Australia’s final countdown to digital-only TV

In the final month before Australia is a digital TV only nation, Sydney and surrounding areas have switched off analogue service on December 3. Following shortly after Sydney, on December 10, will be the switch-off date for rest of the country that has yet to switch: Melbourne and surrounding areas, and remote central and eastern Australia.

“To watch free-to-air television after this date, you need to be digital ready,” Australia’s Minister for Communications, Malcolm Turnbull said. “The Sydney switchover area includes …. over 1.7 million households. Already, over 94 per cent of households have converted to digital TV since it became available across Sydney in 2001,” he added.

As of 30 September, 95 per cent of Australia’s households had converted to digital television, with many expected to convert as the December 31 switchover day draws near.

“In December this year, all analogue free-to-air television signals will cease and Australian television will be digital-only,” Mr Turnbull said. “It will be the culmination of work commenced in 2001 which has involved industry, government and the community working in partnership to deliver a better quality television service for Australians.”