Digital terrestrial television in Australia commenced on 1 January 2001 in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth using DVB-T standards. The phase out of analogue PAL transmissions began on 30 June 2010 and was completed by 10 December 2013.
Digital terrestrial television brought a number of enhancements over the previous analogue television, primarily higher-quality picture and sound, as well as datacasting and multi-view services such as video program guides, high definition, and now-and-next program information. There are a number of additional channels, datacasting, as well as high definition services, available to digital terrestrial television viewers in Australia. Digital-only content is subject to availability and differs greatly in various television markets.
Although approximately 96% of the population had access to at least one digital service,[1] take up was initially sluggish, with only 28% of Australia's 7.8 million households having adopted free-to-air digital television by March 2007.[2] However, by August 2010, 75% of Australian households had made the switch.[3] Analogue transmissions began to be phased out in 2010, and ceased to be available nationwide by the end of 2013.
From 2009, the free-to-air digital television platform has been promoted under the Freeview brand name.