Satellite launches TV without rain fade

Farewell to rain fade, two minutes before the end of a crucial test match - and hello, Optus D1, more channels and high-definition television.

The new Optus D1 satellite is due to launch into orbit this weekend from French Guyana, and will provide Sky TV with more power, meaning more channels and less chance of rain fade.

TVNZ's current limited digital service will also transfer to the new satellite and Optus D1 will house the new free-to-air digital service, Freeview, which so far includes TVNZ, TV3 owner CanWest, the Racing Board, Radio New Zealand and Maori TV.

Sky spokesman Tony O'Brien said the change to Optus D1 from the old Optus B1 would take place in about four weeks, after the satellite was tested in orbit.

"In essence, it means greater capacity, so there will be more services and channels. Secondly, because the satellite is more powerful, it means less rain fade or loss of signal because of the weather."

The Optus D1 satellite will increase Sky's channel capacity by 25 per cent and gives the company the chance to add further channels and services in future. It currently has 85 channels, including audio and interactive.

Future services would include high-definition programming by 2008.

The loss of coverage due to weather was already "very rare" on Optus B1.

"If we've had a weather bomb in Auckland, you've got 40 per cent of New Zealand's population in the one spot. So of course rain fade is going to seem worse than it is." On other occasions, the "rain fade" message was programmed to come up automatically when the signal was interrupted for reasons such as maintenance.

Mr O'Brien said the transition of Sky's signal from Optus B1 to Optus D1 should be "seamless" and viewers were unlikely to notice it.

The new satellite will also host up to 18 channels for Freeview broadcasters, expected to be launched either late this year or early next year. Broadcasters are yet to announce what new channels will be on offer.

If it gets sufficient government funding, TVNZ is widely expected to have two new channels, including a 24-hour news channel, by the time digital television is launched.

CanWest - owner of TV3, C4 and RadioWorks - plans to launch two additional channels by 2008.