Welcome to the Australian Communications and Media Authority's website. If you are utilising a screen reader, please read our accessibility information page for details as to how to gain access to content on our site in other formats.
Australian Government - Australian Communications and Media Authority

3D Television

Australian trials of 3D TV

In 2010 trials of 3D TV were held in seven locations around Australia. These trials have provided valuable information to industry on the application of the new ‘frame compatible’ method of 3D transmission. The trials tested this method from the point of production (creating original content by filming live sports events), through transmission (mostly using existing transmission infrastructure) to reception (using new 3D-enabled television sets with active shutter viewing glasses).

The tests also provided viewers possessing 3D TV receivers within the test transmission areas with the opportunity to experience a new and still-evolving form of broadcast television.

The ACMA approved the Australian trials, which were reportedly the first free-to-air trials of 3D broadcast technology in the world, under a policy for testing new radiocommunications technology. This policy draws on the ACMA’s powers under the Broadcasting Services Act 1992 and the Radiocommunications Act 1992 to make spectrum in the broadcasting services bands available for temporary periods for trials that are ‘scientific’ in nature, and relate primarily to the testing of technical functions.

After approving two sets of trials – the first of which ran from May to July 2010 and the second from September to October 2010 – the ACMA announced that it would suspend authorisation of further trials until after it had considered the policy issues and other consumer issues arising from use of temporarily-available digital television channels.

One outcome of this policy process, completed in April 2012, is that trials of new radiocommunications technologies using unassigned digital television channels will continue to be considered as they arise and in the light of implementation of digital television restack.

The ACMA issued licences to the Nine Network to conduct further trials of 3D television in July and August 2012. The trials coincided with the London Olympic Games and were available in Adelaide, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney.

More information concerning trials that the ACMA has authorised can found below.

ACMA policy review

On 1 September 2010 the ACMA released a discussion paper, Temporary trials of 3D TV and other emerging technologies to assist it in understanding and planning for 3D TV as an emerging format.

The key issues dealt with in the discussion paper were spectrum availability and the impact on consumers of further trials.

Spectrum availability

The discussion paper noted that 3D TV has emerged as a viable broadcast technology at a time when a limited amount of broadcasting spectrum is available for use on a temporary basis.

The 7 MHz digital television channel that has been used for 3D TV trials is available for only a limited period pending completion of the switchover from analog to digital television. As part of this transition:

  • analog television will be progressively closed in locations around Australia between 2010 and 2013;
  • UHF channels 52 through to 69 will be cleared through the progressive closure of analog television in order to create the 126 MHz digital dividend announced by the government.

The process of clearing digital television services from UHF channels 52 through to 69 is often referred to as ‘restack’ and is the subject of a direction given to the ACMA by the Minister in July 2010. The restack is to be achieved by moving services from channels between 52 and 69 to VHF channels or UHF channels below channel 52. Changes will also be needed for many services operating on UHF channels below channel 52 in order to efficiently restack the channels and achieve other planning objectives. Some changes to VHF services will also be required. The unassigned digital channel used for the 3D TV trials (currently available in most areas of Australia and commonly referred to as Channel B) will be subsumed in the replanning process associated with UHF clearance and restack.

Once restack is completed, one unassigned channel will have been planned in each area. The long term use for the channel is a decision for the government.

Consumer issues

The discussion paper also explored the implications for consumer equipment. While the 2010 trials demonstrated the potential of 3D technology, they also highlighted some potential problems in trialling a new technology that is likely to have significant consumer interest while standards are still evolving.

There were reports of consumer concern about the limited geographical coverage for the trials compared to the major networks, and at the time of the second trials in September/October 2010 the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission contacted retailers who had made misleading representations about the availability of test transmissions.

The ACMA considers it important that when purchasing 3D TV receivers, consumers understand the reduced level of coverage typical of trial transmissions; the limited duration of the current trials; and the fact that as technical standards for consumer equipment have not yet settled, the current generation of 3D receivers might be not be compatible with future transmission methods.

Outcome of the review of 3D TV – the ACMA’s approach in considering 3D TV trials

The ACMA concluded its review of 3D in early 2011 and decided to consider authorising further trials of 3D TV and other emerging technologies. However, in order to manage the consumer issues mentioned above, and to emphasise the short-term availability of the spectrum used for these trials, the ACMA decided to set several additional requirements and limitations on the authorisation of trials using the unassigned digital television channels. These requirements included conducting a further review of the ACMA’s approach in 2012 to ensure that the principles developed for assessing applications for trials during 2011 remained fit-for-purpose.

The principles set out below apply in addition to the ACMA’s guidelines (Dealing with Applications for Apparatus Licences for the Trial of New Radiocommunications Technologies). They largely continue to apply the principles developed in 2011 and vary only in that they extend the operation of the ACMA’s flexible approach to authorising trials. The ACMA will consider applications on a case-by-case basis and make assessments against the spectrum demands of the digital television switchover and restack. It is important to note however, that restack will continue to be given priority for spectrum over trials of new technologies. The amended principles below also extend the scope of spectrum considered for trials beyond the unassigned digital channels formally referred to as Channel A and Channel B. They apply more widely to any unused television channels in the broadcasting services bands.

