What is Digital TV in Australia?
Digital TV brings DVD-quality pictures, and CD-quality sound, to everyday television. In Australia, it also brings digital TV channels, and interactive features - like weather updates and a digital TV Guide on your screen. Digital signals can be Standard Definition (SD) or High Definition (HD).
Between 2010 and 2013, Australia will be switching to Digital TV, and all our channels will be transmitted in digital - something AUSTAR has been doing for years.
MyStar makes it easy for you to switch to digital TV now.
When will we switch to Digital TV in Australia?
The government is gradually switching free-to-air TV from analog to digital.
The switchover is being done region-by-region. Find out when the analog signal will be shut down in your area.
What do I need to get ready for Digital TV?
If you've got a digital-ready television, you're probably ready for digital TV now. But if your TV is more than a few years old, it's probably not equipped for digital TV. The easy way to find out is to see if you get the digital free-to-air channels. If you do, you're probably already digital ready. If you don't have it, there's a couple of options for you to be digital ready:
- Buy a new TV with an integrated digital TV tuner.
- Or keep your existing TV and attach a digital set top box, or a digital video recorder (like MyStar HD) to it.
What TV channels will I get?
On top of the normal free-to-air channels, switching to digital TV will give you access to several digital-only channels such as these below. The digital TV channels you actually receive may vary, depending on where you live.
- GO!
- GEM
- ONE
- ABC2/4 Kids
- ABC3
- SBS2
- 7TWO
- 7MATE
- ELEVEN
How are Standard Definition and High Definition TV different?
Standard definition (SD) is the first wave of digital TV technology - offering greatly improved picture and sound quality over traditional analog TV. Soon every TV channel in Australia will be at least standard definition.
High definition (HD) takes advantage of improved digital technology to provide sharper pictures and better sound than standard definition. To watch HD TV channels you can attach an HD set-top-box or HD digital video recorder (like AUSTAR's MyStar HD) to your analog or standard definition TV. MyStar HD will also let you access AUSTAR's HD channels. To get the full picture and sound benefits of high definition you'll need a high definition TV.
MyStar HD - The easy way to go digital
With MyStar HD you can quickly make your analog TV ready for the digital TV switch. MyStar HD will give you access to the HD and digital TV channels available in your area, we'll take care of installation and you'll enjoy the features and benefits of a digital video recorder without the large upfront cost.
Check out the features of MyStar HD
Digital free to air black spots may exist in some areas. Free to air broadcast channels only. Some services not available to all homes.
Glossary
Digital video recorder
A digital recorder is a device that plugs into to any TV. It allows you to view, and record, digital TV channels. Recorded programs are saved onto an internal hard drive, like you would save files on a computer.
Digital set top box
A digital set top box plugs into an analog or digital-ready TV - allowing you to view digital TV channels. Unlike a digital video recorder, a standard set top box does not have an internal hard drive so it doesn't have the ability to record or save programs.
Interactive features
Interactive features are made possible by digital TV and accessed through a dedicated button on your remote. The most common interactive TV feature is the on-screen digital TV Guide. AUSTAR also offers features such as live sports statistics, being able to choose which game you want to watch (from 2 live sports games) and local postcode weather forecasts.
