Queensland Central Coast and Whitsundays switchover area
Switchover window 1 July – 30 December 2011
december 2010
Canberra
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acma | 1
Contents (Continued)
Coverage evaluation matrix
Executive summary
Queensland Central Coast and Whitsundays switchover area
Coverage evaluation
The ACMA’s CEP methodology
Digital channel plans
Implementation plans
Survey planning
Field survey measurement program
Same coverage
Signal-deficient areas
Fortuitous reception issues
Conclusion
Appendix A
Queensland Central Coast and Whitsundays switchover area
Appendix B
Transmission sites in the Queensland Central Coast and Whitsundays switchover area
Appendix C
Licence areas overlapping the Queensland Central Coast and Whitsundays
switchover area
Appendix D
Measurement locations in the Queensland Central Coast and Whitsundays
switchover area
Appendix E
Urban centre/locality-specific results for the Queensland Central Coast and
Whitsundays switchover area
Coverage evaluation matrix
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
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 can cause occasional reception difficulties
Issues / Poor / At least
one below rural threshold / Below
rural / Below threshold / Isolated*—
relates to an issue identified as affecting less than approximately 5% of the populated area
Patchy*—
relates to an issue identified as affecting between approximately 5% and 25% of the populated area
No coverage / All / Widespread*—relates to an issue identified as affecting more than approximately 25% of the populated area
*Please note that this percentage figure should not be used to calculate the percentage of the 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 Queensland Central Coast and Whitsundays switchover area between June and September 2010. Based on the evidence gathered through prediction modelling and survey measurements, the ACMA has determined thatthose 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]In coming to this conclusion, the CEP did note that localised terrain obstructions are potentially causing isolated coverage discrepancies between SBS and Southern Cross Media (TNQ) analog and digital simulcast services in the townshipof Nindaroo (population164).
When assessing services to determine whether broadcasters are achieving the same coverage policy objective, allowances for the different broadcast characteristics of analog and digital television signals must be considered in the overall analysis. In Nindaroo, due to localised terrain obstructions, some apparent discrepancies between analog and digital coverage for some services has been identified.These discrepancies are more accurately reported and effectively addressed as part of the general signal-deficient nature of analog and digital services to Nindaroo. Allowing for variable factors including existing broadcasting infrastructure, specific propagation conditions and differences between analog and digital broadcasting characteristics, the CEP has concluded that all digital services appear to have been appropriately planned and implemented to, as far as practicably possible, achieve the same coverage policy objective. While any impact on Nindaroo householdsis minimal, the ACMA will continue to monitor the area to ensure that viewers are not adversely affected.
While the ACMA has determined that licensed broadcasters in the switchover area are in general meeting their coverage obligations, 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 township of Sarina Beach (320). In addition, Airlie Beach (2,755), Armstrong Beach (575), Grasstree Beach (544), Green Hill (<200), Haliday Bay (178), Hamilton Island (1,350), Moranbah (7,130), Nindaroo (164), Sarina (3,283) and Seaforth (615) are also likely to experience patchy reception issues.The ACMA has also identified other locations where analog and digital coverage inconsistency may cause some minor reception problems (see Appendix E for area-specific details).
Coppabella, Dingo Beach, Flametree/Jubilee Pocket and Sarina are currently served by analog self-help retransmission facilities. While theFlametree/Jubilee Pocketfacility is being considered by broadcasters for conversion from analog to digital, Coppabella, Dingo Beach and Serena are not.In addition, there are three hybrid sites, one each serving Glenden, Moranbah Town and Tieri.[2]The self-help service at Moranbah Town is being considered by broadcasters for conversion to digital while theservices at Glenden and Tieri are not.There is a possibility thatareas currently served by analogself-help services/facilities not currently listed for conversion to digital maybecome signal-deficient or lose access to some services after the digital switchover.
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 applicablesatellite access arrangements. The population centres of Coppabella and Glenden fall within an overlap area between the Regional Queensland TV1 and Remote Central and Eastern TV1 and TV2 licence areas and will be able to access the VAST service subject to satellite access arrangements specific to remote licence areas.
The ACMA has received implementation plans (IPs) 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 is currently processing WIN-submitted IPs for services at Clermont, Glenden, Middlemount and Nebo, and continues to liaise with Southern Cross Media (SCM) in relation to outstanding IPs for services from Claremont, Glenden, Middlemount, Nebo and Tieri. The ACMA has approved all otherIPs for commercial services in the switchover area.
According to the ACMA’s records, all planned national services listed in the DCPs have been rolled out in the switchover area. WIN and SCM both have services listed in the DCPs that are yet to rollout from Nebo, WIN has a service still to roll out from Moranbah Town, and SCM is yet to commence services from Clermont, Glenden and Tieri.
