SBS Digital TV Transmission Parameters
The SBS digital TV transmission parameters are as follows, and may be required when attempting to manually program a Set Top Box to receive SBS digital TV:
| Parameter | Setting |
|---|---|
| Transmission Mode | 8k |
| Modulation | 64QAM, non-hierarchical |
| FEC | 2/3 |
| Guard Interval | 1/8 |
Note that the bandwidth for SBS TV services is 7 MHz (Megahertz). Carrier channels 28 and above are UHF (Ultra High Frequency) channels. Channels below 28 are VHF (Very High Frequency).
Carrier channels are the channels used to tune your Set Top Box (STB) or digital TV to a particular broadcaster, and contain all the digital channels for that broadcaster. Logical channels are the channels you view a particular channel on. For example, the SBS (digital) carrier channel for Darwin is 29. The logical channel for the SBS World News Channel is 33. The logical channel numbers for SBS are the same for all Set Top Boxes and digital TVs. See the table under the heading SBS Digital TV Channels for more information.
Standard Definition and High Definition
Our Standard Definition service is 576 x 720i (interlaced). With the interlaced format, half the information is sent, then the second half is sent. Our High Definition format is 576 x 720p (progressive). With the progressive format, all the information is sent together. Our High Definition service, or HD, is an upconverted version of our Standard Definition or SD service. As our HD is upconverted, everything on our HD channel is in HD.
Radio
For information on SBS Radio services and frequencies, please see the Radio page of the SBS website.
If you wish to receive SBS Radio through a Set Top Box or digital TV, generally the two radio signals are automatically scanned in when you scan 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 radio services are Channel 38 for SBS Radio 1, and Channel 39 for SBS Radio 2.
Transmission Site Locations, Frequencies, and Updates
Television Frequencies
Please select the State you live in, from the menu at the top left handside 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.
Subtitles and Closed Captions
Subtitles (in English) are used by English language speakers to view and understand foreign language programs. Subtitles are not exact translations but give the most accurate idea of what has been said in the amount of time and space available on the screen. Unfortunately it is not possible to subtitle the programs on the World News Channel as by the time they were properly subtitled, they would no longer be newsworthy.
Closed Captions (in English), which are used by the hearing impaired to view and understand programs containing English, are provided in selected programs. They are available on the analog service, on line 801 on televisions that have a teletext function, and on SBS's digital main channel and High Definition service.
If you experience problems with closed captions, please ring the SBS Switchboard on 1800 500 727 and explain that you have a problem with captions. Alternatively send an email to SBS at comments@sbs.com.au. Please include contact details, the area you are calling from including postcode, whether you are watching digital or analog, and details about the problem and what time the problem occurred (what program you were watching).
Digital Channel Name Change
Single Frequency Networks (SFNs) - Digital Services Only
A Single Frequency Network, or SFN, is where digital services for the same broadcaster are linked. The service is broadcast on the same channel and frequency from the linked transmitter sites. In Queensland, in the Brisbane, Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast areas, we have a nine site SFN. Occasionally there are problems where a viewer can pick up the signal at the same channel and frequency from two different transmitter sites. SBS operates a number of SFNs across the country. If you feel you could be affected by an SFN issue, please contact SBS on 1800 500 727 and ask to be put through to Transmission Services.
Complaints
When registering a complaint, or transmission problem, please leave your contact details, including your phone number area code, eg 02 for NSW and the ACT or 03 for Victoria and Tasmania. We need detailed information to be able to follow up complaints. Generally, we need your name, phone number with area code, the location you are calling from with your postcode, whether the service you are watching is analog or digital, details about the problem you are experiencing and the problem duration. It is always a good idea to check with neighbours to see if other people are experiencing the same problem.
Complaints can be made by phone or by email. Our tollfree number is 1800 500 727. Emails can be sent to technical@sbs.com.au
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.
Two information booklets are 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 may be obtained by contacting SBS Transmission Services on 1800 500 727.
Please see information on the revised guidelines below.
SBS Self Help Retransmission Subsidy Scheme Changes
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. 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 two booklets 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.
Additional assistance for a new Self Help facility, in the form of subsidised site access, may also be available via the Commonwealth Government's $10 million Regional Communications Partnership (RCP) with Broadcast Australia. Further information about the RCP can be obtained from Broadcast Australia on (02) 8425 4666.
