The switch to digital TV represents a milestone for Australia and on 6 December 2011*, areas of regional Queensland will be switching off their analog TV signals.
More information about switch off in regional Queensland is available in the information sheet Regional Queensland: Its time to get ready for digital TV, located in the Info Centre.
*Switch off may occur earlier in some towns relying on a self-help transmission tower. Residents in these areas will be informed about the switchover dates.
For residents in Townsville and Mackay: Digital Freddy will be in town
Regional Queensland will switch to digital-only TV on Tuesday 6 December 2011, at 9am. If you need help to get ready for digital TV, come along to one of these locations.
Townsville
When: Saturday 19 November 2011
Where: 9am - 12pm Castletown Shopping Centre
1pm - 5pm Stockland Shopping Centre
Mackay
When: Sunday 20 November 2011
Where: 10am - 12.30pm Mount Pleasant-Greenfields Shopping Centre
1.30pm - 4pm Caneland Central Shopping Centre
Important information for Tin Can Bay, Rainbow Beach and Cooloola Cove residents
Getting the best out of your digital TV reception
However, having said this, the Australian Government is fully aware of ongoing reception concerns on the Cooloola Coast.
The Digital Switchover Taskforce advises that between 29 September and 19 October, 24 calls were received from Cooloola Cove pertaining to digital TV reception issues. On 18 and 19 October the Call Centre followed up with 18 residents who had previously provided their contact details for this purpose. The majority of residents contacted reported ongoing reception concerns.
In addition some residents also recently submitted a petition through the Hon Warren Truss MPs Office with another open petition currently being filled out at the local supermarket, both petitions advising of similar reception concerns.
The Australian Government takes very seriously these reports of digital TV reception issues and is committed to investigating concerns to ensure that every household is enjoying their full entitlement of digital channels with improved picture and sound quality.
The calls and information provided by concerned residents is greatly appreciated and useful in gauging the extent of the problem however to ensure that issues are addressed in a timely and efficient manner it is essential that residents contact the local broadcasters directly to lodge their concerns. The local broadcasters are best placed to assist. Contact information is available from the information sheet Important information for residents in Tin Can Bay.
An alternative approach is to lodge concerns with the Digital Ready Information Line on 1800 20 10 13 for referral to the same local broadcasters.
The Digital Switchover Taskforce and Regional Broadcasting Australia will not leave the area unattended until every household with a suitable antenna set-up has access to reliable signals from their local transmitter site. Correctly identifying and individually addressing concerns is the focus.
Important information for residents in Kelso and Rasmussen
If you live in Kelso or Rasmussen in regional Queensland you are currently receiving your TV signals from one of two locations. If you are already watching digital TV you are most likely receiving your existing analog or digital TV services from the Mount Stuart transmitter in Townsville (seven kilometres north-east of Kelso). The easiest way to tell if you are watching digital TV is to see whether you can watch ABC2, SBS TWO, 7TWO, Go! or 11. However if you can’t watch these digital channels and are currently only able to watch ABC, SBS, Seven, WIN and Southern Cross Ten you might be receiving your TV services from the local analog transmitter in Kelso. More information is available under Regional Queensland factsheets.
Queensland switchover timetable
Wide Bay
Hervey Bay, Bundaberg and Maryborough
6 December 2011 |
Capricornia
Rockhampton, Emerald and Yeppoon
6 December 2011 |
Queensland Central Coast & Whitsundays
Mackay, Proserpine and Bowen
6 December 2011 |
Darling Downs
Toowoomba, Warwick and Dalby
6 December 2011 |
North Queensland
Townsville, Ayr and Charters Towers
6 December 2011 |
Far North Queensland
Cairns, Port Douglas and Innisfail
6 December 2011 |
Brisbane
Brisbane, Gold Coast and Noosa
30 June 2013 |
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*Please note: switch off may occur earlier in some towns relying on a self-help transmission tower. Residents in these areas will be informed about switchover dates. See the Early switchover towns section for more information.
Household Assistance Scheme
There is a Household Assistance Scheme available to people who receive the maximum rate of the Age Pension, Disability Support Pension, Carer Payment, Department of Veterans' Affairs Service Pension or Income Support Supplement and do not have access to digital TV.
If you're eligible for the scheme, you will receive free-of-charge:
- one high definition set-top box per household
- installation and demonstration of your new equipment by a technician
- any necessary upgrades to cabling, antenna or satellite systems (depending on whether you own your own home)
- 12 month of support and service
Eligible households in the area have been contacted by Centrelink.
Residents who are eligible for the Household Assistance Scheme should call 1800 556 443 to organise an installation of a digital set-top box.
Related information