SBS Technical Information for Television and Radio

Retune

SBS has five free-to-air television channels available to all Australians: SBS ONE, SBS TWO, SBS HD, Food Network and NITV. Please click here if you have lost tuning of the SBS channels.

Digital TV

Digital television (DTV) is the transmission of audio and video by discrete (digital) signals. Digital means it has high picture and stereo sound quality.

Standard Definition(SD) vs High Definition(HD)

Both standard and high definition television are digital formats.  Standard definition (SD) television provides digital images and sound that is considerably better than analog. High definition (HD) television is an enhancement that provides higher resolution images.

HD has one or two million pixels per frame, roughly five times that of SD.

     Standard-definition DTV broadcast resolutions

720 x 576 pixels

     High-definition DTV broadcast resolutions

1440 x 1080

1920 x 1080

SBS is available on free to air digital TV as follows

 Channel Name  Channel Number
  SD or HD
 SBS ONE  3  SD 576i x 720
 SBS HD  30  HD 1080i x 1440
 SBS TWO  32  SD 576i x 720
 Food Network  33  SD 576i x 720
 NITV  34  SD 576i x 720
 SBS Radio 1  37  
 SBS Radio 2  38  
 SBS Radio 3  39  
   Video PID  Audio PID
 SBS ONE  161  81
 SBS TWO  162  83
 SBS HD  102  103
 Food Network  163  85
 NITV  164  87

Reception Advice

Interference and reception enquiries

The SBS Digital TV Rollout table on this page below shows the planned schedule for the expansion of SBS digital television in the next few years. Viewers should note that test transmissions could begin a month or more before the official start date listed. As a result of these new transmissions some viewers may experience interference with their television reception. If you consider that these test transmissions are related to interference you are experiencing, or complaints about interference that you are receiving, please contact the ACMA on 1300 850 115 for assistance and follow the prompts.

Enquiries regarding only SBS reception should be referred directly to SBS Transmission Services on the freecall number 1800 500 727, or alternatively by emailing technical@sbs.com.au. Please leave a contact phone number with the area code, or your email address, your location and postcode, whether you are watching digital or analog television, the problem you are experiencing and the duration of the problem. Without contact information, it is very hard to follow up a complaint.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

My digital TV picture breaks up and freezes - where can I get help with this?

There are a number of possible causes of picture break-up, pixelation or freezing. First, try restarting your digital box or TV, as there may be a glitch in the software. Simply unplug the box from the mains power supply for about 10 minutes and then plug it in again.                               

How do I get the best digital reception from my TV aerial?

When you switch from analogue to digital TV you may be able to continue using your existing aerial, but in some cases you may need to upgrade or replace it. If you are in an area where the signal strength is low, you may need a high-gain aerial for the best reception.

Your aerial should ideally be mounted outside and as high up as possible. It must be pointing in the right direction towards the best local transmitter. The aerial, cables and connections need to be in good condition - cables and connections in particular can become corroded, especially if you live near the sea.

Some channels are missing from my digital TV channel list. How can I get them back?

To restore missing channels, you need to retune your digital receiver (box or TV).

HOW TO RESCAN/RETUNE/SEACRCH FOR DIGITAL SBS

Menu or Home button on their remote control

Press OK

Settings or Setup

Press OK

Digital Setup

Press OK

Manual scan or Manual retune will appear, then choose the right frequency ( Refer to Television fequencies below)

Press OK

It will take few seconds to do the rescan.This will search for the channel and restore it in your TV or set-up box. (Please do not use Automatic Retune as it will erase the channels from the device memory if they are not transmitting due to any faults at that particular time.)

Press Exit

Could trees be affecting my TV reception?

It's possible, especially if there are large trees near your TV aerial. The TV signal travels in a straight line from the transmitter to the aerial and does not bend well around large objects such as trees. The signal may fluctuate in wet or windy weather. Trees can act as a barrier to the signal, resulting in a 'snowy' or grainy picture on analogue TV. Trees can also affect the signal and cause 'ghosting'. On digital TV the picture may break up or freeze.

Will I need a new antenna for digital?

If your existing antenna is in reasonable condition it should be suitable to receive digital television and If you are in a capital city and your antenna was installed prior to 2001, you may need a new antenna.

 

SBS Radio

Please note should you wish to receive Digital(Radio) service you will require a DAB+( Digital Audio Broadcasting) digital receiver. This service currently is currently available only in the five mainland state capitals ie Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney.

For information on SBS Digital Radio services and frequencies, please see the Radio page of the SBS website.

If you wish to receive SBS Radio you will require a Set Top Box or Digital TV receiver. The three radio signals are automatically scanned in when you tune in the TV channels.  However, you may need to use a Radio button or equivalent on your remote control.  The logical channel numbers for our analogue radio services are

Channel 37 for SBS Radio 1

Channel 38 for SBS Radio 2

Channel 39 for SBS Radio 3.