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 on selfhelp@sbs.com.au
The Self Help Subsidy Scheme has recently changed for establishing an SBS Television service.
For an Analogue TV Self Help service, the Scheme provides up to 75% of the establishment costs, up to a cap of $30,000(incl GST).
Where a Digital TV Self Help service is established, the Scheme can provide up to 75% of the establishment costs, up to a cap of $50,000(incl GST).
-Click here to download the SBS Self Help Guide document
-Click here to download the SBS Self Help Subsidy Guidelines documentDigital Services
The SBS digital television service consists of one High Definition (HD) TV service, one Standard Definition (SD) TV service, the World News Channel (SD), an additional TV channel (SD), and two radio services.
SBS Digital TV Channels (with logical channel numbers)
Carrier Channel Numbers are the channel numbers you tune your Set Top Box to for a particular broadcaster. A carrier channel contains all the digital channels for that broadcaster. SBS carrier channel numbers for different areas are listed under the relevant State. Not all areas have an SBS digital service at this time.
Logical Channel Numbers are the channel numbers on which you view a program. Please see below for the list of logical channel numbers and their new names, effective 4 June, 2007. Please click on this link for more information on the name change. All channels are Standard Definition (SD) except for Channel 30, which is High Definition (HD).
| 3 | SBS (previously SBS Digital 1) |
| 31 | SBS 2 (previously SBS Digital, the EPG or SBS Essential) Screens multi-view sporting events known as "Sports Highlights", and other digital only projects, when available. At other times, the main SBS digital channel (SBS) is transmitted. |
| 33 | SBS News (previously SBS Digital 2) also known as the World News Channel |
| 30 | SBS HD 576 progressive (to meet bandwidth restrictions in some transmission sites) |
Note that SBS Essential (Electronic Program Guide or EPG) stopped broadcasting due to technical issues associated with supporting this text-based channel. Removing this service has meant SBS has more bandwidth available for its future requirements. If your Set Top Box or digital TV shows that you are watching SBS Digital, SBS Essential or the EPG on Channel 31, a rescan should show the current title of SBS 2.
Note that with SBS News, also known as the World News Channel (Channel 33), it is not possible to have subtitles. By the time these programs were subtitled properly, they would no longer be newsworthy.
The logical channel numbers for SBS Radio are Channel 38 for SBS Radio 1, and Channel 39 for SBS Radio 2. Note that you may need to choose a Radio button or equivalent on your remote control to tune in to the radio channels.
SBS Digital TV Picture Aspect Ratio
All SBS digital television services are broadcast in widescreen format with a 16:9 aspect ratio. However some television content is originally produced in a 4:3 aspect ratio. This means the content will display on a widescreen TV with vertical black bars on each side of the screen (the "pillarbox" effect).
Viewing the SBS digital television service on a 4:3 aspect ratio TV will require the screen format of the Set Top Box to be set to "letterbox" (horizontal black bars across top and bottom of the screen) in order to view widescreen content.
Note, content that was originally produced in a 4:3 format will result in a "postage stamp" effect (black bars along all four sides of the picture) whilst the Set Top Box is in "letterbox" format.
Setting the screen format on the Set Top Box to "normal" will result in a 4:3 full screen picture, however, cropping (sides chopped off) will occur when widescreen content is broadcast.
SBS Digital TV Audio
All SBS digital television services include stereo audio in MPEG2 format.
SBS Digital TV Rollout
SBS digital television coverage is continually expanding. The following table shows locations in the current rollout. The status or expected start date for each location is listed below:
| Area Served | State | Expected Start Date (Status) |
|---|---|---|
| Ceduna / Smoky Bay | SA | May 2009 |
| Charleville | QLD | To Be Announced |
| Coolah | NSW | IN TEST |
| Darwin North | NT | To Be Announced |
| Derby | WA | To Be Announced |
| Dimbulah | QLD | To Be Announced |
| Eastgrove | NSW | To Be Announced |
| Emmaville | NSW | To Be Announced |
Exmouth | WA | August 2008 |
| Eyre Peninsula / Caralue Bluff | SA | April 2009 |
| Fraser | ACT | To Be Announced |
| Gisborne | VIC | To Be Announced |
| Hillwood | TAS | To Be Announced |
| Katanning | WA | April 2009 |
| Kununurra | WA | May 2009 |
| Longreach | QLD | To Be Announced |
| Mandurah | WA | March 2009 |
| Margaret River | WA | September 2008 |
| Newman | WA | November 2008 |
| Nhulunbuy | NT | To Be Announced |
| Northampton | WA | November 2008 |
| Ocean Shores | NSW | To Be Announced |
| Queenstown / Zeehan | TAS | December 2009 |
| Roma | QLD | To Be Announced |
| Roxby Downs | SA | July 2009 |
| St George | QLD | To Be Announced |
| Tennant Creek | NT | To Be Announced |
| Tieri | QLD | September 2009 |
| Tom Price | WA | To Be Announced |
| Tweed Heads | NSW | To Be Announced |
| Wyalong | NSW | To Be Announced |
Viewers should note that test transmissions are likely to commence 4 weeks or more before the listed start date in their area.
