TV ONE, TV2, TV3, C4, TVNZ 6, TVNZ 7, Maori TV, Prime and Parliament TV are broadcast in Widescreen on Freeview.

Footage produced in 4:3 and presented on a widescreen TV has black bars at the sides to fill the screen.

To see the correct picture size and shape there are two things you need to do; tell your digital receiver that it’s attached to a 16:9 TV (look in the digital receiver set-up menu), and then set the TV ‘aspect ratio’ with your TV remote to 16:9 (sometimes called widescreen or simply wide mode).

Yes, you will need to make sure your TV’s Aspect Ratio is set to full WIDE mode (sometimes called 16:9 mode). The TV remote will usually have a button called ‘aspect ratio’ or check your TV instruction manual.

Analogue is the way that we have received television signals since television began. The digital signal can carry much more information than analogue resulting in near DVD picture and sound quality. It also allows broadcasters to offer more channels and a range of new and different services.

Programme material in 4:3 formats will have black bars (or curtains) at each side of the screen. Some material especially archive footage will be in 4:3 format so will be broadcast with the black bars.

Most new programmes are produced in the 16:9 formats so will fill the entire screen. Previously 4:3 images were stretched to fill the screen but this distorts the image (people look short and fat).

HDTV is now available in New Zealand with Freeview|HD_®.

Nearly all internationally produced movies and most television programmes are now HD. This means they have a higher resolution (either 720 or 1080 vertical lines in the picture) than standard definition (576 lines). 1080i and 720p are the two common broadcast formats; ‘p’ stands for progressive and ‘i’ interlace scanning. The resulting picture quality is therefore considerably better and HD also provides other benefits such as smoother motion, richer and more natural colours and surround sound.

Picture quality may vary depending on hardware and signal strength. Above is an example of the picture you may get with each signal. The SD (analogue) example shows a picture with static interference. A picture delivered by a digital signal is not affected by this.

To be ready for HD broadcasts you’ll need a TV with at least 1280 * 720 resolution and an HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) input, an HDMI cable, and it must have HDCP (High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection) or no HD picture (most TV’s that meet these requirements say ‘HD Ready’ but check carefully before you buy). Then you’ll need a HD capable digital terrestrial receiver (to decode the digital signal).

In summary there are four requirements to enjoy the HDTV (1080p) experience:

  * A UHF aerial
  * An HD capable digital terrestrial receiver
  * A high definition capable television (at least 1280 x 720 resolution)
  * An HDCP compliant input and HDMI cable

Australian TV’s made in the last two years may. If the model number was released here it should work. Older Australian TVs and all UK TVs won’t work here as these use MPEG-2 (compression) for their terrestrial (UHF aerial) broadcast and Freeview|HD_® uses MPEG-4. Some channels are broadcast in HD (high definition) only and therefore you need an HD capable receiver.

The Freeview Guide (EPG) is populated by a MHEG-5 data stream for both Freeview satellite_®  and Freeview|HD_®  . The Freeview satellite service had an existing base of free-to-air digital satellite receivers and PVRs which work off an EIT schedule so we will continue to broadcast this data format for the Freeview satellite_® service.

For Freeview|HD_®, there was no existing base of digital receivers so Freeview has chosen to broadcast the schedule using MHEG-5 only, as it is a more bandwidth efficient and presentation friendly method.

The existing analogue, free-to-air, TV signals are being switched off and replaced by the digital-only signal which is currently also being broadcast. The process is being managed by a consumer facing, joint government and industry group.

Compared to analogue, digital provides a superior viewing experience with better quality pictures and sound and more channels than analogue. You will also get a Free 8 day on screen programme guide.

Digital switch over will take place sometime between 2012-2016. This means that every television in every home needs to “switchover” to digital to continue to receive television services.

The Government has communicated that:-
A consumer facing, joint government and industry entity will manage the process.
At 75% of homes with digital Television or 2012 (whichever is earliest) they will set a date.

DSO is likely take place sometime between 2012-2016.

However, there is no need to wait before you convert to digital, you can switch now and enjoy the benefits of Free to air, Freeview digital TV right away.

Freeview Digital TV is available in all areas, you can check which Freeview service is right for you by using our coverage tool Coverage Tool.

Digital uses less spectrum than the analogue signal, thereby freeing up bandwidth for a range of new channels and services to be offered.

Digital transmission will also mean savings in costs for the broadcast networks

Compared to analogue, digital provides a superior viewing experience; better pictures and sound, more channels and a free 8 day on screen programme guide.

Dolby 5.1 is currently only broadcast on certain programmes on TV3. You can check if a programme is broadcast in Dolby 5.1 on the Freeview EPG and by looking for the symbol below in the synopsis. On some products you can only select Dolby when 5.1 is actually broadcast.