TVNZ DTT Mux Changes
It certainly looks like they are planning on making DTT services here in NZ very interesting from a technical perspective.
On Friday the TVNZ Multiplex refreshed with some major changes. Rather than using MP2 audio streams they switched to AAC audio. This means that they can use a much lower bitrate for around the same audio quality.
In the area of video the TV One and TV 2 channels are no longer showing program loops. Instead they are carrying a 720p H.264 carrier with blank video. I’ve heard that TVNZ hope to provide Kordia with Live HD feeds some point in January.
So the current layout of the TVNZ Mux is as follows, noting that channels have 128K AAC Audio.
- TV ONE – 720p H.264 – Blank Video
- TV 2 – 720p H.264 – Blank Video
- TVNZ 6 – 576i H.264 – Live TVNZ 6
- TVNZ 7 – 576i H.264 – Showing TV2 Live
- TVNZ Sports Extra – 576i H.264 – Live
There were also some minor changes to the Kordia Mux with a bunch of additional services loading, although none of them are currently active.
All channels marked KSD are 576i H.264 with MP2 audio
- Reserved 1KSD – Maori TV
- Reserved 2KSD – Parliament TV
- Reserved 3KSD – TVNZ Sport Extra
- Reserved 4KSD – Blank
- Reserved 5KSD – Blank
- Reserved 6KSD – Blank
- Reserved 1KHD – Blank 1080i H.264
- Reserved 1KL – No Service
- Reserved 2KL – No Service
- Concert-FM – No Service
- National-Radio – No Service
- Radio Reserved 1K – No Service
- Radio Reserved 2K – No Service
I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Kordia Mux switch to AAC audio early next week.