Digital Technology

Australia is about to undergo an important new phase of national development through the widespread introduction of digital technology, accelerating the convergence of technologies which once separated communications, publishing and the media. As digitisation occurs, new and different information and cultural services will become possible throughout the country.

Not since the introduction of television in the 1950's have broadcasters faced such a challenge, and audiences such possibilities. The management of this emerging technology is critical.

Broadcasters around the world are planning for the opportunities in a digital environment. Public broadcasters, in particular, see the potential to offer substantial public benefits.

As a comprehensive broadcaster and a trusted national institution, the ABC must keep pace with the evolving industry and changing audience needs.

Ultimately, digital technology will enable broadcasters to provide better quality sound and pictures and potentially a greater diversity of programming than they currently are able to do with analogue technology.

Recognising these opportunities, the ABC plans to harness digital technology to deliver program services - especially services to regional Australia and in specialist areas such as education.

The national broadcaster is uniquely placed to deliver the potential benefits of this technology to the 99% of Australians who have access to radio, television and online services - from capital cities to regional locations throughout the country.

For a relatively modest investment, the ABC can make a big impact.

From analogue to digital

Since it began in Australia more than 70 years ago, broadcasting has relied on analogue technology - the conversion of sound and pictures into continuously varying electric signals.

The band of frequencies or spectrum used by the radio, television and communications industries is now a limited and crowded resource. Broadcasters have pushed analogue technology to the limits.

With digital technology, the spectrum will be able to accomodate more services.

Digital technology involves transmission by converting sound and pictures onto binary digits - noughts (0's) and ones (1's). It uses less space on the spectrum but provides higher quality.

Digital technology is already an essential part of other technologies. It is used in computers, telephones systems and compact discs, for example.

The ABC was among the first media organisations in Australia to develop a service on the internet. This highly regarded online service has shown us what can be done with the new technology and provides a new way of delivering quality content to Australians and to the world. Other media organisations are taking up the challenge, enhancing their services by developing websites on the internet.

The growth of these digital services, which did not exist five years ago in Australia, has far exceeded expectations.

The ABC has been ahead of its competitors with digital production in radio.

This advanced digital radio production technology was the catalyst for the creation of the 24 hour news and Parliamentary network, NewsRadio. Access to all of the ABC's news stories on a central digital database allowed us to launch this service at minimal cost.

Digital technology will have an impact on everything we do as a national broadcaster:

• making programs;
• storing material in archive; and
• getting the signal from studio to home.

The capacity of every media organisation to effectively tackle the challenge of the digital age will determine their future success.

Digital equipment is already available and is having an impact on how we make programs, for example the ABC's Race Around the World, which is made with state-of-the-art small digital camera - ideal for solo film-making assignments.

The migration from analogue to digital technology will be staged because of the magnitude of the change. Broadcasters and audiences will need time to make the transition.

The benefits of digitisation

When Australian broadcasters migrate from analogue to digital technology, audiences will benefit in a number of ways:

• better quality aound in radio and better quality sound and pictures for television;
• high definition television will provide superior quality for arts and fast-moving sports programming;
• the capability to transmit data.

Established to ensure that the diverse regions of Australia were informed and entertained just as well as the major population centres, the ABC has built a strong regional radio network with 58 metropolitan and regional centres around the country.

While radio services expanded in regional Australia over the decades, the ABC's television network has the limitation of being a single channel.

The new technology provides an opportunity for the ABC to:

• produce more local television;
• build on the strength of the regional radio network;
• develop local online services; and
• develop specialised services.

Planning for a digital future

The ABC's strategy for migration into the digital era acknowledges the central importance of public broadcasting as a community service accessible to all Australians, and the particular value of local and specialist services in a world increasingly characterised by global activities.

The strategy takes into account the two phases of digitisation - preparation and transition, followed by the introduction of digital transmission.

In phase one, the ABC proposes to build up its program making capacity in the regions using low-cost digital equipment; preserve its program archive in a digital format; and put in place the infrastructure for an integrated digital production capacity across Australia.

In phase two, when we begin to broadcast in a digital format, there will be opportunities to develop specialist radio and television channels in areas such as education.

Top priority will be given to the regions which need:

• digital links to give regional program makers the same access to information as their capital city couterparts;
• digital audio workstations to improve the quality of material and tailor it for national and state-wide programming;
• technology for online services;
• portable audio equipment to broadcast community events and other programs;
• digital cameras for news and general program material;
• pilot transmissions of local television news in two regional locations; and
• technical and operational training.

Another priority is our archive. Along with the National Film and Sound Archive, the ABC is considered to have Australia's most significant historical audio-visual collection which covers all aspects of Australian life since the broadcaster was set up in 1932.

It is vital to preserve this archive, much of which exists on analogue tape. This is important for the day-to-day work of current program makers and the ABC's future program makers. In addition, the Government is interested in exploring ways in which new technology can be used to increase access for all Australians to their cultural heritage, located in institutions such as the ABC.

The ABC plans to preserve some 40,000 hours of radio material and 55,000 hours of television footage over a five-year period. The feasibility of a digital library for online access by program makers is also being examined.

Phase two of our digital planning involves the actual conversion of the television and radio networks to digital broadcasting with the necessary capacity to deliver programs from studios to the transmitters.

The introduction of digital transmission and the requirement to maintain a parallel analogue service during the transitional phase adds significantly to the cost, especially for television.

Financial Implications

At the time Australia was preparing for the Melbourne Olympics in 1956, the nation was debating the merits of introducing black-and-white television.

Television arrived in time for the Olympics and the ABC was given the opportunity to migrate to the new technology.

Just as this occurred in 1956, so it should occur for the next transition.

As a publicly-funded institution, the ABC has the responsibility to fund as much of the transition as it can, and is committed to doing so.

However, in view of the likely cost, the Corporation is asking for the kind assistance it has received from Governments in the past to deal with big changes in technology, to enable the national broadcaster and its audiences to keep pace with the rest of the industry.