This page provides information for councils and self-help licensees that operate a self-help retransmission tower(s).
If your area has a self-help tower, is important that the Digital Switchover Taskforce is given sufficient notice of any decision to switch off the tower or convert the tower to digital. This is important as it determines whether households in your community are eligible to apply for the Satellite Subsidy Scheme (SSS).
Council or self-help conversion
Self-help licenses have a choice – to meet the full cost of converting their self-help tower to digital TV and all ongoing maintenance costs for this tower, or to switch off their tower and opt their community into the SSS. It is open to self-help licensees to convert their self-help towers from analog to digital at their own cost. Licensees who choose this option must apply for a digital broadcasting licence to retransmit their services from the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA). The decision to approve a license request is a matter for the ACMA and will depend on a wide range of technical and regulatory considerations.
Based on industry advice, the basic capital cost of upgrading each self-help tower to retransmit the VAST service in is the order of $150 000. Further, it is estimated that over a 10 year period, maintenance costs for this equipment could be greater than $200 000.
If a self-help licensee pursues this option, households that receive their TV service from this tower will not be eligible for assistance under the Satellite Subsidy Scheme. This is the case even if households later find they are not able to receive adequate digital reception from the upgraded self-help tower.
ACMA guidelines for digital retransmission services
A self-help licensee who chooses to upgrade their tower(s) to digital and retransmit the VAST service must ensure the viewing experience for households is substantially similar to that of households receiving broadcaster-provided terrestrial digital TV services.
In October 2011, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) released a Consultation Paper titled ‘Proposed guidelines for digital retransmission services by self-help providers’ which sets out a list of considerations that may be relevant for self-help licensees intending to upgrade their self-help sites themselves.
Following consideration of all submissions received, the ACMA approved the approach for authorisation of digital television retransmission services by self-help providers as outlined in the consultation paper.
These guidelines are now published on the ACMA's website, available via the Related Information link below.
Self-help licensees considering self converting their towers should take the ACMA guidelines into account before committing to any arrangements to convert their towers to digital.
About the Satellite Subsidy Scheme
The SSS provides a subsidy for eligible households to switch to satellite TV via the Viewer Access Satellite Television Service (VAST).
The subsidy greatly reduces the cost for a household to get ready for digital TV. After the subsidy, the household contribution for installation of the VAST service is expected to be between $200 and $350, depending on location. The household contribution will be the same for all eligible households in each subsidy area.
Registered households will pay a household contribution to the service contractor at the time of installation. More information about the subsidy amount in your area is listed on the Timetable for the SSS page at Related information below.
Why should we go to VAST?
The Australian Government carefully considered the options for providing a reliable, robust and future proof solution for the delivery of digital television in areas currently not served by broadcasters.
In doing so, the government took into account its previous experience in the delivery of analog television ‘blackspots’ program, the greater complexity involved in digital transmission requiring maintenance to be conducted by a qualified technician, the timing of the switchover and the need to ensure that viewers received a consistent service equal to that experienced in capital cities.
For these reasons, the government considered that VAST presented a superior solution for communities previously served by self-help analog towers. In recognition of the previous investment of these communities through their rates in maintaining transmission facilities, the government made available a one-off subsidy to households in these areas to convert to the new VAST service.
Remote Indigenous Communities
Households in identified SSS Remote Indigenous Communities do not need to apply for the SSS subsidy through this website or the Digital Ready Information Line. Further information about arranging the subsidised installation of VAST satellite television equipment will be available locally in the community closer to the SSS roll out.
What next?
Self-help licenses have a choice – to meet the full cost of converting their self-help tower to digital TV and all ongoing maintenance costs for this tower, or to switch off their tower and opt their community into the SSS.
Under the Satellite Subsidy Scheme, households are not eligible for a subsidy if their council or self-help licensee decides to upgrade its local tower. The council or self-help licensee will be responsible for the upgrade of the local tower and its associated and ongoing operational and maintenance costs. The council will also be responsible for ensuring the viewing experience for households is substantially similar to that of households receiving broadcaster-provided terrestrial digital TV services.
The Digital Switchover Taskforce will continue to work with councils, self-help licensees and the local community to ensure households; businesses and visitors are well prepared for the switch to digital-only television.
It is important that councils and self-help licensees contact the Digital Switchover Taskforce as soon as possible, about the future of their self-help tower(s). This advice can be provided to the Digital Switchover Taskforce by email to switchover_subsidy@dbcde.gov.au
Landlords, commercial building operators and travellers
The SSS only provides assistance to residential households. Commercial premises and non-residential households are not eligible to apply for the subsidy.
The following information will be useful for property managers, operators of small hotels and motels, caravan park operators and caravan and motor home travellers in your area.
Property managers
Owners and managers of rental properties must check their properties are digital ready now, to ensure tenants will be able to receive free-to-air digital TV once the analog signals are switched off. You can visit Brochures and info sheets at Related Information below and download the information for landlords and property managers PDF or the tenants good practice guide.
Hotels, motels and caravan parks
Some operators of small hotels, motels and caravan parks may not be able to receive terrestrial free-to-air TV services and may require the Viewer Access Satellite Television (VAST) service. You can visit Brochures and info sheets at Related information below and download the information which provides accommodation providers three options to consider in providing VAST services for their guests.
Caravans, campervans and motor homes
Caravan and motor home travellers in Australia may travel through areas where they are unable to receive terrestrial free-to-air TV services. An option for these travellers is the Viewer Access Satellite Television (VAST) service. You can visit Brochures and info sheets at Related information below and download the information on the VAST service and tips on TV antennas for mobile caravans and motor homes.
Related information