Can broadcast TV move online?
Australia’s TV broadcasters already stream their channels online but many viewers still watch the broadcast signals. Could that change? Should it? How soon?
This seminar held on 22 April 2021 from 9am - 10.30am took a deep dive into the possibilities and problems explored in the research paper Taking free-to-air tv online in Australia: opportunities and challenges written by David Kennedy at Venture insights and commissioned by Swinburne University.
Migrating free to air TV to the online environment could improve utilisation of Australia’s digital infrastructure, free spectrum for other uses and expand opportunities for broadcast TV to target viewers and for ad-supported networks to increase advertising yield. However, any migration also faces significant demand- and supply-side challenges. These include the availability of Internet-connected television sets, the variety of broadband access technologies, the disparate geographies of Australian communities, and the commercial model for broadband in Australia that includes payment for capacity, not just connection.
Listen to the audio recording of the seminar here.
The event chaired by Jock Given (Swinburne University) included an overview of the research paper Taking free-to-air tv online in Australia: opportunities and challenges by David Kennedy followed by a panel response and then the floor was opened for a Q & A with participants. The panel were:
- Giles Tanner - Swinburne University (Moderator)
- Ying He, UTS FEIT
- Ross Mitchell, Free TV
- Raoul Prideaux, Raoul Prideaux & Associates Pty Ltd
- Marie Wines, ABC
- David kennedy, Venture Insights
This was a face-to-face held in the UTS Chau Chak Wing Building (CB08.03.005).
Presenter and panel bios
David Kennedy, is Head of Research at Venture Insights and has over 25 years’ experience working with telecoms and media operators, regulators, governments and technology vendors in Australia and across the Asian region. David’s areas of interest include policy & regulation, technology trends, commercial strategy, and market analysis. Before joining Venture, David worked as a senior researcher and consultant at Ovum, Knowledge Society, and the Department of Communications.
Jock Given is professor of media and communications at Swinburne University of Technology, chief investigator on an Australian Research Council Discovery Project about radiofrequency management, and founding associate editor of the Journal of Digital Media and Policy. He researches, writes and teaches about media policy, business, law and history. His work has been published in journals including Telecommunications Policy, Media and Communication, Australian Economic History Review and Australian Journalism Review.
Giles Tanner is an Australian media and communications consultant with a particular interest in broadcasting and radio frequency spectrum management. Until 2018 he headed the division responsible for radio frequency spectrum management at the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) and, from 2009-12, led the ACMA's work in realising the 'digital dividend' from analogue to digital TV conversion and the clearance and sale of the 700MHz band. From 1997-2005, he was the General Manager and, in 2004, an Acting Member, of the Australian Broadcasting Authority. In 2019, he was engaged by Swinburne University of Technology to undertake research into spectrum issues.
Ying He received the B.Eng. degree in telecommunications engineering from the Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, China, and the Ph.D. degree in telecommunications engineering from the University of Technology Sydney, Australia, in 2009 and 2017, respectively. She is currently a Senior Lecturer with the School of Electrical and Data Engineering, University of Technology Sydney. Her research interests are physical layer algorithms in wireless communication networks, spectrum sharing, Vehicular communication and IoT. She has been collaborating with Intel Labs on the 5G Dynamic Spectrum Sharing and Ubiquitous Communications for 5G Networks projects.
Marie Wines is the Manager of Contribution and Distribution contracts at the ABC. Prior to the ABC, Marie has worked at Telstra, Optus and Network Ten. Marie’s role is to manage high valued contracts and provide advice on strategy relating to the digital transformation of the media industry, so that the ABC can continue to provide the best audience experience on all its distribution platforms, for all Australians. Marie is currently working with industry on the Media Reform Green paper.
Ross Mitchell is Free TV Australia’s Director of Broadcasting Policy. He has previously led regulatory strategy in the energy division of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission. Prior to that he was a telco consumer adviser to a former communication minister and also worked in ministerial offices in his home state of South Australia. He holds a B.Ec from Adelaide University.
Raoul Prideaux is a 40 year veteran of television & radio broadcasting and telecommunications industry in Australia. He has extensive experience in senior executive roles with national responsibilities for TV and radio technology, engineering, and operations in commercial radio and television networks. He has also had active industry leadership roles in the planning and implementation of analogue TV switch-off, implementation of the current TV spectrum “Block Model” and delivery of the spectrum restack that delivered the first Digital Dividend. He was also one of the key architects of the current VAST satellite platform. He is now Principal consultant at Raoul Prideaux & Associates Pty Ltd providing a broad range of advice and assistance to broadcasters, and the wider industry, in areas of technology influenced strategic planning and policy development; broadcast operations optimisation, and commercial negotiations.