Trials using other parts of the radiofrequency spectrum continue to be assessed under the guidelines detailed in Dealing with Applications for Apparatus Licences for the Trial of New Radiocommunications Technologies.

Principles for authorising trials using unassigned digital television channels

  1. Trials of new radiocommunications technologies using unassigned digital television channels will be considered as they arise and in the light of implementation of digital television restack.
  2. The ACMA will consider any application in accordance with the ACMA guidelines, Dealing with Applications for Apparatus Licences for the Trial of New Radiocommunications Technologies and these principles.
  3. Trials should be short in duration, preferably not exceeding one month, and no longer than is required to cover any principal events that are the subject of the trials.
  4. In the case of multiple competing applications, the ACMA will follow the procedure set out in the trial guidelines and request that applicants first attempt to reach agreement on sharing access to spectrum.
  5. There should be a clear break between the conclusion of one trial and the commencement of another.
  6. Applicants will be required to satisfy the ACMA that adequate consumer safeguards are in place to guard against misunderstandings relating to the coverage areas of trial transmissions. To this end, the ACMA may require the following:
    • that broadcasters run consumer advisories on the broadcasters’ core or primary commercial or national television broadcasting service (if applicable), advising of the limited duration and coverage of the trials;
    • that broadcasters enter into a written agreement with any retailer or manufacturer that is a sponsor or partner in the trial, requiring that any advertising or promotions material include information on the limited coverage and duration of the trials, with a copy of this agreement provided to the ACMA;
    • other matters the ACMA may consider necessary or convenient to ensure that adequate consumer safeguards are in place.

Submissions to the discussion paper

The ACMA received nineteen submissions to its discussion paper, Temporary trials of 3D TV and other emerging technologies. Links to these submissions can be found on the discussion paper’s home page.

Further information on 3D TV trials

3D TV trials: 16 July 2012 to 13 August 2012

These 3D TV trials were licensed for broadcasts in digital mode by the Nine Network on UHF channels in Adelaide (Channel 31), Brisbane (Channel 31), Gold Coast (Channel 50) Melbourne (Channel 35), and Perth (Channel 38) and Sydney (Channel 35). All trials carried the same programming.

The licence conditions attached by the ACMA are available.

More information on these trials can be found on the Nine Network's website.

A copy of the report of these trials is available below:

Disclaimer: The ACMA takes no responsibility for the accuracy, currency, reliability and correctness of any information included in the report provided by the Nine Network Australia. The ACMA has published the report for the purposes of public comment and information, consistent with its functions under the Radiocommunications Act 1992 and Australian Communications and Media Authority Act 2005. Some information has been removed for confidentiality and privacy reasons.

3D TV trials: 18 September 2010 to 8 October 2010

These 3D TV trials were broadcast in digital mode by the Nine Network on UHF channels in Sydney (Channel 35), Brisbane (Channel 50) and Newcastle (Channel 35) and by the Seven Network in Melbourne (Channel 35), Adelaide (Channel 29) and Perth (Channel 35). All trials carried the same mix of Nine Network and Seven Network programming.

The licence conditions attached by the ACMA are available.

Copies of reports of these trials are available below:

Disclaimer: The ACMA takes no responsibility for the accuracy, currency, reliability and correctness of any information included in the Report provided by Nine Network Australia and the Seven Network. The ACMA has published the Report for the purposes of public comment and information, consistent with its functions under the Radiocommunications Act 1992 and Australian Communications and Media Authority Act 2005. Some information has been removed for confidentiality and privacy reasons.

3D TV trials: 19 May 2010 to 19 July 2010

In April 2010, the ACMA received applications from both the SBS and Nine to conduct trials of 3D TV using unassigned broadcasting services band (BSB) spectrum. Following negotiations between the broadcasters that resulted in a single combined trial to be conducted in each market, the ACMA received applications for transmitter licences in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, Newcastle and Wollongong.

The 3D TV trials were broadcast in digital mode by the SBS on UHF channels in Sydney (Channel 35), Adelaide (Channel 29) and Perth (Channel 35) and by the Nine Network in Melbourne (Channel 35), Brisbane (Channel 50), Newcastle (NBN Ltd) (Channel 35), and in Wollongong (WIN Television) (Channel 50). Each trial carried both SBS and Nine services. Viewers in these locations accessed the trial through logical channel number 40 on a 3D-enabled digital television set.

The licence conditions attached by the ACMA are available.

Copies of reports of these trials are available below:

Disclaimer: The ACMA takes no responsibility for the accuracy, currency, reliability and correctness of any information included in the Reports as provided by Nine Network Australia and SBS Television. The ACMA has published the Reports for the purposes of public comment and information, consistent with its functions under the Radiocommunications Act 1992 and Australian Communications and Media Authority Act 2005.

3D TV in the news

General information

Links to other sites

 

Last update: 27 September 2012 11:03