What’s this Freeview that’s being advertised?
This article from the SMH, The not-so-brave new world explains it better than the Freeview web-site.
The 15 channels trumpeted in the ads are the five free-to-air networks’ existing channels, their high-definition channels and the new second SD channels.
Ok, so that’s five networks (ABC, SBS, 7, 9 and 10), each with 3 channels = 15 channels.
Except,
Only Channel Ten has announced a fresh channel, called One, that will begin sometime between April and June 2009 and will broadcast sport 24 hours a day on Ten’s high-definition channel and will be simulcast on the second SD channel.
See that? “simulcast”, meaning that Channel 10 will really only have 2 channels, one that comes in two different formats.
The end of the article from the SMH has a summary of the channel line-up. As yet, no details from 7 and 9.
So, I don’t think “Freeview” is going to stem the tide of people finding viewing entertainment elsewhere.