| The Government is investigating digital TV in Australia - what will it find? | | Date Created: 09 May, 2005, 09:57 PM |
 The Labor Member for Paramatta in Sydney, Julie Owens, also sits as the Deputy Chair of the Parliamentary Committee into Digital Television in Australia. She says she might buy an analogue TV today, even though it is probably not a sensible thing to do (given the analogue signal will likely be switched off in 2008). Julie talks to Netvideo about the role of the set top box in potentially alleviating the "digital divide" between rich and poor people. She gives her opinion about Government intervention in the content industry, Government subsidisation of set top boxes, plus the problem of "scale" for equipment manufacturers and content creators. She also gives her opinion about the interplay between the Australian free-to-air commercial broadcasters and pay-TV operators Foxtel and Austar. For example, does she feel access to the Foxtel interactive architecture should be more closely considered by the Australian Government and regulators from the viewpoint of equity of access? Julie says that is within the scope of her committee. And how should institutions such as the Australian Centre for the Moving Image at Federation Square be assisted to exploit digital distribution channels so that the variety of local content continues to grow? Julie says anyone trying to develop a small content business should be worried, and that it is something the Howard Government seems not to be concerned about. But Julie says Labor is still some way off a firm policy of its own on this issue. She also talks about the ABC - its funding, its charter, and its significant role to play in the development of Australian digital content. Finally she explains why the poor take up of digital in Australia matters at all - why should anyone care? Indeed, does anyone care? Watch the Quicktime version for Mac users here, and the Flash video version for Windows PC users here. The H264 version for video-capable cellphones is here. |
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