1. SCOPE

This document, describes the operational processes and procedures by which Imparja’s Remote Area Broadcast Services (RABS) are received from the Optus Aurora satellite transmission platform. It will allow system operators, transmission equipment providers, receiver suppliers, and installers to successfully provide the various components of the system secure in the knowledge that an end to end service to the viewer is assured.

2. BACKGROUND

Remote Area Broadcast Services (RABS) are licensed television and radio services delivered to several hundred analogue rebroadcast transmitters in regional and remote parts of Australia, including some offshore islands via Ku-band satellite using DVB compliant digital technology. The RABS broadcasters comprise ABC, SBS, WIN WA, Prime Television (GWN), Southern Cross Broadcasting (SCB) and Imparja. In total these broadcasters deliver 13 television services and a large number of radio services into the remote areas.

The ABC and SBS are delivered as state based services. There are however only two commercial remote licence areas - remote Western Australia which is served by WIN and GWN and remote Central and Eastern Australia (which comprises the remote areas of NSW, TAS, VIC SA QLD and NT)) which is served by SCB (Southern Cross Broadcasting) and Imparja. The table below shows the services available to the remote licence area in each state and the NT. In each case the rest of the state or territory has the same ABC and SBS but different commercial services to the remote area.

While some of these transmitters are owned by the broadcasters, the majority are small, low power systems owned and operated by local groups such as councils, community groups and indigenous communities. There are also a number of low power transmitters and cable distribution systems in mining camps, road gang bases, hotels, campgrounds and the like. The majority of viewers receive their TV signals from these (terrestrial) transmitters. For a list of transmitters and transmission frequencies (channel numbers), click here

To cater for viewers who are out of range of these transmitters the satellite signal is configured so that it can be received “direct to home” on a 1.2 to 1.5M antenna. There are currently approximately 30,000 homes where Direct to Home (DTH) satellite signals are received.

Various other narrowcast services such as public interest programs and programming for remote indigenous community broadcasters under the Broadcasting to Remote Aboriginal Communities (BRACS) scheme are also delivered by this platform. Although these services are not key elements of this document, satellite system providers may wish to address provision of these services by reference to this documentation.

It must be noted that that while RABS are free-to-air services, the satellite signals are encrypted to restrict reception to specific geographic and time zones and in the case of commercial broadcasters to avoid reception in other terrestrial licence areas. . The encryption uses an Irdeto smartcard based conditional access system. In order to view Imparja, direct from satellite, viewers need to install an Optus Aurora smartcard in their satellite receiver and contact Imparja for authorisation. There is no charge for reception of the services.

3. UNAUTHORISED RECEPTION OF IMPARJA’S SATELLITE SERVICES
Imparja is the commercial TV service for remote Central and Eastern Australia. It is unlawful for us to provide a broadcast service outside our licence area and particularly into any capital city and any part of WA. To this end Imparja seeks precise address information from all applicants for reception of its satellite service, and will only activate smartcards for viewers who are within its licence area. The use of a false address or the subsequent use of a smartcard elsewhere will result in immediate disconnection.

However, viewers who are not in our viewing area and are not in WA, who cannot receive commercial television in their area can apply to receive the Imparja signal via satellite.  Imparja Television can 'switch on' ACMA-approved viewers in out-of-area 'blackspots', to allow reception of our commercial broadcast service in areas otherwise not in our viewing region. A handling fee of $55.00 inclusive of GST to cover the administration costs involved in this process will be charged to provide this facility. See the approvals process below for more details and application forms.

We are aware of dealers supplying equipment to viewers to enable reception of Imparja’s signals without the need to contact us and be “switched on”. These include so called “gold cards” and “cardless” receivers. Anyone using (or thinking of using) or supplying such equipment needs to be aware that Imparja regularly takes measures to disable such unauthorised reception. In particular we strongly advise against replacing any card or “cardless equipment” recently blacked out by any other form of unauthorised access. The recent security measures were only the start of an ongoing process to disable such un-authorised reception and the ONLY way to ensure ongoing reception of Imparja is via an authorised Optus smartcard.

In addition, the recent amendments introduced under the US Free trade Agreement Implementation act 2004 and Copyright Legislation Amendment Act 2004 which came into force on 1 January 2005, included both criminal and civil actions we can take against people who use an unauthorised decoding device to gain access to our encoded signal.  It is also a criminal offence under part Vii of the Copyright Act 1968 to manufacture or trade in such equipment.

Imparja holds the broadcast rights to its program content for its licence area. The use of an unauthorised or ‘hacked smartcard” to receive Imparja and subsequently to display it in a public place such as a pub, club or Tavern is a breach of Imparja’s copyright.