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.
For further information regarding better reception, click here for the brochure (published by ACMA).
Interference and Complaints
With the implementation of digital TV, it is possible that future testing of new services may result in interference. For more information please see the Statement of Potential Interference Mechanisms.
The SBS Digital TV Rollout table above 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 Free TV Interference Hotline on 1800 55 22 88 for assistance.
Complaints 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.
Alternatively, viewers wishing to avoid interference prior to the introduction of new services can consult the VCR Better Picture Guide, a joint publication between the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), commercial stations, the ABC and SBS (published in 2004 - note that other services may be broadcasting on the frequencies listed).
VCR Better Picture Guide:
English
Italian
Macedonian
Satellite Services
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.
Optus Aurora is on Optus C1 at 156deg East in:
Transponder 3, 12 407MHz, Vertical Polarity (SR 30000, FEC 2/3) Irdeto Conditional Access
1. Ch2 SBS TV (South East)
2. Ch3 SBS TV (Western Australia)
3. Ch9 SBS TV (Queensland)
4. Ch6 SBS Radio (Queensland)
5. Ch15 SBS Radio (South East)
6. Ch16 SBS Radio (Northern Territory)
7. Ch20 SBS Radio (Western Australia)
Transponder 10, 12 720MHz, Vertical Polarity (SR 30000, FEC 3/4) Irdeto Conditional Access
1. Ch27 SBS TV (South Australia and Northern Territory)
2. Ch27 SBS Radio (South Australia)
SBS Digital TV services are available via satellite to all regions in Australia, from the Optus D1 satellite at 160 deg East.
The services are in:
Transponder 12, Horizonital Polarity (SR 12 600, FEC 5/6)
1. SBS Digital TV (Queensland) 12451.95MHz
2. SBS Digital TV National (SE) 12469.70MHz
3. SBS Digital TV (South Australia) 12 487.45MHz
Transponder 8, Vertical Polarity (SR 12 600, FEC 5/6)
1. SBS Digital TV (Western Australia) 12 720.10MHz
Analogue:
| Service | Satellite | Frequency | Polarization | Transponder | Symbol Rate | FEC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SBS TV Queensland | Optus C1 | 12407.00 | V | 3 | 30 000 | 2/3 |
| SBS TV National (SE) | Optus C1 | 12407.00 | V | 3 | 30 000 | 2/3 |
| SBS TV SA | Optus C1 | 12527.00 | V | 6 | 30 000 | 2/3 |
| SBS TV WA | Optus C1 | 12407.00 | V | 3 | 30 000 | 2/3 |
| SBS Radio Qld | Optus C1 | 12407.00 | V | 3 | 30 000 | 2/3 |
| SBS Radio National (SE) | Optus C1 | 12407.00 | V | 3 | 30 000 | 2/3 |
| SBS Radio SA | Optus C1 | 12527.00 | V | 6 | 30 000 | 2/3 |
| SBS Radio NT | Optus C1 | 12407.00 | V | 3 | 30 000 | 2/3 |
| SBS Radio WA | Optus C1 | 12407.00 | V | 3 | 30 000 | 2/3 |
Digital:
| Service | Satellite | Frequency | Polarization | Transponder | Symbol Rate | FEC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SBS Queensland | Optus D1 | 12451.95 | H | 12 | 12 600 | 5/6 |
| SBS National (SE) | Optus D1 | 12469.70 | H | 12 | 12 600 | 5/6 |
| SBS SA | Optus D1 | 12487.45 | H | 12 | 12 600 | 5/6 |
| SBS WA | Optus D1 | 12720.10 | V | 8 | 12 600 | 5/6 |