digital terrestrial television signal-deficient areas will have access to the Viewer Access Satellite Television (VAST) service in line with applicable satellite access arrangements.

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Darwin switchover areaThe Darwin switchover area (refer to Appendix A) is located in the Darwin TV1 licence area and is overlapped by the Remote Central and Eastern TV1 licence area (refer to Appendix C).

The area covers approximately 8,853 square kilometres and, according to the latest Australian Bureau of Statistics 2006 Census data, has an estimated population of approximately 111,121. For the purposes of the ACMA’s coverage assessments, a total of eight urban centres/localities were identified within the Darwin switchover area.2

The switchover area is served by one main transmission site, one broadcaster-owned and -operated translator site and one hybrid site, owned and operated by broadcasters (refer to Appendix B). The exising analog only Darwin North transmission site is unlikely to be converted to digital. This transmission site will be replaced by a new Darwin City transmission site, which will provide alternative digital coverage to areas currently served by the Darwin North site.

Tables 1 and 2 outline all existing sites in the switchover area and provide a summary of services and switchover characteristics/solutions. A/D indicates analog or digital transmission, letters designate the service call sign of the broadcaster, numbers designate the radiofrequency channel number, $ indicates retransmission service and V/H indicates signal polarisation.

Table 1 Broadcaster-owned and -operated sites

Area served ABC SBS Net 7 Net 9 Net 10

Broadcaster converted services— DCP planned, IP approved, same coverage objective;

*Alternative digital coverage of the service is provided from other site(s) or broadcaster to apply for roll out exemption

Darwin (Main transmitter)

A:ABC2 HD:ABC12 H

A:SBS28 HD:SBS29 H

SevenA:TVW7 HD:TVW6 H

WINA:STW9 HD:STW8 H

TenA:NEW10 HD:NEW11 H

Darwin City D:ABC41 V D:SBS40 VSCAD:TND42 V

NineD:NTD43 V

SCA/NineD:DTD44 V

Darwin North A: ABC55 H A: SBS61 HSCAA: TND52 H

NineA: NTD58 H

2 In broad terms, an urban centre is a population cluster of 1,000 or more people, while a locality is a population cluster of between 200 and 999 people. This geographical structure is defined by the 1996 Census edition of the Australian Standard Geographical Classification.

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Table 2 Hybrid site

Area served ABC SBS Net 7 Net 9 Net 10

Broadcaster new services—digital not planned in DCP, no IPs, no same coverage requirement.

Batchelor D:ABC41$ H D:SBS40 HSCAD:TND42 H

NineD:NTD43 H

SCA/NineD:DTD44 H

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Coverage evaluationThe ACMA’s CEP methodology

Figure 1 Methodology for the ACMA’s CEP

Figure 1 outlines the multi-layered methodology for the ACMA’s CEP. This program assesses whether the same coverage objective has been met by relevant broadcasters in a particular switchover area.

The CEP also determines the boundaries of digital terrestrial coverage, identify areas of marginal or inconsistent digital terrestrial coverage, and verifies the technical planning specifications and assumptions provided by broadcasters in their implementation plans. In addition, the program provides essential feedback on the accuracy of the ACMA’s initial desktop modelling.

Digital channel plansTo facilitate the introduction of digital television, the ACMA developed national and commercial DCPs in line with the Digital Terrestrial Television Broadcasting Planning Handbook and its obligations under the Broadcasting Services Act 1992 (BSA). DCPs determine which channels are to be allotted to each area, the assignment of channels to each broadcaster in that area and the technical characteristics of those channels.

DCPs are developed to give broadcasters the maximum envelope in which to plan their digital transmission coverage for an area to achieve the policy objective of the same coverage and potential reception quality as is available in analog mode. The National and Commercial DCPs for Darwin were finalised in July 1999. Subsequent variations were made in May 2007 to alter existing services and include additional services.

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Implementation plansIn accordance with the national and commercial television conversion schemes prepared by the ACMA under Schedule 4 to the BSA, commercial and national television broadcasters are required to prepare IPs relating to the conversion of the transmission of their services from analog to digital mode. IPs are a commitment by individual broadcasters to provide a television service in digital mode from specified sites to cover defined areas by specified dates. The aim is to achieve the same coverage in standard definition television digital mode as that service provides in analog mode. This objective is to be achieved as soon as is practicable after the simulcast period begins.3

The ACMA has received and approved IPs for the planned commercial services listed in the DCPs for this switchover area. The minister has approved all IPs for the national services (ABC and SBS).

