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New channel, new era: Introducing TEN HD
  Author: Network Ten | Sep 14, 2007, 21:11

Network Ten today announced Australia's first new commercial free-to-
air television channel for the major mainland metro markets in more
than 40 years*.

In December, TEN launches TEN-HD, offering more choice, in the highest
possible broadcast quality, for free.

TEN-HD ushers in a whole new world of free TV entertainment in breath-
taking High Definition (HD) Digital.

o For substantial periods of the day, TEN-HD will break away from
TEN's primary channel, offering alternative programming and themed
events focusing on, for example, Live Sport, Entertainment, Movies,
Documentaries and Science Fiction.

o Even better, TEN-HD's signature programs will be in stunning, full
HD, delivering the highest possible picture and sound quality to
viewers at home.

o TEN-HD will provide more variety to free-to-air viewers than ever
before TEN is the only Australian network transmitting the globally-
recognised pinnacle HD broadcast standard: 1920 pixels by 1080 lines
interlaced (1080i) and 5.1 Dolby Surround Sound.

TEN's chief executive officer, Grant Blackley, said: "TEN-HD will
excite and entertain audiences across Australia like never before."

"We are no longer bound by a single linear channel, and TEN-HD is a
natural next step in our goal to make our content as widely available
as possible to consumers." Mr Blackley cited TEN Digital's online and
mobile activities and the recently-concluded retransmission agreement
with FOXTEL as examples of TEN's multi-platform distribution
strategy."

"TEN has always been Australia's digital pioneer," Mr Blackley
continued."

"We were the first network to start broadcasting in digital, the first
to launch a High Definition demonstration service, and we remain the
only Australian network transmitting in full HD and offering live HD
sport."

"Now, we'll be first to market with a break-away HD channel,
delivering unprecedented free entertainment choice to Australian
consumers."

"While viewers will continue to be able to enjoy everything they know
and love about TEN, they will also have an exciting new TEN channel in
TEN-HD."

"Best of all, TEN-HD is free, with no ongoing fees to pay."

Many of TEN's leading shows are already in HD, comprising a
substantial portion of the schedule including AFL, Australian Idol,
House, NCIS, Californication, 9am with David & Kim and Totally Wild."

All of TEN's current US shows** are supplied in HD, and increasingly
TEN is commissioning local programs in that format. For example, from
next year, Neighbours and the new docu-comedy series from the creators
of Kenny will be shot in HD.

TEN-HD: CHANNEL HIGHLIGHTS.

o 50 hours per week of programming viewers won't see on the main TEN
channel.

o 11 hours of time-shifted programming per week, including TEN's 5pm
News.

o Natural extensions of TEN's big-event franchises, such as The
Biggest Loser, Australian Idol, Big Brother and So You Think You Can
Dance.

o Themed nights such as "Sci-Fi Saturday".

o Showcasing the wonderful HD content from National Geographic (high-
end documentaries).

o Bringing the cinema into the lounge room; movies have never looked
better at home Underscoring its premium status, on any digital-capable
device TEN's HD service is located at channel number 1 (from 1
October) and 12. TEN's SD service is at 10 and the network's video
program guide at 11.

TAKE-UP OF HD IN AUSTRALIA

Mr Blackley added HD is the way of the future around the world.

Industry figures from Digital Broadcasting Australia show that by
March 2007, 28 per cent of Australian homes had free-to-view digital
television, with HD receiving equipment comprising the fastest-growing
segment of a market that is itself dramatically increasing each
quarter.

Given the rate of take-up, the Australian Digital Suppliers Industry
Forum (ADSIF) predicts that almost 10 million flat panel HD TVs will
be purchased in Australia by 2012.

At this rate, ADSIF estimates there will be at least one HD TV in the
vast majority of Australia's eight million homes in only five years.

"HD is truly a consumer product now, with the entry price continuing
to tumble and literally dozens.of equipment options available," Mr
Blackley continued.

"This is reflected in the take-up figures, which also demonstrate that
once viewers experience true HD, they never want to go back."

INDUSTRY SUPPORT

Mr Blackley noted TEN's commitment to HD was such that ADSIF had
selected TEN as the venue to launch its integrated HD certification
"tick" campaign in August."

That initiative aims to make it easy for consumers to understand what
constitutes HD and will further drive take-up.

TEN will continue to work with manufacturers, retailers, government,
ACMA and content providers and the wider broadcasting industry in a
cohesive effort to encourage even faster adoption of HD.

TEN'S COMMITMENT Mr Blackley concluded by thanking the 30-strong team
of TEN managers from across the business who have been working on this
project since November, 2006.

Recruitment for the 20 additional staff needed to support TEN-HD -
including positions in programming, operations and sales - began
several weeks ago.

*TEN HD will be the first new commercial free-to-air channel for the
major mainland metro markets in more than 40 years.

