Get the latest news and media releases regarding Australia's switch to digital TV.
Media enquiries: switchover_media@dbcde.gov.au
2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008
2012 Media Releases
21/02/12
Northern New South Wales: it’s time to get Digital Ready
Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, today announced that 540,000 households across Northern New South Wales will switch to digital only free-to-air television on 27 November 2012.
15/02/12
HAS figures in The Australian completely false
The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, today released costings for the Household Assistance Scheme that disprove claims that “every” installation of a set top box could cost an average of $698.
23/01/12
Improved Digital TV services for Northern NSW
Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, today said residents of Northern NSW can look forward to improved digital TV services in 2012.
13/01/12
Household assistance scheme now open
Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, today encouraged eligible households across Southern and Central NSW, the ACT and the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area to opt in to the Australian Government’s Household Assistance Scheme (HAS).
2011 Media releases
6/12/11
Analog TV switched off across regional Queensland
The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy today visited Rockhampton to celebrate the Digital Switchover across the regional Queensland switchover region.
9/11/11
Digital TV: closing the gap for regional SA viewers
The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy today congratulated commercial broadcasters for their ongoing work in closing the digital television divide in South Australia.
9/11/11
Digital TV: closing the gap for regional WA viewers
The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy today congratulated commercial broadcasters for their ongoing work in closing the digital television divide in Western Australia.
7/11/11
Better quality TV for Wonga Beach with new digital transmitter
Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, today welcomed the completion by commercial broadcasters of a new digital transmitter at Wonga Beach in Far North Queensland.
3/11/11
Cooloola Cove Investigation Continuing
The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy has today called on local broadcasters to urgently find permanent solutions to ongoing reported reception concerns in the Cooloola Cove and Tin Can Bay region of Queensland.
18/10/11
Digital Switchover: Help available for carers
To coincide with Carers Week, the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy thanked carers throughout regional Queensland for their ongoing support in assisting individuals and families under their care to get ready for digital television.
18/10/11
Regional Queensland it's time to get ready for digital TV
Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, today urged households across regional Queensland to get ready for the historic transition to digital-only free-to-air television.
17/10/11
Central Tablelands and Central Western Slopes: Are you digital ready?
Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, has urged households across the Central Tablelands and Central Western Slopes of New South Wales to get ready for digital-only TV.
17/10/11
South West Slopes and Eastern Riverina: Are you digital ready?
Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, has urged households across the South West Slopes and Eastern Riverina of New South Wales to get ready for digital-only TV.
17/10/11
Illawarra and South Coast: Are you digital ready?
Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, has urged households across the Illawarra and South Coast of New South Wales to get ready for digital-only TV.
17/10/11
Griffith and Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area: Are you digital ready?
Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, has urged households across the Griffith and Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area of New South Wales to get ready for digital-only TV.
17/10/11
ACT and Southern Tablelands: Are you digital ready?
Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, has urged households across the ACT and Southern Tablelands to get ready for digital-only TV.
22/09/2011
Talking set-top box making digital TV a reality
Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, today announced an Australian first with the commercial release of talking set-top boxes to help people who are vision impaired make the switch to digital-only television.
9/09/2011
Southern NSW next to switch to digital-only TV
Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, today announced that over 500,000 households across Southern New South Wales, including Griffith and the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area, will switch to digital only free-to-air television on 5 June 2012.
1/09/2011
50,000th digital set top box installation under the Household Assistance Scheme in Rockhampton
The Gillard Government’s Household Assistance Scheme (HAS), which is helping eligible households across Australia to convert from analog to digital free-to-air television, today reached a significant milestone with the 50,000th installation taking place in Rockhampton.
1/09/2011
Australian households embrace digital TV
Australians are embracing the move to digital television with an average of 82 per cent of households across the nation already converted to digital TV, the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, said today.
23/08/2011
New videos to assist hearing impaired in digital TV switch
New Australian Sign Language (AUSLAN) videos aimed at helping the deaf and hearing impaired community switch from analog to digital only free-to- air TV were released today by the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy.
5/08/2011
Householders in regional QLD informed of council plan to upgrade TV towers to digital
Householders in some areas of regional and remote Queensland will this week receive a letter from the Australian Government informing them that their council has chosen to upgrade the local self-help retransmission tower to digital, a move which will have financial implications for householders and ratepayers.
12/07/2011
Local help for Capricornia to get ready for digital TV
The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, today announced residents in Capricornia will have a local source of information and advice on switching to digital TV.
11/07/2011
Local help for Darling Downs to get ready for digital TV
The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, today announced residents in Darling Downs will have a local source of information and advice on switching to digital TV.