As previously outlined, broadcasters have implemented digital conversion of the analog self-help services at Batchelor hybrid site. The South Cross Media has an outstanding IP for its service this site.The NTD and DTD services at this site are not planned in the DCP and so there is no obligation for broadcasters to submit an IP to the ACMA or roll out services at any particular point in time.

Survey planning As part of its methodology for assessing same coverage and potential reception quality, the ACMA undertakes desktop coverage modelling of a switchover area. This takes into account terrain, complaints to the ACMA from viewers within the area and, where possible, technical specifications of transmission facilities as outlined in IPs provided by broadcasters.

At the time of writing, a total five complaints have been initiated in the Darwin switchover area. The issues concerned both analog and digital reception. No ministerial enquiries have been received. In addition, a total of three ‘Out of Area Direct to Home’ satellite applications were approved within the Darwin switchover area.4

The findings of the desktop modelling process inform the ACMA field survey measurement program. The Darwin switchover area survey planning guided the ACMA’s field staff on where field measurements within the switchover market should be conducted. This includes predicted or potential reception-deficient areas and other information on transmission facilities in the area.

Field survey measurement programThe field survey measurement program enables the ACMA to acquire technical and signal data associated with analog and digital TV coverage and reception quality within a switchover area. The program is part of the ACMA’s CEP (Figure 1) and seeks to verify the information provided by broadcasters in their IPs as well as the predictions made as part of the ACMA’s initial desktop modelling.

The ACMA’s CEP performed field survey measurements at 57 locations throughout the switchover area between 9 and 15 August 2012 (see Appendix D). The

3 A period in which a broadcaster is required to simultaneously transmit television services in analog and standard definition TV digital mode.4 A satellite system enabling the delivery of national and commercial analog television services to households within a commercial terrestrial licence area that experience poor or no coverage of local free-to-air commercial television.

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measurement results have been analysed and compared against the most appropriate coverage prediction models for the area. Field survey results align closely with predicted coverage findings and provide the ACMA with a high level of confidence in its CEP methodologies.

Same coveragePolicy objectives under Parts 2 and 3 of Schedule 4 to the BSA state that national and commercial broadcasters must, as soon as practicable after the start of the simulcast period, provide the same level of coverage and potential reception quality in digital mode as is broadcast in analog mode.

Based on the results of the CEP for this switchover area, the ACMA concludes that the same level of coverage and potential reception quality is in general being achieved by licensed broadcasters in the switchover area (see Appendix F for breakdown of locality-specific results).

While the ACMA has determined that broadcasters are generally achieving the same coverage policy objective, allowances for the different broadcast characteristics of analog and digital television signals must be considered and factored into the analysis. While signal-deficient analog television or marginal area reception results in poor quality picture and sound that gradually degrades and becomes increasingly ‘snowy’ and/or ‘noisy’, it is still possible, depending on the viewer’s expectations, to watch the broadcast. In contrast, signal-deficient digital television or marginal area reception causes a digital broadcast to freeze, pixilate or totally drop out, rendering the broadcast unwatchable. Households located in marginal reception areas are likely to experience this issue.

Signal-deficient areasWhile the ACMA has determined that the vast majority of the localities have adequate to strong signal coverage, and licensed broadcasters in the switchover area are in general meeting their coverage obligations, the coverage evaluation identified the locality of Batchelor (population: 481) with potential widespread reception issues. The ACMA has also identified some locations in the Darwin switchover area where viewers could potentially experience some minor reception issues (see Appendix E for area-specific details).

The exising analog only Darwin North transmission site is unlikely to be converted to digital. This transmission site will be replaced by a new Darwin City transmission site, which will provide alternative digital coverage to areas currently served by the Darwin North site. The Darwin City transmission site will also extend digital coverage to some of the signal deficient areas, currently not well covered by the main Darwin transmission site.

On 11 May 2010, the government announced that under an agreement reached with all television broadcasters across Australia, broadcasters will upgrade a substantial number of existing regional and metropolitan analog self-help retransmission facilities/services to operate in digital, while the government will fund the VAST satellite service. Broadcasters are also implementing a number of new digital ‘gap filler’ sites/services to provide terrestrial television coverage to nominated areas. This would enable all television viewers in Australia to have access to the full range of free-to-air digital television services.

Batchelor is currently being served by digital transmission facility,, no further issues are expected in this locality.

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The gap filler and self-help retransmission sites are not planned in the DCPs and broadcasters are not legislatively obliged to submit IPs or roll out the services at any given point in time. Until a finalised list of self-help conversions and gap filler installations is officially advised, this information should be considered as indicative only.

