It took most of 2009 for the commercial TV networks to actually roll out their extra digital channels, and for regional viewers it took even longer. Now it turns out that getting those stations sometimes comes with a nasty extra sting: a loss of HD options.
Lifehacker reader John C wrote in from Queensland to share his experience:
Win HD stopped broadcasting on the Darling Downs ages ago when Go! came on line. Since then they’ve been broadcasting an apology, and a promise to roll it back out soon. Well I finally got sick of the promise and emailed them for an answer, and they actually emailed me back!
WIN assured John that the HD channel would return after the Winter Olympics. That’s an OK outcome, I guess, but given the constant emphasis that’s been placed on HD by TV networks (and TV store salespeople), it’s still disturbing (though hardly unprecedented) to see this kind of chopping and changing.
Are you getting the digital TV service you want, or have the changes in the last year left you HD-free too? Transmit your thoughts in the comments.
Alby Fares
February 16, 2010 at 12:36 PM
I live in Braidwood, 2622, and we still don’t have SC TEN or ONE in SD let alone HD. Even so, I haven’t even switched back to analogue once in the last 12 months to catch anything on TEN.
Report Permalinkmarc
February 16, 2010 at 3:16 PM
WIN HD in Tas was the same for a long time, but re-launched pre-Olympics. Southern Cross HD is still simulcast, but doesn’t provide any EPG info.
Report Permalinkwoodddog
February 16, 2010 at 5:01 PM
WinHD was on a promise for months in Albury area also, but a month or so ago they switched it back on. I’m also fairly sure in the narranderra/leeton area they get all but 10 and One also, maybe no GO! but cant remember. It’s interesting that the government is itching to turn off analogue, but still don’t have full coverage of all digital.
Report PermalinkNodeity
February 16, 2010 at 5:17 PM
If they could just stop being so childish about PVR’s cutting out the 4 minute add they put in every 5 minutes, and start the show when it’s advertised, then I’ll believe we’re getting somewhere. By the way, I’m the John C mentioned in the story!
Report PermalinkStevoTheDevo
February 16, 2010 at 5:25 PM
There’s no Commercial multichannels, let alone HD ones in the Mid North of SA.
Report PermalinkMatt
February 16, 2010 at 5:41 PM
My TiVo EPG just started showing up actual programs that would have been on for WIN HD just in the last week. Ever since we got our Digital tlevision in Ausust we have had tba on our over-the-air epg or WIN HD as the listed program on the TiVo, so when they say its coming back, I can believe them.
Report Permalinkhugh
February 16, 2010 at 8:20 PM
until very recently Prime could not put the bug on there secondary channel “7two on Prime”. they were putting the a second bright orange bug in to top right hand corner that was on all the time. mean while there was a 7two white big in the bottom corner that came on during the shows. This was done for a technical reason???? but lucky last week the 2 logos were merged into 1 white logo in the bottom corner.
Report PermalinkStill no local ads.
OzTardis
February 17, 2010 at 5:31 PM
East coast of Tas is still in the boondocks. Nil SBS, nil channel ten, nil “new” channels full stop. We get in total:
Report PermalinkABC (all channels, analog & digital) – no complaints there but also no reason other channels can say “can’t do digital”
Channel 9 (single; analog only)
Channel 7 (single; analog only)
That “more for you, more for free” is starting to really get annoying.
Alex
February 17, 2010 at 7:37 PM
HD TV what is that?
I live in regional WA and I don’t even think they’ve rolled it out anywhere in the state at all
Where I live it’s been promised for at least three years with every time the deadline comes around for it to go online it gets put back
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