Stratos Television will be crowned the only independent nationwide TV station in the country when it starts broadcasting free-to-air on Freeview's digital terrestrial television (DTT) platform next year.Viewers, from March 1, 2011, will be able to view th
Stratos Television will be crowned the only independent nationwide TV station in the country when it starts broadcasting free-to-air on Freeview’s digital terrestrial television (DTT) platform next year.
Viewers, from March 1, 2011, will be able to view the broadcaster’s programmes without needing to have a satellite dish.
A Freeview digital receiver will still be needed, but newer model TVs already have that built in.
While Stratos has been screening on DHT (satellite services) with its content broadcast via Freeview and Sky Digital for the past three years, a satellite dish and receiver were previously required.
Stratos founder and chief executive Jim Blackman said after being in the business for more than 12 years it was the right time for the move.
“The time is right and we have access to international programmes that show New Zealanders a real alternative window on the world that our competitors don’t, said Mr Blackman.
“If you look at our society today, New Zealand is not made up solely of English or American leaning culture.
“One of my friends has 132 different nationalities at his school. That’s the real New Zealand.”
DTT is broadcast across the country from point-to-point via broadcast towers and can be picked up by 80% of homes through domestic antennas.
Triangle’s sister channel – Stratos Television – currently broadcasts nationwide via Sky Digital (channel 89), and Freeview (channel 21) and TelstraClear cable and in Christchurch and Wellington on TelstraClear cable (channel 50).
