Tasmanian Digital Television - Australian Television Archive

Tasmanian Digital Television (TDT) is a commercial television service, covering the whole of the state of Tasmania (which is considered to be a regional coverage area). TDT is owned and operated by a joint-venture company - WIN and Southern Cross (the existing commercial television licence holders in Tasmania) being partners in the joint-venture. This arrangement came about due to current laws that forbid companies (other than those formed by joint-venture between existing licence holders) to acquire a broadcasting licence in Tasmania (as outlined in Section 38B of the Australian Government Broadcasting Services Act of 1992), for it is believed that a licence area with a population of approximately 500 000 could not support three competing commercial stations. It holds the distinction of being Australia's first digital-only free-to-air station (digital-only transmission also being a requirement of Section 38B).

In late 2003, WIN and Southern Cross launched TDT, with Southern Cross responsible for transmission from its Canberra base, and WIN responsible for sales and administration. Interestingly, the holding company is registered as TasTV Pty. Ltd., the one-time on-air name of all commercial television services in Tasmania.

The station's programming consists mainly of Ten Network programming, although it also occasionally airs programmes from the Seven Network as well, in an inverted manner to what Southern Cross does. Southern Cross is responsible for programme playout and programming, which is done from Southern Cross Broadcasting's Canberra facility. WIN is responsible for the administration, transmission and sales for the station, which is carried out from its Hobart base.

At this stage, Ten Network programming will continue to be seen on both TDT and Southern Cross, with the only major changes to occur within the next few years. It is widely expected that TDT will become an Ten-only station once analogue television is switched off, and Southern Cross will become an Seven affilate.

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