Question
Can I get digital free-to-air channels through Subscription TV?
Answer
Some subscription TV companies provide their customers with access to digital free-to-air channels as part of their package of channels. In this case, subscription TV provides an alternative option to convert to digital television. If you are already a subscription TV customer you may not need to do anything further to convert to digital TV if you are currently able to view free-to-air channels through your subscription TV box. If you are considering subscription TV as a means of viewing free-to-air television, you may wish to check with the provider in your area as to which of the digital free-to-air channels are offered. You should also consider what will happen to your free-to-air channels if you end your subscription TV contract after analog broadcasts are switched off in your area. At this stage, one of the subscription TV providers, AUSTAR, offers, to those customers who subscribe to their MyStar service, the option of retaining their access to free-to-air services if they end their contract by supplying them with a digital receiver. If you have a Mystar digital box you should check with AUSTAR about the details of this offer. Monthly fees apply to subscription TV services. Other than the AUSTAR service mentioned above you would generally lose access to free-to-air television if you were to end your subscription TV contract after switchover unless your television has a digital tuner built in or has been adapted by the addition of a digital set top box or digital TV recorder.