August 2011 - IMPORTANT UPDATE!!

It’s been a while since our last update and that’s because there has been little to report – until now.

As you are all probably aware, the DSO is rolling out and the first phase of rechanneling the current DTV stations (including rolling them out into some new geographical areas) is starting now. The rechanneling involves moving the current DTV stations into the 558-608 MHz band and is due for completion by mid 2012. 

Click here to see the WUNZ frequency charts* that illustrate how these changes will be scheduled across New Zealand - or right-click and save-as to download for reading later..... (Adobe Acrobat Reader required.....you know where to get it from......) *handcrafted by Haresh Bhana of the WUNZ Committee

The analogue TV stations are then due to start being switched off from September 2012 with completion by December 2013.

The remaining bandwidth of 518-558 MHz and 606-686 MHz currently has options on them, which may or may not be picked up, by Sky TV, Maori TV and TAB. These broadcasters need to declare if they intend to use their allocation by 2013 or they lose the option. They then have until 2015 to set up their network.

The uncertainty with who will pick up their options (and how much spectrum that will take up) is the biggest issue in deciding what will be clear available spectrum for radio mics. No one can say for 100% certainty what will be clear until this process is complete. Once this is completed, the Government will look at how/when it will sell off the Digital Dividend – 686-806 MHz.

Existing radio mic users on 686-806MHz will have until 11th March 2015 to clear this band as this is when the GUSL for this band runs out. This licence will not be renewed.

The GUSL licences for the 518-582 and 614-686 MHz bands will expire on 11th March 2020.

Also, this just in.....

Did you see this article about Sky’s intentions for its UHF spectrum?

Looks like we’ll be battling away for some time to come....

 

See our News page for previous updates......

Are you involved or interested in any of the following?

Outside Broadcast

Sporting Events

Electronic News Gathering

Film & TV Production

Conference & Exhibition Production

Theatre Production

Concert Production

Product Demonstration

Education

Religious Organisations

If the answer is 'yes' then there's a good chance that radio microphones are in use at some point in the process...and very soon, those radio mics MAY BE UNUSEABLE if we don't ACT NOW!

In a nutshell, the NZ Government is seeking to reallocate the radio spectrum to accomodate Digital Terrestrial Television. As part of this process, some parts of the spectrum are being freed-up as the old analogue transmitters are switched off.

This may sound good for radio mic users like us, but sadly there's worse to come. Digital TV broadcasting leaves less 'gaps' for us to use our radio mics - the way we've used in the past. So we'll have less spectrum within our current stomping-ground.

Then, as if that's not bad enough, the big telecommunication companies want to buy all that freed-up old "analogue" space for mobile devices...

What could happen?
In Auckland alone there are going to be 22 licences for Digital Terrestrial Television - each one needs a 8MHz block of bandwidth (176MHz total).

Vodafone & Telecom want another 150MHz of bandwidth for the next breed of Raspberries etc

That will leave us with....CABLED MICS!!

What can we do?
WUNZ firmly believes that the NZ Government doesn't grasp the scale of the disruption this will cause to New Zealand life. We must act together, representing all those affected, to ensure that those who make the decisions about the future of New Zealand's airwaves are aware of our contribution to the community.

What are we doing about it?
WUNZ are in regular contact with the Ministry Of Economic Development (the Government Department responsible for the radio spectrum re-shuffle) and have made some progress. We have submitted our concerns in accordance with the consultation process. Our aim is to secure sufficient space within the spectrum for ongoing, reliable use of radio microphones.

What can YOU do to help?
Register your support for WUNZ today and add your voice to the battle. We urgently need to make Government aware that their current plans will effectively bring reliable radio mic usage to and end within five years.

 

With sincere thanks (and apologies) to BEIRG - our UK counterparts in the fight for the future of radio mic use,

Please consider it the highest form of flattery...!