11/07/2011
Local help for Wide Bay to get ready for digital TV
The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, today announced residents in Wide Bay will have a local source of information and advice on switching to digital TV.
11/07/2011
Local help for the Queensland Central Coast and Whitsundays to get ready for digital TV
The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, today announced residents on the Queensland Central Coast and in the Whitsundays will have a local source of information and advice on switching to digital TV.
11/07/2011
Local help for Far North Queensland to get ready for digital TV
The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, today announced residents in Far North Queensland will have a local source of information and advice on switching to digital TV.
11/07/2011
Local help for North Queensland to get ready for digital TV
The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, today announced residents in North Queensland will have a local source of information and advice on switching to digital TV.
29/06/2011
Regional Queensland urged to get ready for digital switchover
Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, has urged regional Queenslanders to be aware that more than half a million households will make the switch to digital only, free-to-air television by 6 December this year.
19/05/2011
Digital TV Household Assistance Scheme: Update
Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, today provided an update on the Household Assistance Scheme, as part of the switchover to digital television.
13/05/2011
Household Assistance Scheme: The Facts
Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy Senator Stephen Conroy today said the Household Assistance Scheme, being rolled out as part of the switchover to digital television, was assisting some of the most vulnerable people across Australia.
11/05/2011
Media statement, Senator Stephen Conroy: Household Assistance Scheme and Antenna Installer Endorsement Scheme
Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy Senator Stephen Conroy today said the Household Assistance Scheme, being rolled out as part of the switchover to digital television, had already assisted over 38,000 households safely and successfully.
Senator Conroy said claims the Scheme will risk lives and damage business are misleading and based on incorrect information regarding the qualifications needed to deliver it.
10/05/2011
Tenders invited for Household Assistance Scheme in NSW
The Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy issued a Request for Tender for the provision of services relating to the Digital Switchover Household Assistance Scheme (Regional Southern and Regional Northern New South Wales) on 29 April 2011.
10/05/2011
Helping Austrlaians make the switch to digital TV
The Gillard Government is extending its support to assist Australians to make the switch to digital television, the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy announced today.
The 2011-12 Budget provides $376.5 million funding for ongoing assistance.
08/05/2011
Helping Australians make the switch to digital TV
Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy Senator Stephen Conroy today said this year's Budget would include funding to assist eligible people to make the switch to digital television.
5/05/2011
Regional Victoria makes the switch to digital-only TV
The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, today said households across regional Victoria had made the switch to digital-only free-to-air-television broadcasting as part of Australia's transition to digital TV.
3/05/2011
Regional QLD the next to switch to digital-only TV
The move to digital TV is gathering pace with the announcement of the regional Queensland switchover date, and the launch of free-to-air TV services by satellite to viewers in remote and regional Western Australia via the Government-funded Viewer Access Satellite Television (VAST) service.
17/3/2011
Regional Victoria to switch off analog TV in fifty days
Almost half a million households across regional Victoria will make the historic transition to digital-only free-to-air television in fifty days' time, the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy said today.
4/3/2011
Digital switchover will deliver improved TV services for regional QLD
The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, said the Government was committed to delivering improved free-to-air television services for people living in regional Queensland as part of the digital switchover.
Digital Tracker: Quarter 4 Summary Indicators
Eight out of ten households in regional Victoria had converted to digital television by the end of 2010, well ahead of the regional Victoria switchover on 5 May 2011, the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, said today.
4/2/2011
25 000 households converted to Digital TV through Government Household Assistance Scheme
The Australian Government has helped 25 000 households convert to digital TV through the Household Assistance Scheme, the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, announced today
2010 Media releases
17/12/2010
Townend moves on
Andy Townend, head of the Digital Switchover Taskforce at the Department of Broadband Communications and the Digital Economy, will leave his position and return with his young family to Europe in early 2011.
15/12/2010
Regional SA and Broken Hill switch to digital television
The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy Senator Stephen Conroy said another milestone in Australia’s transition to digital only free to air television was achieved today when analog TV signals in regional South Australia and Broken Hill were switched off for good.
Digital TV by satellite for Remote Central and Eastern Australia
The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy Senator Stephen Conroy said the full benefits of Australia’s transition to digital-only free to air television would be available to people living in remote areas of Central and Eastern Australia from today.
12/11/2010
Digital TV assistance for households in regional Victoria
The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy Senator Stephen Conroy has confirmed the Government’s Digital Switchover Household Assistance Scheme is now available to assist eligible households in regional Victoria.