Transmission Site Locations, Frequencies, and Updates

Television Frequencies

Please select the State you live in, from the menu at the top left hand side of the page,
to view transmission information (for television). Choosing All States will show information for all areas.

In areas where there is no SBS service available, local organisations can apply for funding to build a transmitter. They are then responsible for operating and maintaining their own SBS service (a Self Help service). More information on this option is available under the heading Self Help Retransmission Subsidy Scheme. Alternatively, SBS may be available through Pay TV services.

The SBS Self Help Retransmission Subsidy Scheme

The SBS Self Help scheme can assist small communities that do not currently have access to SBS TV or radio programs to provide retransmission of SBS programming in their local area, by providing funding assistance for the cost of setting up a local retransmission facility.

Please see information on the revised guidelines below.

The SBS Self Help Retransmission Subsidy Scheme can now provide up to 100% funding assistance for the establishment of an SBS Radio service up to a ceiling of $25,000 and 75% of the actual establishment costs for Digital Television up to a ceiling of $30,000. Where a Self Help transmitter provides a good coverage for at least two communities, the funding can be raised up to $50,000. Effective from the 1st of January 2007, applicants for radio subsidy are required to obtain two competitive quotes. Apart from these changes, the information in the booklet explaining the Self Help process and the SBS Subsidy Scheme remain unchanged. Applicants are reminded that the operation of any Self Help service does require a broadcasting licence from ACMA, and in some cases ACMA may not be able to find an available channel for your area. In such circumstances, the service may not commence and no subsidy will be provided. In summary, Self Help Retransmission is a scheme that offers a way for communities to obtain SBS radio and/or television more quickly than might otherwise be provided through full Federal Government funding.

The SBS Self Help Retransmission Subsidy Scheme is administered entirely by SBS, and can include financial assistance with the purchase of such items as transmitters, aerials, satellite antennas (dishes) and receivers, huts, towers, cabling, spare parts, mains power connection fees and installation costs.

If you would like to talk to someone at SBS concerning Self Help radio and television please feel free to contact us at:

Self Help Retransmission Subsidy Scheme

Locked Bag 028

Crows Nest NSW 1585

Or by calling free of charge on 1800 500 727, or by email  saurabh.mudgill@sbs.com.au

The information booklet is available for download in Acrobat PDF format by clicking on the links below. Hard copies of these booklets and further information on the Self Help Scheme can be obtained by contacting SBS Transmission Services on 1800 500 727.

-Click here to download the SBS Self Help Subsidy Guidelines document

Please find below the consulant's technical report for the following councils in Victoria:

Digital Services


SBS Digital TV Reception Advice

In most cases viewers will be able to use their existing antenna to receive SBS digital television broadcasts, provided that they already have adequate analogue SBS TV reception. However, Digital Broadcasting Australia (see link below) recommends using quad-shielded RG6 coaxial cable from antenna to receiver for reliable digital reception. The advice of a professional antenna installer should be sought if in doubt.

Viewers living in units or apartment blocks generally receive a TV from a communal antenna via a TV Distribution System to their unit. Some TV Distribution Systems are not designed for digital television and will not provide an adequate signal for a Set Top Box to tune into digital TV services. Viewers living in units that are experiencing difficulty in receiving digital TV should contact the Body Corporate or similar organisation responsible for services to their apartment block for advice.

Satellite Services

 VAST: Viewer Access Satellite Television

For many years, poor television reception has troubled some residents in regional and remote areas of Australia. The Viewer Access Satellite Television (VAST) service will provide digital free-to-air TV to those in remote areas of Australia, The new satellite service will bring to those viewers the range of television services long enjoyed by Australians in capital cities.

Optus deliver next generation digital free-to-air television services via satellite to any household in an area across Australia which cannot receive a terrestrial digital signal.

VAST will offer viewers access to the full suite of digital channels from Southern Cross, ABC, SBS and Imparja broadcasters comparable to the services available from terrestrial digital TV.

For more information on VAST, please refer to the following link: http://www.acma.gov.au/Citizen/TV-Radio/Television/Viewer-Access-Satellite-TV-VAST/viewer-access-satellite-television-vast-service-overview

 

VAST: 

