Griffith/Murrumbidgee Irrigation switchover area
Switchover window 1 January – 30 June 2012
June 2011
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acma | iii
Contents (Continued)
Coverage evaluation matrix 1
Executive summary 2
Griffith/Murrumbidgee Irrigation switchover area 4
Coverage evaluation 6
The ACMA’s CEP methodology 6
Digital channel plans 6
Implementation plans 7
Survey planning 7
Field survey measurement program 7
Same coverage 8
Signal-deficient areas 8
Fortuitous reception issues 9
Conclusion 9
Appendix A 10
Griffith/Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area switchover area 10
Appendix B 11
Transmission sites in the Griffith/Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area switchover area 11
Appendix C 12
Licence areas overlapping the Griffith/Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area switchover area 12
Appendix D 13
Switchover areas adjacent to the Griffith/Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area switchover area 13
Appendix E 14
Measurement locations in the Griffith/Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area switchover area 14
Appendix F 15
Urban centre/locality-specific results for the Griffith/Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area
switchover area 15
Coverage evaluation matrix
The following table references typical terms used in this report as a description of digital coverage and reception. As these terms have specific technical and engineering definitions, the table has been prepared to provide the reader with a reference point.
Category / Coveragedescription / Affected services / Evaluation / Description of issue
Field
strength / Reception quality
No issues / Strong / All / Suburban + 12 dB / Above threshold / n/a
Very good / Suburban + 6 dB / Above threshold / n/a
Good / Suburban / Above threshold / n/a
Potential minor issues / Adequate / At least
one below suburban threshold / Rural / Above threshold / While adequate coverage should provide good signal reception over an area, some statistical signal variations could potentially cause occasional reception difficulties.
The rural notional receiving system with 10m antenna height* may be required in some areas to avoid digital reception issues.
*As defined in the Digital Terrestrial Television Broadcasting Planning Handbook, the ABA, 2005.
Issues / Poor / At least
one below rural threshold / Below rural / Below threshold / Isolated^—affects less than approximately 5% of the populated area.
Patchy^—affects between approximately 5% and 25% of the populated area
No coverage / All / Widespread^—affects more than approximately 25% of the populated area
^Please note that this percentage figure should not be used to calculate the percentage of affected population.
Executive summary
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (the ACMA) performed field survey measurements as part of its coverage evaluation program (CEP) across the Griffith/Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area (Griffith MIA) switchover area in November 2010. Based on the evidence gathered through prediction modelling and survey measurements, the ACMA has determined that the planned digital services in the switchover area that have been rolled out are, in general, achieving the same level of coverage and potential reception quality in digital mode as is provided by existing analog television services (same coverage policy objective).[1]
Of note in this switchover area is that all commercial digital television services from the Hay and Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area transmitters are currently broadcast by WIN on a single multi-channel, which reduces the amount of digital content able to be delivered to viewers. In June 2011, under Section 38B of the Broadcasting Services Act 1992 (BSA), the ACMA issued WIN with an additional Broadcast Service Licence (BSL). WIN has indicated that it intends to use this additional BSL to implement a full suite of digital commercial services in the Griffith MIA licence area in line with the government’s digital television equalisation plan announced in late 2010.
While the ACMA has determined that licensed broadcasters are generally achieving the same coverage policy objective, it is likely that a number of households in marginal or signal-deficient areas will experience poor analog and digital television reception. Potential widespread reception issues have been identified in the townships of (population in brackets) Lake Cargelligo (1,150), Narrandera (3,957), Tullibigeal (<200) and Ungarie (339). In addition, Hay (2,634) is likely to experience patchy reception issues. The ACMA identified other locations where analog and digital coverage inconsistency could potentially cause some minor reception issues (see Appendix F for area-specific details).
On 11 May 2010, the government announced that a substantial number of existing analog self-help retransmission facilities/services will be converted to digital. Hillston (1,049), Lake Cargelligo (1,150), Narrandera (3,957) and Tullibigeal (<200) are currently served by analog self-help retransmission facilities. While the Hillston and Narrandera sites are being considered by broadcasters for conversion from analog to digital, Lake Cargelligo and Tullibigeal are not. There is a possibility that areas currently served by analog self-help services/facilities not currently listed for conversion to digital may become signal-deficient or lose access to services after the digital switchover.
