www.themonitor.com.au
Phone (08) 8671 2683
IN THIS
edition
Fax (08) 8671 2843
Lyn Breuer
stand ground on desal site Page 3
Volume 7, Wednesday January 20, 2010
Rotary
thanks hard workers Page 4
Thumbs-up for a new service
Young
local model aims for the top Page 13
Wessel and Anika Robbertse are two of the many Roxby viewers who would welcome the new digital service covering South Eastern Australia.
Far North to be re-zoned for digital television
F
ederal Member for Grey, Rowan Ramsey has welcomed the Government’s announcement on the provision of digital services to regional Australia and the news couldn’t be better for Roxby Downs and the Far North. Much of South Australia will be serviced by the new digital satellite service which will be increased from one to three across the country. It should run 15 or 16 channels in total and the area will be in the footprint that covers Tasmania, Victoria and Northern South Australia. The Member for Grey said, “All those places don’t receive digital television from the transmitters.” He said, “The Minister’s statement indicates large areas of Eyre Peninsula and the Far North will be ‘rezoned’ as South-Eastern Australia rather than the current Central Australian footprint which includes Alice Springs, Mt Isa and Rockhampton.” “I welcome this news but would hope common sense will prevail for those in far northern South Australia, like Marla and the APY Lands and they will be given a choice if they see Alice Springs as being their community of interest. “If we take Minister Conroy’s announcement at face value, the roll out plan is pretty much what I have been calling for, and of-
fers the opportunity to address some long-term issues such as the lack of an adequate signal on Western Yorke Peninsula”, Mr Ramsey said. “The announcement of extra satellite services will allow for appropriate local news and sport services to all regions, even though local news, for those relying on a satellite signal, will not be presented in its correct time slot.” For the first time all free-to-air digital television services, including the original three commercial and two national channels, as well as new digital services such as ABC2, ABC3, SBS TWO, GO!, 7TWO and ONE HD, will be available to all Australians, no matter where they live. Mr. Ramsey said, “The Minister’s statement does not give detail on individual areas and I will be seeking clarification on just what these changes mean for all communities in the electorate. He has written to the Minister asking quite a few questions, but according to the original press release Roxby Downs and towns in the Far North will be included in the new satellite service as will towns on the Eyre Peninsula. Mr. Ramsey said where he lives on the Eyre Peninsula they too will be well glad to be in a southern footprint. He asked, “For instance, does this mean the Upper Spencer
Gulf region will be able to receive the same programs as Adelaide, without spending the $600 to buy satellite equipment? Or will the local station provide the third commercial signal into the area with its associated extra channels?” Mr. Ramsey said, “Towns like Ceduna, Wudinna, Orroroo and Melrose currently receive signal from ‘Blackspot’ transmitters. The Minister says 100 of these will be upgraded, and others will receive subsidies to install satellite coverage. We need to know who will be upgraded and who will have to switch to satellite. “For over 12 months I have been calling on the government to clarify how it intended to deal with the service issues surrounding the digital roll-out in regional Australia. With the switchover due for completion in Mildura by mid-year and here by the end of this year, this announcement is overdue. “With the very tight time frame, the question now remains as to whether the government can match its talk with action and have these services up and running by the designated dates. Up to now their record on delivery across a wide range of government responsibilities has been poor. Let’s hope, for regional viewers, they can do better with this plan,” concluded Mr. Ramsey. “If it all comes to pass it should be a fair bit better than what we’ve got now,” concluded Mr. Ramsey.