Both TVNZ and TelstraSaturn have held discussions with Sky and it is hoped that this agreement may act as a catalyst to promote open access on commercial terms to all digital broadcast networks. TVNZ and TelstraSaturn believe that it is in the best interests of New Zealanders future access to entertainment and information services to be based on open access rather than controlled by any owner of a proprietary broadcast network. Both services are to be delivered to viewers via digital transmission. Both services will be able to be bundled with TelstraSaturn services for telephony, Internet access and mobile telephony and bundled rates will be very competitive. All around the world broadcasters are moving to digital transmission.
Digital transmission means clearer pictures and sound for viewers.
In comparison to analogue, a digital system provides broadcasters the capacity to bring to viewers a multiplicity of channels that cater to all tastes and demands. Over the next decade analogue television will become increasingly redundant as the transmission systems will have been superseded by digital transmission systems and digital television sets will become more widely manufactured than analogue. New Zealand trails the developed world in not having publicly announced plans for digital migration. The TelstraSaturn service will launch in the third quarter and will be available in time for the All Black rugby tests. The TVNZ service will launch on October 1 st .