The ACMA has received implementation plans (IP) for the majority of planned services listed in the digital channel plans (DCPs) for this switchover area. The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy has approved all expected IPs for the ABC and SBS (national services). The ACMA continues to liaise with WIN over outstanding IPs for two services at Hay. All other IPs for commercial services in the switchover area have been approved by the ACMA. According to the ACMA’s records, all planned national and commercial services listed in the DCPs have been rolled out in the switchover area.[2]
Households situated in remote licence areas and digital terrestrial television signal-deficient areas will have access to the Viewer Access Satellite Television (VAST) service in line with any applicable satellite access arrangements. The population centre of Lake Cargelligo falls within an overlap area between the Griffith MIA switchover area and the Remote Central and Eastern TV1 and TV2 licence areas. Households within this overlap area will be able to access the VAST service subject to satellite access arrangements specific to remote licence areas.
While the CEP does not specifically assess the reception of fortuitous television signals, observations during field survey activities in the switchover area have identified that some viewers in Ardlethan (380), Ariah Park (293), Barellan (365), Beelbangera (304) and Hanwood (582) are attempting to receive unreliable fortuitous services from the Southern NSW TV 1 licence area.
Griffith/Murrumbidgee Irrigation switchover area
The Griffith MIA switchover area (refer to Appendix A) is located in the Southern NSW TV1 licence area and is overlapped by the Remote Central and Eastern Australia TV1 and TV2 licence areas (refer to Appendix C).The Griffith MIA switchover area covers approximately 39,700 square kilometres and, according to the latest Australian Bureau of Statistics 2006 Census data, has an estimated population of 64,200. For the purposes of the ACMA’s coverage assessments, a total of 20 urban centres/localities were identified within the switchover area.[3]
The switchover area is served by one main transmitter located at Mount Bingar to the north-east of Griffith, one broadcaster-owned and -operated translator site, and four analog self-help facilities (refer to Appendix B).[4] Tables 1 and 2 outline all the existing sites in the switchover area and provide a summary of services and switchover characteristics/solutions. A/D indicates analog or digital transmission, letters designate the service call sign of the broadcaster and numbers designate the radiofrequency channel number. If the service has not yet been rolled out, the call sign will be in the table in bold text.
Table 1 Broadcaster-owned and -operated sitesArea served
/ Switchover solution
/ ABC
/ SBS
/ Net. 7
(WIN)
/ Net. 9
(WIN)
/ Net. 10
(WIN)
/
Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area—Mount Bingar
(Main transmitter)[5] / Broadcaster converted—DCP planned, IP required, same coverage obligation (excepting WIN-operated Network 10 service—not in DCP, no IP required, no same coverage obligation). / A:ABGN7
D:ABGN11 / A:SBS28
D:SBS33 / A:MTN9
D:MTN6
Hay / Broadcaster converted—DCP planned, IP required, same coverage obligation (excepting WIN-operated Network 10 service—not in DCP, no IP required, no same coverage obligation). / A:ABGN66
D:ABGN55 / A:SBS60
D:SBS61 / A:MTN57
D:MTN56
Table 2 Self-help retransmission sites
Area served / Switchover solution / ABC / SBS / Net. 7 / Net. 9 / Net. 10
Hillston / Community-funded analog—not planned in DCP, no IPs, no same coverage requirement.
On broadcaster candidate list for conversion plus possible implementation of Network 10 services. / A:ABGN62
/ A:SBS59
/ (WIN)
A:AMN68 / (WIN)
A:MTN65
Lake Cargelligo / Community-funded analog—not planned in DCP, no IPs, no same coverage requirement.
Not on broadcaster candidate list for conversion. / SCM
A:QQQ68 / Imparja
A:IMP62
Narrandera / Community-funded analog—not planned in DCP, no IPs, no same coverage requirement.
On broadcaster candidate list for conversion plus possible implementation of ABC and Network 9 services. / A:SBS62 / Prime
A:CBN65 / SCM
A:CTC68
Tullibigeal / Community-funded analog—not planned in DCP, no IPs, no same coverage requirement.
