Viewers watching Channel Seven's HD channel 10.30pm on Monday night would have witnessed Australia's first tentative steps into the world of commercial multi-channelling.
Channel Seven is claiming that its two-hour block of unique programming, late at night on weekdays, is Australia's first commercial digital multi-channel. Indeed it even goes so far as to claim that it's "Australia's first new commercial television network in four decades". This conveniently ignores the fact that since 1989 SBS has been able to accept commercial sponsorship for its programming, with full advertising introduced not long later.
On Monday night, with little fanfare or warning, Channel Seven re-launched its high-definition channel with a limited line-up of separate programming. For two hours from 10.30pm, 7HD, as the new channel is branded, is showing either first run movies, premiere episodes of the US series The Grid or repeats of That '70s Show. The remaining 110 hours of the weekday schedule is a replica of Seven's analog and standard-def channels. During the weekend, some of Seven's sport programming will be swapped out for movies from the Walt Disney Company.
Seven's soft launch of HD multi-channel is the latest step in Australia's long march towards the brave new world of multi-channelling. Recently all three commercial networks announced intentions to launch different programming on their HD channels by the end of the year.
Since 2001, Australia's government-backed broadcasters have had digital channels with alternate programming. The ABC was first out of the blocks with its ABC Kids/Fly TV, which died in 2003 due to a lack of government funding. It was replaced in 2005 with ABC2, which mainly shows time-shifted ABC programming, as well as a clutch of original programming including Good Game, Australia Wide, WNBL, netball and music-related features.
The SBS has been broadcasting its World News Channel since 2002, which loops the international news programs in their original language, that the mother channel airs between 5am and midday. Although during the 2006 FIFA World Cup, the channel was used to broadcast match highlights, alternate views and news updates from the competition.
Have you been watching Channel Seven's HD channel late at night this week? What do you think of its new programming line-up post-10.30pm? Leave your comments below.
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db
19/10/2007 06:55 PM
It's hardly anything new or worth bothering about. Though it does make it hard to tell whats on... Isn't this just another token gesture effort that doesn't live up to the hype?
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Mr ME
21/10/2007 01:16 PM
it is an absolute joke. TV liscening should be consrtucted in a way which forces the TV broadfcasters to offer multiple content. Furthermore electronic TV guide should be accurate andexpand beyond teo programs, we are supposed to be an advanced country but onwe must quetion that .
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steve
22/10/2007 12:14 AM
i just wish theyd have whats on in the guide instead of having to open up their press release. and does anyone else think issue a press rellease a day AFTER you launch a product ois just a tad wierd?
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MR2Man
22/10/2007 05:06 AM
I might have been impressed with their efforts had it not been for the complete lack of consideration for viewers who had their HD PVR set to record The Unit on CH70 only to find they recorded the movie SOLARIS instead. A perfect example of why disenchanted viewers resort to downloading their favourite shows via whatever means available. Keep it up guys and downloaded content will bury you!
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Jimmy Jacks
22/10/2007 09:51 AM
dont have a HD tv, and cant understand why they just dont show more standard def content. The U.K has 30 freeview channels, there is no reason why we cant have the same. everyone is obsessed with HD yet only a very small proportion of tv's are full HD anyway. content all the way baby
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webtiger
23/10/2007 12:32 PM
I'm pretty ***'d off about it... they used to show Boston Legal on the HD channel!
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xxredshiftxx
24/10/2007 08:18 PM
Bougth my Samsung LA4681BD last week and watch only HD movies and programming as much as possible :) Sevens HD channel looks awsomely awsome and i love it . Heard 10 and 9 are folllowing in december , yay
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tandbbell
25/10/2007 02:20 AM
Please help. I'm moving from America to Melbourne soon and need to know what tv equipment I'll need. Some of the HD tvs I'm looking at say a separate HD tuner is necessary to receive HD transmissions. We plan to subscribe to cable tv. Do the cable boxes act as HD tuners?
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ajh
29/10/2007 12:01 AM
Yeah I used to think just give me more content, SD is just fine. Then I got a True HD 46" (with 100Hz - even more amazing than 1080 alone) - I'm sorry, but I NEVER watch any SD programming on this screen. I get irky at upscaled programs. As soon as you get a big screen the need for HD becomes very apparent - and I don't think this message is being sold very well by the FTA stations. As well as the fact you never, ever want to go back! I've got an SD widescreen in the bedroom which was meant to stop me falling asleep on the lounge but hey, I'm back there! Yes, the guides are annoying, but I'm sure that's a short term thing. Got a suprise this (Sunday) morning - a movie for my young boys -"Wing Commander". B grade Freddie Prinz Jnr sci-fi but hey they loved it (they are 10 and under). Especially good when the SD 7 was showing a girls movie. And I stumbled upon SOLARIS the other night - looked awesome. Some HD is definitely better than others. TANDBBELL - cable/PayTV here is SD only. Not sure if that will be changing soon. But buy HD - I always say quality over quantity (i.e. buy 46" HD over 50"+ SD). Most screens being sold new now have the tuner built in - but yeah make sure they have HD tuners. Overall I'm glad 7 are now doing true HD not their lame 576P. The extra stations of HD, not SD, are very welcome.
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hawky39
08/11/2007 07:32 PM
I enjoyede Jay and Silent Bob last night. Ha Ha
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Greg, Gawler, SA
08/12/2007 05:36 PM
Many programs, although broadcast at 1080 obviously aren't recorded as such. (Didn't WS come out before HD? - what a give away). Be honest, just a lame excuse by ch 7 for another SD or lower quality channel. No wonder the public is confused. I look forward to ch 10's new HD. At least someone is doing it properly!
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Bill
30/01/2008 02:40 PM
how come i cannot get ANY Ch 7 through my SD set top box? I get Ch 10 OK in SD
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