On 11 May 2010, the government announced that a substantial number of existing analog self-help retransmission facilities/services will be converted to digital. It was also announced that a number of new digital ‘gap filler’ sites will be implemented to provide terrestrial television coverage to nominated areas. The conversion of self-help facilities and the installation of gap filler sites is largely a decision for broadcasters and incumbent licensees. Presently, broadcasters are considering the installation of a gap filler site at Sarina Beach to extend and/or improve digital television coverage to this area. In addition, broadcasters have indicated the possible conversion of the existing analog self-help transmitter at Flametree/Jubilee Pocket as well as the Seven Network self-help service from the hybrid site at Moranbah Town. These services are not planned in the DCPs and broadcasters are not legislatively obligated to submit IPs or rollout the services at any given point in time.Until a finalised list of self-help conversions and gap filler installations is officially advised, this information should be considered as indicative only.
Queensland Central Coast and Whitsundays switchover area
The Queensland Central Coast and Whitsundays switchover area (refer to Appendix A) is located within the Regional Queensland licence areaand overlaps the Remote Central and Eastern Australia TV1 and TV2 licence areas (refer toAppendix C).
The switchover area covers approximately 35,785 square kilometres and, according to Australian Bureau of Statistics 2006 Census data, has an estimated population of 139,900. For the purposes of the ACMA’s coverage assessments, a total of 47 urban centres/localitieswere identified within the switchover area.[3]
The switchover area is served by one main transmitter located at Mackay (Mt Blackwood),eightbroadcaster-owned and -operated translator sites, four analog self-help facilities and three hybrid sites(refer toAppendix B). As previously mentioned, there is the possibility that broadcasters may implement additional digital gap filler facilities in the switchover area.Tables1-3outline all 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 and numbers designate the radiofrequency channel. The call sign is in bold text if the service has not yet been rolled out.
Table 1 Broadcaster-owned and -operated sitesArea served / Switchover solution / ABC / SBS / Net. 7
(Prime) / Net. 9
(WIN) / Net. 10
(SCM)
Mackay
(Main transmitter) / Broadcaster converted—DCP planned, IP required, same coverage obligation. /
A:ABMQ8
D:ABMQ10 /
A:SBS30
D:SBS29 /
A:STQ6
D:STQ9A /
A:RTQ39
D:RTQ35 /
A:TNQ33
D:TNQ32
Airlie Beach / Broadcaster converted—DCP planned, IP required, same coverage obligation. /
A:ABQ49
D:ABQ50 /
A:SBS34
D:SBS28 /
A:STQ46
D:STQ47 /
A:RTQ43
D:RTQ44 /
A:TNQ40
D:TNQ41
Clermont / Broadcaster converted— DCP planned, IP required, same coverage objective. /
A:ABCTQ10
D:ABCTQ54 /
A:SBS56
D:SBS57 /
A:STQ59
D:STQ60 /
A:RTQ65
D:RTQ66 /
A:TNQ62
D:TNQ63
Dysart / Broadcaster converted—DCP planned, IP required, same coverage obligation. /
A:ABMQ2
D:ABMQ55 /
A:SBS60
D:SBS61 /
A:STQ6
D:STQ58 /
A:RTQ66
D:RTQ67 /
A:TNQ63
D:TNQ64
Middlemount / Broadcaster converted—DCP planned, IP required, same coverage obligation. /
A:ABMQ8
D:ABMQ43 /
A:SBS48
D:SBS49 /
A:STQ10
D:STQ46 /
A:RTQ54
D:RTQ53 /
A:TNQ51
D:TNQ52
Moranbah / Broadcaster converted—DCP planned, IP required, same coverage obligation. /
A:ABMQ5A
D:ABMQ48 /
A:SBS49
D:SBS50 /
A:STQ46
D:STQ47 /
A:RTQ43
D:RTQ44 /
A:TNQ40
D:TNQ41
Nebo / Broadcaster converted—DCP planned, IP required, same coverage obligation. /
A:ABMQ55
D:ABMQ54 /
A:SBS52
D:SBS66 /
A:STQ58
D:STQ57 /
A:RTQ64
D:RTQ63 /
A:TNQ61
D:TNQ60
Proserpine / Broadcaster converted—DCP planned, IP required, same coverage obligation. /
A:ABMQ56
D:ABMQ52 /
A:SBS53
D:SBS55 /
A:STQ59
D:STQ58 /
A:RTQ65
D:RTQ64 /
A:TNQ62
D:TNQ61
Shute Harbour / Broadcaster converted—DCP planned, IP required, same coverage obligation. /
A:ABQ2
D:ABQ56 /
A:SBS55
D:SBS53 /
A:STQ58
D:STQ59 /
A:RTQ64
D:RTQ65 /
A:TNQ61
D:TNQ62
Table 2Self-help retransmission sites
Area served / Switchover solution / ABC / SBS / Net. 7
(Prime) / Net. 9
(WIN) / Net. 10
(SCM)
Coppabella / Community-funded analog—not planned in DCP, no IPs, no same coverage requirement.
