At least it's one of a number of ideas raised to try and increase the up take of digital TV.

http://australianit.news.com.au/articles/0...Enbv%5E,00.html

I don't see this happening. But it might help drive those prices down!

Between them Alston and Coonan have completely botched the telecomunications arena in Oz. Although to be fair, given the players involved and competing interests it was probably never going to go well.

I believe a number of European countries (Italy for one) have done exactly this (a direct subsidy) to reasonably good effect. In the absence of any attempt to make digital TV more than just a slightly 'prettier picture' I reckon bribery is the only option:

1) Provide a cheap barebones STB (no more than $50)
2) Enforce cut off date once digital TV has arrived at a given region (1-2 years only).

The only problem with this is all those low income households with VCRs that would find the things become pretty useless when hooked up to a STB - don't imagine they'd be too happy.

Regards

Peter Gillespie

Maybe make a rule such as all TVs made after say 1/1/2007 must have a digital tuner.

The answer is quite simple to me - if you want people to get into digital it needs to have some benefits other than a bit better picture - thats not enough for the majority of the population that just want to see the picture and hear the sound - the quality isnt that important to them ! So if I was a broadcaster the anwser would be simple - offer better/newer programs only thru the digital broadcast - that would be enough reason for most people to adopt it !

Steve

The only problem with that (other than restrictions on what free to air networks are allowed to show on digital) is that it costs alot of money for a network to make a tv show - especially a drama or comedy. They'd want to squeeze every advertising dollar they can by placing it on the analogue channels that everyone gets.

Still, that does allow the possibilty for "reject" shows. Ones that weren't popular enough on their first run on analogue, thereby preventing grave yard shift viewing, eg last season of simple life of us, or seven's new headland show.