UK digital switchover exec chosen to lead Digital Australia
Andrew Townend - who since 2005 has been the chief operating officer of Digital UK, the body coordinating the switchover to digital television in the United Kingdom - has been appointed as the executive director of Digital Australia.
“DCITA minister, Senator
Helen Coonan said that Digital Australia will work with industry to drive the move to digital television over the next few years. “I warmly welcome the appointment of Mr Townend. His background in broadcasting and experience as a leader of the digital switchover process in the United Kingdom will be invaluable to Australia’s achievement of digital switchover.”
In the UK, already 46 percent of households receive free to air digital television with the first switchover to occur in October this year.
The creation of Digital Australia was announced in November last year. It will be based in Sydney. Digital Australia’s objectives include to:
• educate Australians in the benefits of digital television in order to accelerate take-up;
• identify sections of the community which may have special needs and co-ordinate efforts to meet those needs;
• harness the expertise and co-ordinate the diverse interests of industry in the switchover process; and