Service Satellite Frequency Polarization Transponder Symbol Rate FEC Service ID
NSW - SBS HD Optus C1 12567.000 V 7 30 000 3/5 320
NSW - SBS SD Optus C1 12567.000 V 7 30 000 3/5 321
South East - SBS Two SD Optus C1 12567.000 V 7 30 000 3/5 322
NITV Optus C1 12567.000 V 7 30 000 3/5 323
South East - Radio National Optus C1 12567.000 V 7 30 000 3/5 327
Sydney - Radio 1 Optus C1 12567.000 V 7 30 000 3/5 328
Sydney - Radio 2 Optus C1 12567.000 V 7 30 000 3/5 329
Victoria SBS One HD Optus D3 11928.000 V 6 30 000 3/5 330
Victoria SBS One SD Optus D3 11928.000 V 6 30 000 3/5 331
Melbourne - Radio 1 Optus D3 11928.000 V 6 30 000 3/5 338
Melbourne - Radio 2 Optus D3 11928.000 V 6 30 000 3/5 339
2RPH - Radio Optus D3 11928.000 V 6 30 000 3/5 324
Sbs Chill - Radio Optus D3 11928.000 V 6 30 000 3/5 325
SBS PopAsia - Radio Optus D3 11928.000 V 6 30 000 3/5 326
Queensland - SBS HD Optus D3 11886.000 V 5 30 000 3/5 340
Queensland - SBS SD Optus D3 11886.000 V 5 30 000 3/5 341
Queensland - SBS Two SD Optus D3 11886.000 V 5 30 000 3/5 342
Queensland - Radio National Optus D3 11886.000 V 5 30 000 3/5 347
Queensland - Radio 1 Optus D3 11886.000 V 5 30 000 3/5 348
Queensland - Radio 2 Optus D3 11886.000 V 5 30 000 3/5 349
South Australia - SBS HD Optus D3 11886.000 V 5 30 000 3/5 350
South Australia - SBS SD Optus D3 11886.000 V 5 30 000 3/5 351
South Australia - SBS Two SD Optus D3 11886.000 V 5 30 000 3/5 352
South Australia - Radio National Optus D3 11886.000 V 5 30 000 3/5 357
South Australia - Radio 1 Optus D3 11886.000 V 5 30 000 3/5 358
South Australia - Radio 2 Optus D3 11886.000 V 5 30 000 3/5 359
West Australia - SBS HD Optus D3 11886.000 V 5 30 000 3/5 360
West Australia - SBS SD Optus D3 11886.000 V 5 30 000 3/5 361
West Australia - SBS Two SD Optus D3 11886.000 V 5 30 000 3/5 362
West Australia - Radio National Optus D3 11886.000 V 5 30 000 3/5 367
West Australia - Radio 1 Optus D3 11886.000 V 5 30 000 3/5 368
West Australia - Radio 2 Optus D3 11886.000 V 5 30 000 3/5 369
Tasmania SBS One HD Optus D3 11886.000 V 5 30 000 3/5 370
Tasmania SBS One SD Optus D3 11928.000 V 6 30 000 3/5 371
Darwin (NT) SBS HD Optus D3 11886.000 V 5 30 000 3/5 380
Darwin (NT) SBS SD Optus D3 11886.000 V 5 30 000 3/5 381
Darwin (NT) SBS Two SD Optus D3 11886.000 V 5 30 000 3/5 382
Darwin (NT) National Radio Optus D3 11886.000 V 5 30 000 3/5 387
Darwin (NT) Radio 1 Optus D3 11886.000 V 5 30 000 3/5 388
Darwin (NT) Radio 2 Optus D3 11886.000 V 5 30 000 3/5 389

SBS analogue TV and Radio services are available on the Optus Aurora satellite service to all regions in Australia, from the Optus C1 satellite at 156 deg E.

Digital(16:9):

Service Satellite Frequency Polarization Transponder Symbol Rate FEC

SBS NSW

 Optus D1 12451.950Mhz H 12 12 600 5/6
SBS QLD Optus D1 12469.700Mhz H 12 12 600 5/6
SBS SA Optus D1 12487.450Mhz H 12 12 600 5/6
SBS WA Optus D1 12407.000Mhz H 11 12 600 5/6
SBS VIC Optus D1 12389.125Mhz H 11 12 600 5/6
SBS TAS Optus D1 12424.875Mhz H 11 12 600 5/6

SBS Digital TV services are available via satellite to all regions in Australia, from the Optus D1 satellite at 160 deg East. Encryption or future upgrade may make this service unavailable in the future.

 

Aurora (4:3):

Please be advised that Aurora service has been turned off on 10 December 2013 as part of Analog Switch Off (ASO) in Australia.

Service Channel Satellite Frequency Polarization Transponder Symbol Rate FEC
SBS TV QLD  9 Optus C1 12407.00 V 3 30 000 2/3
SBS TV NSW  2 Optus C1 12407.00 V 3 30 000 2/3
SBS TV SA  27 Optus C1 12527.00 V 6 30 000 3/4
SBS TV WA  3 Optus C1 12407.00 V 3 30 000 2/3
SBS TV Tasmania   Optus C1 12407.00 V 3 30 000 2/3
SBS TV Victoria   Optus C1 12407.00 V 3 30 000 2/3
SBS Radio Qld  6 Optus C1 12407.00 V 3 30 000 2/3
SBS Radio National (SE)  15 Optus C1 12407.00 V 3 30 000 2/3
SBS Radio SA   Optus C1 12527.00 V 6 30 000 3/4
SBS Radio NT 16 Optus C1 12407.00 V 3 30 000 2/3
SBS Radio WA 20 Optus C1 12407.00 V 3 30 000 2/3