The day is slowly approaching when analog free-to-air terrestrial TV broadcasts will become a faint memory, like Betamax and Bakelite. The question is: when will the TV stations in your home town switch off their analog transmissions and become digital only?
Please note adjustments have been made to the below schedule. For best information visit the government’s Digital Ready website where you can type in your address details and get an accurate date for your location.
So far, the switchover has been limited to regional areas of Victoria, Queensland and South Australia, with capital cities as yet unaffected. The process culminates on New Year’s Day 2014, when Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide will finally join the rest of Australia in the digital-only era.
Government help
With TV prices seemingly falling by the day, and many digital set-top boxes costing less than the price of a Sydney parking fine, switching over to digital TV is a fairly inexpensive process. The Federal Government does offer assistance, though, in the form of an HD set-top box, some guidance and a year-long warranty, as well as antenna installation or modification.
The scheme, however, is only available to those who are receiving the age pension, disability-support pension, carer payment, Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) support pension or DVA income-support supplement. For more information, check out the government’s info on the Household Assistance Scheme.
Upcoming switchover dates by state
Queensland
|
|
Date
|
Region
|
Key cities
|
|
30 June 2013
|
Brisbane, South East Queensland
|
Brisbane, Gold Coast and Noosa
|
|
H2 2013
|
Remote Queensland
|
Mount Isa, Charleville, Roma
|
New South Wales and Australian Capital Territory
|
|
Date
|
Region
|
Key cities
|
|
5 June 2012
|
Griffith/Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area
|
Griffith, Hay
|
|
5 June 2012
|
South West Slopes and Eastern Riverina
|
Wagga Wagga
|
|
5 June 2012
|
Illawarra and the South Coast
|
Wollongong, Ulladulla, Eden
|
|
5 June 2012
|
Central Tablelands and Central Western Slopes
|
Dubbo, Orange
|
|
5 June 2012
|
ACT and Southern Tablelands
|
Canberra, Thredbo, Cooma
|
|
27 Nov 2012
|
North West Slopes and Plains
|
Tamworth, Armidale, Inverell
|
|
27 Nov 2012
|
Richmond / Tweed
|
Byron Bay, Tenterfield, Lismore
|
|
27 Nov 2012
|
Northern Rivers
|
Coffs Harbour, Forster and Grafton
|
|
27 Nov 2012
|
Hunter
|
Newcastle, Port Stephens
|
|
H2 2013
|
Remote NSW
|
Cobar, Bourke
|
|
31 Dec 2013
|
Sydney
|
Sydney, Gosford, Katoomba
|
Victoria
|
|
Date
|
Region
|
Key cities
|
|
H2 2013
|
Remote Victoria
|
Murrayville, Benambra
|
|
31 Dec 2013
|
Melbourne and Port Philip Bay
|
Melbourne, Geelong, Mornington Peninsula
|
Tasmania
|
|
Date
|
Region
|
Key cities
|
|
H1 2013
|
Tasmania
|
Hobart, Launceston, King Island |
South Australia
|
|
Date
|
Region
|
Key cities
|
|
H2 2013
|
Remote SA
|
Coober Pedy, Oodnadatta, Maralinga
|
|
31 Dec 2013
|
Adelaide
|
Adelaide
|
Western Australia
|
|
Date
|
Region
|
Key cities
|
|
30 June 2013
|
Perth
|
Perth, Mandulah, Clarkson
|
|
H2 2013
|
Regional and remote WA
|
Kalgoorlie, Broome, Bunbury
|
Northern Territory
|
|
Date
|
Region
|
Key cities
|
|
H2 2013
|
Northern Territory
|
Darwin, Alice Springs, Katherine, Tennant Creek
|
Regions that have already switched over
|
Date
|
State
|
Region
|
Key cities
|
|
30 June 2010
|
VIC
|
Mildura and Sunraysia
|
Mildura
|
|
15 Dec 2010
|
NSW
|
Broken Hill
|
Broken Hill
|
|
15 Dec 2010
|
SA
|
Riverland
|
Renmark and Loxton
|
|
15 Dec 2010
|
SA
|
Mt Gambier and the south east
|
Mt Gambier, Naracoorte, Bordertown
|
|
15 Dec 2010
|
SA
|
Spencer Gulf
|
Port Lincoln, Whyalla, Port Augusta
|
|
5 May 2011
|
VIC
|
Gippsland
|
Traralgon, Bairnsdale, Mallacoota
|
|
5 May 2011
|
VIC
|
North Central Victoria
|
Bendigo, Swan Hill
|
|
5 May 2011
|
VIC
|
South West Victoria
|
Ballarat, Warrnambool, Horsham
|
|
5 May 2011
|
VIC
|
Goulburn Valley and Upper Murray
|
Albury/Wodonga, Wangaratta, Shepparton
|
|
6 Dec 2011
|
QLD
|
Wide Bay
|
Hervey Bay, Bundaberg, Maryborough
|
|
6 Dec 2011
|
QLD
|
Capricornia
|
Rockhampton, Emerald, Yeppoon
|
|
6 Dec 2011
|
QLD
|
Central Coast and Whitsundays
|
Mackay, Proserpine, Bowen
|
|
6 Dec 2011
|
QLD
|
Darling Downs
|
Toowoomba, Warwick and Dalby
|
|
6 Dec 2011
|
QLD
|
North Queensland
|
Townsville, Ayr, Charters Towers
|
|
6 Dec 2011
|
QLD
|
Far North Queensland
|
Cairns, Port Douglas, Innisfail
|