TEN is the newest of Australia's three national commercial
broadcasters. TEN Melbourne launched in 1965, with TEN Sydney and
Brisbane going to air the following year. The latest commercial free-
to-air channel to launch in one of the five mainland capital cities
was TEN Perth in 1988.

**Aside from animated programs such as The Simpsons and Futurama.

BACKGROUND

The story so far

Network Ten boasts a number of digital television firsts.

TEN was the first Australian television network to begin broadcasting
in Standard Definition Digital. That was in January 2000, a year
before the legislated start date.

TEN was also the first network to launch a High Definition
demonstration service - in August 2001 - so retailers could showcase
the benefits of HD to consumers.

TEN remains the only Australian network broadcasting major live sport
in HD, in 2007 alone delivering approximately 250 hours.

That includes: TEN's critically-acclaimed AFL coverage; major golf
events such as the US Open, US Masters, Australian PGA Championships;
the Rugby World Cup; and the upcoming Sydney FC v LA Galaxy match.

TEN has also always comfortably exceeded the legislated transmission
quota for native HD (i.e., shows that originate in HD) of an average
20 hours per week (1040 hours per year).

TEN has always transmitted the highest possible broadcast quality HD
service: 1080 lines interlaced (1080i).

In early 2007, TEN increased its transmission quality to 1920 pixels
by 1080i and 5.1 Dolby Surround Sound. TEN is the only Australian
network transmitting this "true, full HD" broadcast standard, which is
internationally accepted to be "as good as it gets" in broadcasting.

While Nine broadcasts in 1080i, the Seven Network has only recently
changed from the inferior 576p standard. The ABC broadcasts in 720
progressive (720p), which is superior to 576 but of lower resolution
than 1080i. The SBS transmits in 576p.

FOXTEL has announced plans to launch eight cable HD channels in April
2008; Network Ten is proud that TEN-HD will be among those inaugural
FOXTEL HD services.

Since 1 January 2001, TEN, Nine and Seven have "triplecast" their
analogue, SD and HD services.

With TEN-HD, TEN becomes Australia's first television broadcaster to
break away its HD signal, as the Broadcasting Legislation Amendment
(Digital Television) Act 2006, permitted the commercial networks to do
from 1 January of this year.

As of 1 January 2009, the commercial broadcasters will each be
permitted to offer one SD multichannel.

Including the public broadcasters, there could be as many as 15 free-
to-air channels by the start.

of the next decade.

HD is a consumer product

HD is truly a consumer product now. The entry price for an HD LCD
(incorporating an HD digital tuner) is under $1200; that for an
integrated HD Plasma, around $1,800.

The experience overseas

The number of households watching High Definition television continues
to soar and researchers forecast that trend will continue.

For example, in June 2007 IMS Research predicted there would be nearly
148 million HDTV households by 2011. A February 2007 report by Informa
Telecoms and Media estimated the number HDTV homes would jump to 151
million by 2011, up from 48 million at the end of 2006.

While most of the growth is being generated by the bigger TV markets -
especially the US and Japan - Britain, Canada, China and Germany are
also high on the list.

Major sporting events are key drivers of take-up; market research
company In-Stat reported consumer demand to see the 2006 FIFA World
Cup in High Definition sent sales of HD sets in European countries
soaring in the run-up to the tournament.

Although a subscription rather than free service, the rapid take up of
Sky's HD offering in the UK underscores consumers' growing demand for
HD. Launched in May 2006, there were 184,000 Sky HD subscribers by the
end of that year and 292,000 six months later.

Mind your p's and i's: a word on the technical stuff

Most of the terms you'll hear about digital television standards boil
down to two things: picture and sound quality.

Basically, the higher the resolution of the broadcaster's
transmission, and that of your TV screen, the sharper and clearer the
picture you see.

Digital television is available in both Standard Definition (SD) and
High Definition (HD) formats.

While SD offers a wider picture and clearer transmission than analogue
(and, accordingly, a superior picture), HD is vastly better still as
it offers much greater resolution than SD. But of course, the detail
has to be a bit more complicated, so here's the jargon explained.

The numbers you see attached to various formats - such as 576, 625,
720 and 1080 - refer to the number of picture information lines that
make up the television image on your screen.

A higher number means more lines and, all other things being equal,
better resolution.

The "i"s and "p"s bandied about stand for "interlaced" and
"progressive". They really just mean.

this is how the lines that make up your TV picture are scanned onto
the screen.

In the progressive format, every line (i.e., the full picture) updates
fifty times a second. In interlaced format, every other line (i.e.,
half of the picture) updates fifty times a second.

Standard definition digital televisions have a screen resolution of
around 625i. HDTVs have a screen resolution of 720p or greater. Full
HD, which is what TEN transmits, is 1080 or above.

Dolby Surround Sound is a more familiar concept to most people; you've
probably seen it referred to in movie trailers and on DVDs. Dolby 5.1
is currently the highest broadcast quality surround sound available.

Enough said - we can't wait to show you TEN-HD!