In the coming months, viewers will have access to an extra 15 free-to-air digital channels. The Freeview revolution, as it's being pitched by over-zealous TV execs, is expected to provide us with more viewing opportunities, more ads and more of the same programming.
In fact, most of the channels will probably seem like clones of the original network offering. As Adam Turner explains in his blog, it's likely that only channel 10 will offer the most exciting commercial content - a 24hr sports channel.
Freeview is likely to be great news for the majority of people in Australia who watch their television through a digital set-top box, but there are currently over 1.5 million Foxtel subscribers who don't use this method and rely on their iQ receivers to do the job. Will they be left in the lurch as the digital TV revolution rolls on?
According to an official Foxtel spokesperson, "Any additional channels launched by the FTA channels, will be available to cable customers subject to each channel's retransmission agreement."
Foxtel says that unless the networks dig their heels in and make life difficult for the cable and satellite provider (due to contractual agreements), it's likely that we'll see the additional channels retransmitted on the Foxtel network. As a result, Foxtel subscribers will probably forgo access to the much-hyped EPG (electronic program guide), which is supposed to greatly compliment the Freeview service.
The Foxtel spokesperson also tells us that Foxtel satellite customers will have access to a new Optus satellite, launching later this year, that will provide "extra capacity", meaning that the Freeview channels are likely to be supported as well.
Currently, Foxtel relays the second ABC channel (ABC2), but forgoes the additional SBS channels (SBS2 and SBS3) that are available on ordinary digital set-top boxes that sell for as little as $40 online.
To access HD channels, you have to pay for the more expensive digital Foxtel HD package - and we doubt many would be keen to pay for freeview HD broadcasts as a result. If this is a sign of things to come, we're not so sure that the roll-out from digital channel nirvana to Foxtel will be as smooth as anticipated.