Regional Australia leading the way in digital TV switchover
The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, today announced that as the switchover to digital-only TV in areas of Regional South Australia and Broken Hill rapidly approaches, more households across regional Australia are converting to digital TV.
09/11/2010
Full digital TV service for regional and remote Australia
The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, today announced that the Government has partnered with regional commercial broadcasters to ensure all Australians can access the same number of TV channels as is available in capital cities, no matter where they live.
04/11/2010
Television recycling free of charge
The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy Senator Stephen Conroy and the Environment Minister Tony Burke today announced people in regional South Australia and Broken Hill will be able to drop off their broken and obsolete TVs free of charge under an initiative sponsored by the Australian, South Australian and New South Wales Governments.
12/10/2010
10,000 households helped to switch to digital TV
The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy Senator Stephen Conroy today said 10,000 households had made the switch to digital TV through the Government's Household Assistance Scheme.
28/09/2010
Analog TV signal to be switched off across regional Victoria on 5 May 2011
The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, today announced that all analog TV signals in regional Victoria will be switched off for good on 5 May 2011.
17/09/2010
Countdown begins for Digital TV in regional SA and Broken Hill
The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy Senator Stephen Conroy said the countdown had begun for the switchover to digital TV in regional South Australia and Broken Hill on 15 December 2010.
15/07/2010
Local help for Broken Hill to get ready for digital TV
The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, today announced residents in Broken Hill would have a local source of information and advice on switching to digital TV.
Local help for Mt Gambier and the South East to get ready for digital TV
The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, today announced residents in the Mount Gambier and South East areas would have a local source of information and advice on switching to digital TV.
Local help for the Eastern Spencer Gulf to get ready for digital TV
The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, today announced residents in the Easter Spencer Gulf region of South Australia would have a local source of information and advice on switching to digital TV.
30/06/2010
Mildura / Sunraysia switches to digital television
The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, today gave the signal for the historic commencement of digital-only television in Australia.
25/06/2010
Digital switchover legislation passed
The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, has welcomed the passage through Parliament yesterday of the Broadcasting Legislation Amendment (Digital Television) Bill 2010.
24/06/2010
Size and location of the Digital Dividend
The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, today announced the Australian Government has decided to release 126 Megahertz of broadcasting spectrum as a digital dividend.
18/06/2010
Local help for the Western Spencer Gulf to get ready for digital TV
The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, today announced residents in the western Spencer Gulf region of South Australia would have a local source of information and advice on switching to digital TV.
16/06/2010
Digital TV assistance for households in regional South Australia and Broken Hill
The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, today announced the successful contractors to install and demonstrate digital set top boxes for eligible households in regional South Australia and Broken Hill as part of the switchover to digital TV.
25/05/2010
Local help for the Riverland to get ready for digital TV
The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, today announced residents in the Riverland region of South Australia would have a local source of information and advice on switching to digital TV.
14/05/2010
Work begins on new TV tower at Para Escarpment
The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, today marked the start of construction of the $500,000 Para Escarpment digital television facility.
11/05/2010
Digital Television Switchover
The Government will invest $375.4 million over twelve years to provide transmission of digital free-to-air television services from a new satellite platform – the Viewer Access Satellite Television (VAST) service.
07/05/2010
2000 households in Mildura helped to make the switch to digital TV
The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, today announced that the 2000th eligible household in Mildura had received help converting to digital TV under the Government’s Household Assistance Scheme.
23/04/2010
More Australians going digital
The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, today released the latest summary figures from the Digital Tracker survey for the first quarter of 2010.
14/04/2010
Landmark agreement to deliver digital TV to remote, regional and blackspot viewers
The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy Senator Stephen Conroy today announced a landmark agreement that will provide digital TV services to viewers in eastern Australia who cannot receive terrestrial digital TV.
23/03/2010
100 days to digital switchover in Mildura Sunraysia
The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, today officially launched the 100 day countdown to digital switchover in the Mildura Sunraysia region.
18/03/2010
Satellite service to deliver digital TV nation-wide
The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy Senator Stephen Conroy said legislation was today introduced to ensure all Australians would be able to receive the full suite of digital television channels.
01/03/2010
TVS a welcome arrival to digital television
The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, today welcomed the launch of digital broadcasting by TVS, Sydney’s Community Television station.
Regional South Australia to switch to digital TV
The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, today confirmed that regional South Australia and Broken Hill would switch to digital-only television on 15 December 2010.
25/02/2010
More Australians making the switch to digital TV
The number of Australians who have converted to digital television grew steadily during 2009 according to the latest results of the Digital Tracker survey, the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, announced today.