Not on broadcaster candidate list for conversion. /
A:ABQ55 /
A:STQ58 /
A:RTQ64 /
A:TNQ61
Dingo Beach / Community-funded analog—not planned in DCP, no IPs, no same coverage requirement.
Not on broadcaster candidate list for conversion /
A:ABQ57 /
A:SBS66 / SCM
A:QQQ60 / Imparja
A:IMP63
Flametree/ Jubilee Pocket / Community-funded analog—not planned in DCP, no IPs, no same coverage requirement.
On broadcaster candidate list for conversion. /
A:ABQ54
/
A:SBS66
/
A:STQ57
/
A:RTQ60
/
A:TNQ63
Sarina / Community-funded analog—not planned in DCP, no IPs, no same coverage requirement.
Not on broadcaster candidate list for conversion /
A:ABQ55 /
A:SBS67 /
A:STQ58 /
A:RTQ61 /
A:TNQ64
Table 3 Hybrid sites
Area served / Switchover / ABC / SBS / Net. 7
(Prime) / Net. 9
(WIN) / Net. 10
(SCM)
Glenden / Community-funded analog ABC and SBS—not planned in DCP, no IPs, no same coverage requirement.
Not on broadcaster candidate list for conversion.
All commercial services DCP planned and broadcaster converted /
A:ABQ47
(self-help—no planned conversion) /
A:SBS53
(self-help—no planned conversion) /
A:STQ32
D:STQ49
(b’caster conversion) /
A:RTQ44
D:RTQ43
(b’caster conversion) /
A:TNQ41
D:TNQ40
(b’caster conversion)
Moranbah Town / Community-funded analog Seven service—not planned in DCP, no IPs, no same coverage requirement.
On broadcaster candidate list for conversion.
ABC, SBS WIN and SCM all DCP planned and broadcaster converted. /
A:ABQ55
D:ABQ54
(b’caster conversion) /
A:SBS67
D:SBS66
(b’caster conversion) /
A:STQ58
D:STQ57
(self-help—proposed conversion) /
A:RTQ64
D:RTQ63
(b’caster conversion) /
A:TNQ61
D:TNQ60
(b’caster conversion)
Tieri / Community funded analog ABC—not planned in DCP, no IPs, no same coverage requirement.
Not on broadcaster candidate list for conversion.
SBS and all commercial services DCP planned and broadcaster converted. /
A:ABQ68
(self-help – no planned conversion) /
A:SBS56
D:SBS57
(b’caster conversion) /
A:STQ65
D:STQ66
(b’caster conversion) /
A:RTQ62
D:RTQ63
(b’caster conversion) /
A:TNQ59
D:TNQ60
(b’caster conversion)
Coverage evaluation
The ACMA’s CEP methodology
Figure 1Methodology 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, in order to achieve the policy objective of same level of coverage and potential reception quality as is available in analog mode.Both national and commercial DCPs for the Queensland Central Coast and Whitsundaysswitchover area were completed in December 2001.
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.[4]
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 is currently processing WIN-submitted IPs for services at Clermont, Glenden, Middlemount and Nebo, and continues to liaise with Southern Cross Media (SCM) in relation to outstanding IPs for services in Claremont, Glenden, Middlemount, Nebo and Tieri. The ACMA has approved all other IPs for commercial services in the switchover area.
As previously mentioned, broadcasters are considering services in addition to those listed in the DCPs. There is no obligation for broadcasters to submit IPs to the ACMA or roll out services at any particular point in time for services that are not planned in the DCPs.
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, a total of one ministerial enquiry and four complaints were initiated in the Queensland Central Coast and Whitsundays switchover area. The issues were concerned with analog and digital reception. In addition, a total of 28 ‘Out of Area Direct to Home’ satellite applications were approved within the licence area.[5]
The findings of the desktop modelling process inform the ACMA field survey measurement program. The Queensland Central Coast and Whitsundays 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 337 locations throughout the switchover area between June and September 2010 (see Appendix D).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.
Same coverage
Policy objectives under Parts 2 and 3 of Schedule 4 to the BSA state that national and commercial broadcasters must, as soon as practicable after the start of the simulcast period, provide the same level of coverage and potential reception quality in digital mode as is broadcast in analog mode.