Freeview, New Zealand’s free-to-air digital television service, was switched on in Auckland on Wednesday April 26. The service will make available digital quality material from TV1, TV2, TV3, C4, Maori TV channels, plus Radio New Zealand National and RNZ Concert programmes.
Only problem is that to receive the digital broadcast New Zealanders will have to invest in a set-top box (up to $300) and a satellite dish (up to $400) to get the Direct To Home broadcast (DTH). Eventually the digital channels will be available via Digital Terrestrial Telvision (DTT) and the satellite dishes won’t be needed.
A couple of weeks ago I had a chat with a family member who’s working with Sky in New Zealand, who work with the satellite system as well. It appears as though Sky is not in the least worried about the free-to-air rollout. If you’re going to fork out for a satellite dish, you may as well connect up with Sky, and access the huge range of channels they offer. TVNZ expects to launch a 24 hours news channel in September, and a family channel called ‘Home’ in March 2008. CanWest Mediaworks, owner of TV3 and C4, hasn’t revealed its plans for extra programmes.
We’ve been receiving digital television at home in Australia for the last four months. It has been worth the investment of a set top box but we haven’t had to worry about the cost of a satellite dish. Australia free digital television went with terrestrial UHF transmission right from the start. What convinced us to upgrade was the ghosting analog reception that became worse once digital signals started. It’s great having DVD quality TV now, though occasionally the signal falls out altogether. ABC and SBS have put in extra channels and Channel 7, 9 and 10 have added interactivity to their channels. I’m hanging out for the chance to have an affordable High Definition television to make the most of the digital offerings, and even to record in HD quality. That would be good.
Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) is calling for volunteers to live in a house somewhat different to Channel Ten’s Big Brother House. ABC Television’s answer to Big Brother is The Abbey, 33 days and nights for five women, produced as a three part series. Applications close on Friday July 7.
This is no invitation to live in a glasshouse. Residents will be invited to explore spirituality, search for truth, and put into practice disciplines of life with the support of personal ’sister’, rather than under the oversight of an unseen ‘big brother’.
Imagine a world offering peace and tranquillity, and you’re there to contemplate the deeper side of life….no blaring phones, no family dramas, no frustrating work… just you and your desire to discover life’s meaning.
Sounds too good to be true? Welcome to The Abbey.
ABC TV is looking for five women for a new 3 part series. Take up the challenge to live the life of a contemplative nun for 33 days and nights - one day for every year of Christ’s life.
You will leave behind the hurly-burly of modern life to embark upon a search for meaning, spirituality and self behind the walls of an enclosed order.
Immerse yourself in the world of The Abbey and live by The Rule of Silence and Obedience. Take a leap of faith and discover things about yourself and life that you never knew. Learn what the spirit of community living is all about as you share the nuns daily routine of prayer, farm work, craft and domestic tasks. Throughout the challenge of living in this other world, you will have a Sister-mentor to listen, support and guide you.
Will this life hold any relevance to you as a contemporary Australian woman? Will spiritual contemplation and prayer have the power to transform your life or will you find it too hard a cross to bear?
I’m writing a paper on the impact of modernism on doctrines of atonement and making my way through a few texts. 