21/01/2010
Digital TV household assistance switched on in Mildura
The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, today announced the launch of the Government’s Digital Switchover Household Assistance Scheme in Mildura, Victoria.
05/01/2010
Digital television Australia-wide
The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, today announced that the Government will implement a satellite service to provide digital television to viewers in regional blackspot areas.
2009 Media releases
04/12/2009
Digital TV assistance for Mildura households
The Australian Government’s Digital Switchover Taskforce today announced the successful contractor to install and demonstrate set-top boxes for eligible households getting ready for digital television switchover.
20/11/2009
Mildura leads the way into digital TV future
The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, today confirmed that Mildura and the Sunraysia region will switch to digital-only television on 30 June 2010. Executive Director of the Government’s Digital Switchover Taskforce, Andy Townend, also announced the publication of the 3rd Digital Tracker Survey, a quarterly analysis of national digital television take-up, awareness and attitudes.
Local help for digital TV switchover
The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, today announced Mildura and the Sunraysia region now have a locally-based officer to help get ready for digital TV.
04/11/2009
Digital pathway for Community TV
The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, today announced the Government has determined a pathway for Community Television to make the transition to digital broadcasting.
14/10/2009
The right advice to get ready for digital TV
As the full switchover to digital television in Mildura draws closer, a new scheme is set to help households get ready. The digital switchover retailer scheme will train electronics retailers to provide the right advice to people making the switch to digital TV.
07/10/2009
Warning on unauthorised digital TV offers
The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, warned Australians switching to digital TV should beware door-to-door salespeople offering conversion equipment and falsley claiming to represent the Government.
28/08/2009
Australia passes key digital TV milestone
The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, today announced more than half of all Australian households have now made the switch to digital television.
03/06/2009
Assistance for households switching to digital TV
The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, today announced further steps to assist eligible households in the Mildura/Sunraysia region of Victoria to make the switch to digital television.
22/05/2009
More Australians enjoying digital TV
The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, today announced the release of the digital tracker survey which shows the progress to date on the switch to digital television.
12/05/2009
Budget 2009: Getting ready for digital TV
The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, today announced additional funding of almost $140 million over three years will help Australians get ready for digital television.
08/05/2009
TV suppliers and retailers sign-up for digital switchover
The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, today announced major television suppliers and retailers have thrown their weight behind Australia's get 'Get Ready for Digital TV' campaign.
07/05/2009
Community experts join 'Get Ready for Digital TV' campaign
The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, today announced an expert body of community groups and advocates will assist Australia to get ready for digital television switchover.
06/04/2009
Building towards digital television switchover
The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, and the Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, Senator Kim Carr, today jointly released a new industry handbook – Digital TV Antenna Systems for Homes.
30/03/2009
Get Ready for Digital TV
The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, today launched the campaign to get Australia ready for digital television.
19/03/2009
Get Ready for Digital TV Conference
The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, today announced Australia’s switch to digital television will be a milestone event, and the Get Ready for Digital TV Conference will be an opportunity to bring together the entire broadcasting industry to discuss future opportunities and challenges.
29/01/2009
Pilot package to drive digital switchover
The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, announced a pilot package to drive the availability of improved television services as Australia makes the transition to digital.
2008 Media releases
19/10/2008
Conroy sets Digital TV switchover timetable
The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, has kicked off the countdown to the end of analog TV in Australia.
14/10/2008
Apartment and townhouse residents to benefit from Digital TV Survey
The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, has announced apartment and townhouse residents in Canberra, Gold Coast, Perth, Melbourne and Sydney can take advantage of the technical survey on digital television readiness.
24/09/2008
Legislation and research to advance digital switchover
The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, announced milestones in Australia's digital television revolution. A Bill allowing a rolling switchover has been introduced to Parliament and research programs vital to the free-to-air digital TV transition are now underway.
16/07/2008
Handbook on digital TV antenna systems
The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, announced that the Australian Building Codes Board has published Digital TV Antenna Systems Free-to-Air digital TV in buildings with shared antenna systems.
04/06/2008
Digital television switchover discussion paper
The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, announced the release of a discussion paper covering a legislative framework for the digital television switchover.
09/04/2008
Industry and Government charting digital TV switchover
The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, met with the Industry Advisory Group, charting the transition to digital television.
26/03/2008
$37.9 million boost to digital TV
The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, announced a $37.9 million strategy to drive Australia's transition to digital TV.
Digital switchover date confirmed
The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, today confirmed that the first firm steps had been taken on the road to completing switchover by the end of 2013.