Not on broadcaster candidate list for conversion. / A:ABGN69 / A:SBS60 / WIN
A:AMN66 / WIN
A:MTN63
Coverage evaluation
The ACMA’s CEP methodology
Figure 1 Methodology for the ACMA’s CEPFigure 1 outlines the multi-layered methodology for the ACMA’s CEP. This program seeks to assess whether the same coverage objective has been met by relevant broadcasters in a particular switchover area.
The CEP also seeks to determine the boundaries of digital terrestrial coverage, identify areas of marginal or inconsistent digital terrestrial coverage, and verify the planning technical specifications and assumptions provided by broadcasters in their implementation plans. In addition, the program provides essential feedback on the accuracy of the ACMA’s initial desktop modelling.
Digital channel plans
To facilitate the introduction of digital television, the ACMA developed national and commercial digital channel plans (DCPs) in line with the Digital Terrestrial Television Broadcasting Planning Handbook and its obligations under the Broadcasting Services Act 1992 (BSA). DCPs determine which channels are to be allotted to each area, the assignment of channels to each broadcaster in that area and the technical characteristics of those channels.
DCPs are developed to give broadcasters the maximum envelope in which to plan their digital transmission coverage for an area to achieve the policy objective of the same level of coverage and potential reception quality as is available in analog mode. Both national and commercial DCPs for the Griffith MIA switchover area were completed in May 2002. Variations to the inland NSW DCPs affecting the Griffith MIA switchover area were undertaken in July 2002 and July 2006.
Implementation plans
In accordance with the national and commercial television conversion schemes prepared by the ACMA under Schedule 4 to the BSA, commercial and national television broadcasters are required to prepare implementation plans (IP) relating to the conversion of the transmission of their services from analog to digital mode. IPs are a commitment by individual broadcasters to provide a television service in digital mode from specified sites to cover defined areas by specified dates. The aim is to achieve the same coverage in standard definition television digital mode as that service provides in analog mode. This objective is to be achieved as soon as is practicable after the simulcast period begins.[6]
The ACMA has received IPs for the majority of planned services listed in the DCPs for this switchover area. The minister has approved all expected IPs for the ABC and SBS (national services). The ACMA continues to liaise with WIN over outstanding IPs for two services at Hay. All other IPs for commercial services in the switchover area have been approved by the ACMA.
Under the government’s equalisation funding arrangements, WIN has indicated that it will implement digital services in addition to those listed in the DCPs. There is no obligation for WIN to submit IPs to the ACMA for these services.
Survey planning
As part of its methodology for assessing same coverage and potential reception quality, the ACMA undertakes desktop coverage modelling of a switchover area. This takes into account terrain, complaints to the ACMA from viewers within the area and, where possible, technical specifications of transmission facilities as outlined in implementation plans provided by broadcasters.
At the time of writing, no ministerial complaints requiring ACMA advice were received and three viewer complaints direct to the ACMA were initiated in the Griffith MIA switchover area. The issues were concerned with analog and digital reception. In addition, a total of eight ‘Out of Area Direct to Home’ satellite applications were approved within the licence area.[7]
The findings of the desktop modelling process inform the ACMA field survey measurement program. The Griffith MIA switchover area survey planning provides guidance to the ACMA’s field staff on where field measurements within the switchover market should be conducted. This includes predicted or potential reception deficient areas and other information on transmission facilities in the area.
Field survey measurement program
The field survey measurement program enables the ACMA to acquire technical and signal data associated with analog and digital TV coverage and reception quality within a switchover area. The program is part of the ACMA’s CEP (Figure 1) and seeks to verify the information provided by broadcasters in their IPs as well as the predictions made as part of the ACMA’s initial desktop modelling.
The ACMA’s CEP performed field survey measurements at 140 locations throughout the switchover area during November 2010 (see Appendix E). The measurement results have been analysed and compared against the most appropriate coverage prediction models for the area. Field survey results align closely with predicted coverage findings and provide the ACMA with a high level of confidence in its CEP methodologies.