Trackside joins Freeview from 1 December

Trackside joins Freeview from 1 December

Viewers of analogue Trackside will now be able to enjoy it in digital quality, the NZ Racing Board announced today.

From Wednesday, 1 December 2010, Trackside will be available on the Freeview terrestrial digital service. For current analogue UHF viewers, this means a better quality racing broadcast with better picture and sound quality, including an onscreen programme guide. Viewers who currently watch TAB TV or Trackside on Sky Digital (channels 35 and 36) already receive a digital service so they will not notice any change.

“For more than 18 years, New Zealanders have been able to enjoy Trackside on a free-to-air platform - and we’re delighted to be able to continue providing this free-to-air service in the digital age,” says NZ Racing Board Chief Executive Andrew Brown.

“We’re committed to providing the very best NZ and international racing on both Trackside and TAB TV. All customers can now enjoy the benefits of digital television.”

The Government is currently working towards completely switching off New Zealand’s analogue television service by 2013 and the NZ Racing Board’s decision to make Trackside available on Freeview supports this.

UHF analogue customers will be given a full 6 months to go digital and, from May 2011, Trackside will be exclusive to either Freeview or Sky. The NZ Racing Board estimates that one-third of Trackside viewers do not currently have access to a digital service and will need to switch over by this time. Trackside will be communicating to all customers on how they can go digital in the coming months.

Freeview set-top boxes can purchased from most major retailers, alternatively viewers can buy a new digital television set that has a “built in” Freeview|HD digital tuner. For those viewers who already have terrestrial Freeview, Trackside will be available on channel 11 from Wednesday 1 December.

For further information on options for digital television, visit www.freeviewnz.tv or www.skytv.co.nz or www.telstraclear.co.nz

ENDS

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