Fortuitous reception issuesThe BSA mandates that broadcasting services be licensed and planned to serve specific geographic areas. Through CEP operational observations, in some circumstances it is possible for the ACMA to determine that households are receiving, or attempting to receive, television broadcast services that are not planned to serve their area. This form of reception is considered fortuitous. It is possible that households receiving fortuitous broadcast signals may experience reception difficulties before and/or after analog switch-off as the reception of distant weak television signals outside the planned service area will be generally unreliable and potentially interfere with planned services. Fortuitous reception difficulties may also appear when analog switch-off occurs in adjacent switchover areas. The ACMA did not identify any substantial issues related to fortuitous reception in this switchover area.

ConclusionThe ACMA is confident that the Darwin switchover is progressing in accordance with the digital television switchover timetable and that broadcasters have met their obligations for IP submissions, same coverage and service rollout. No major issues are currently present or foreseen that would impede the switch-off of analog television broadcast services in 2013. The ACMA will continue to liaise with relevant broadcasters and is confident that all services to this area will be successfully rolled out in accordance with planning guidelines and technical specifications before the end of the simulcast period.

Broadcasters are currently listing an existing analog hybrid retransmission facility/service in this switchover area for conversion to digital to extend or improve reception in signal-deficient areas. Those households situated in digital signal-deficient areas may be able to apply to receive VAST satellite service in line with applicable access and subsidy arrangements.

DBCDE’s Digital Switchover Taskforce (DST) is responsible for overseeing Australia’s transition to digital television. The ACMA provides advice and consults widely with DST, broadcasters, industry representatives and the public to assist in facilitating an effective switch from analog to digital television.

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Appendix ADarwin switchover area

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Appendix BTransmission sites in the Darwin switchover area

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Appendix CLicence areas overlapping and adjacent to the Darwin switchover area

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Appendix DMeasurement locations in the Darwin switchover area

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Appendix EUrban centre/locality-specific results for the Darwin switchover area

Table 3 Urban centre/locality assessments based on a combination of the coverage prediction modelling, field survey measurements and engineering analysis within the Darwin switchover area.Urban centre/locality

Pop. Assessment Comments

Urban centres/localities where no coverage and/or reception issues have been identifiedPalmerston(5 measurement locations)

20,929> The Darwin transmitter provides strong coverage

> No issue has been identified

Howard Springs(4 measurement locations)

1,588> The Darwin transmitter provides strong coverage.

> No issue has been identified

Humpty Doo–McMinns Lagoon(5 measurement locations)

3,950> The Darwin transmitter provides coverage ranging from strong to good

> No issue has been identified

Virginia–Bees Creek(1 measurement location)

1,911> The Darwin transmitter provides strong coverage

> No issue has been identified

Robertson Barracks(1 measurement location)

634> The Darwin transmitter provides strong coverage

> No issue has been identified

Shoal Bay and Koolpinya(2 measurement location)

<100> The Darwin transmitter provides strong coverage

> No issue has been identified

Urban centres/localities where minor service rollout, coverage and/or reception issues have been identifiedDarwin (City and North)(25 measurement locations)

66,291> The Darwin transmitter provides coverage generally ranging from strong to very good with an isolate spot in south of Darwin City having poor DTD coverage

> While coverage from the Darwin transmitter is at least very good, an isolated poor DTD coverage spot in south of Darwin City caused by local terrain obstructions has been identified. A rural antenna configuration (10 m antenna height) may be required for reliable digital reception at this location.

South of Darwin(8 measurement locations)

<100> The Darwin transmitter provides coverage ranging from strong to adequate

> While coverage from the Darwin transmitter is at least adequate, viewers are more susceptible to reception difficulties. A rural antenna configuration (10 m antenna height) may be required for reliable digital reception in some areas.

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Urban centres/localities where coverage/reception issues have been identified

Widespread issue(s) (where between > 25% of populated areas show coverage/reception/limited services issues)Batchelor(6 measurement locations)

481 > The Darwin transmitter provides coverage ranging from adequate to no coverage

> While the Darwin transmitter provides good coverage to some areas, widespread poor or no coverage exists due to the town being located at the coverage fringe.

> The Bachelor hybrid site has been converted to digital and provided full set of digital services.

Table 4 Urban centre/locality assessments based on a combination of the coverage prediction modelling and engineering analysis within the Darwin switchover area.Urban centre/locality

Pop. Assessment Comments

Urban centres/localities where no coverage and/or reception issues have been identifiedMandorah–Wagait Beach(No measurement)

293> The Darwin transmitter is predicted to provide strong coverage

> No issue has been identified

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