TV Digital Switchover in New Zealand

Abstract

The digitization of terrestrial TV broadcasting is an important target in the New Zealand ICT strategy. The object of this paper is to demonstrate whether the digital switchover in New Zealand targeted for completion on December 1, 2013 will be implemented smoothly while referring to the precedent set in Japan. Although rural areas will be switched over prior to urban areas, this is in consideration of the delay in the proliferation of digital receivers in urban areas, and as a result, switchover is presumed to proceed smoothly. Since the time of the digital switchover in New Zealand is relatively late in comparison with other advanced countries, the price of digital television receivers is already sufficiently low and has reached a level that enables these devices to be easily purchased by residents, thereby serving as another factor indicating that digital switchover will be completed smoothly.