We are also aware of a number of organisations providing so called "Free to Air" satellite receiving equipment to hotels, pubs and clubs in capital city and regional locations, for the purpose of displaying sports events which are otherwise not available on the "local" free to air TV channels. Imparja wishes to inform organisations who are supplying or using such equipment that this is not permitted.

Imparja reserves all its rights in respect of any such actions and will not hesitate to take any steps necessary up to and including seeking injunctions and damages where we are made aware of such unlawful actions. Imparja has, and will continue to adopt technical and legal measures to prevent unauthorised reception of its signal.

If you have any queries on this matter please contact Imparja Television on 08 8950 1411 or email us on This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

4. RECEIVER APPROVALS
4.1 The “Aurora Ready” concept
RABS are Free To Air TV services and provision of the actual satellite receivers for DTH viewers and self help re-transmission sites is not a direct broadcaster responsibility. As such viewers are free to purchase any type of satellite receiver. It is necessary however for equipment suppliers and viewers to be assured that their equipment receives, and will continue to receive the RABS satellite broadcasts.

Imparja therefore strongly recommends that viewers purchase only receivers certified as “Aurora Ready” . The receiver system specification defines the essential characteristics of a receive system including dish size, cable and LNB. It also defines the technical requirements for a receiver to be “accredited”. This implies that a receiver has been certified by the supplier as being compatible with the satellite transmission system. The equipment supplier will also be required to confirm that they have appropriate maintenance infrastructure in place, and that equipment will be supported for a minimum period of 5 years.

4.2 Support Processes
For receivers accredited as Aurora Ready the receiver supplier, broadcasters and the system operator will work together to ensure that services continue to be successfully received. The broadcasters will provide support for viewers who use accredited equipment via helpline/authorisation lines, and the Aurora platform operator will take steps to maintain continuity of service to users of Aurora ready receivers. Where a service is not received due to inherent problems with the receiver, responsibility for restoring services rests with the receiver supplier (who may for example need to arrange appropriate software or hardware upgrades). If the failure is the result of changes in the that take the system outside the capabilities of an accredited receiver then responsibility for a solution will rest with the platform operator, or the broadcaster whose equipment is responsible for the out of specification performance. Where service re-arrangements such as transponder frequencies, multiplex configurations software upgrades, or additions/deletions of service are performed the tests will be performed in advance of any changes to ensure that service delivery to Aurora Ready decoders are not affected. Where effects are unavoidable the broadcasters and the service provider will jointly develop and implement strategies to minimise these.

Note: this support is only for the deliver of services to accredited receivers which are still operating in accordance with the manufacturers’ specifications. There is no suggestion that the supplier or service provider, will support or repair individual items of equipment which are faulty other than under normal warranty and ongoing maintenance arrangements between supplier and purchaser.

4.3 Benefits to Viewers and Suppliers
The ongoing reception of services on an accredited receiver which is working to its specification and in accordance with this operational practice will be subject to support of the broadcasters the receiver supplier and the platform operator. By contrast non accredited equipment may be subject to intermittent or permanent loss of service Suppliers and viewers have no assurance that any non-accredited receiver will continue to receive RABS services, or that equipment will operate correctly following service re-configurations, under anomalous reception or mains supply arrangements. Reception difficulties on non accredited equipment will be the responsibility of the owner of the receiver to solve and broadcasters and service providers will be under no obligation to assist.

5. RECEIVER AND SMARTCARD, DISTRIBUTION AND OWNERSHIP
5.1 Purchase of receivers and smartcards
The Retail Model (or horizontal market) will apply for the supply of receive equipment suitable for Aurora services, the essence of which is that each IRD is bought (or leased or obtained by some other suitable arrangement) from a party other that the broadcaster or platform provider. It is important that each end-user should have only a single smartcard (per IRD).A second smartcard (per IRD) is likely to result in difficulty of maintaining a service (i.e. keeping it updated over the air).

5.2 Smartcard Distribution
Smartcards will be ordered from the manufacturer by Optus and supplied on request to any distributor at a charge that defrays Optus’ costs. Dealers may make their own charge to supply the card (individually or as part of a total charge for the IRD and Smartcard) at whatever cost they choose. In this way end users will be able to acquire the smartcard along with the IRD from retail outlets. Note that the charge is for the supply of the smartcard. Actual ownership of the smartcard rests with Optus. If a smartcard becomes faulty in normal operation it will be replaced at no cost. A replacement charge will apply in the case of smartcard loss or damage.

5.3 Support Services
Where the user’s IRD is designated as Aurora Ready, the usual support services for the IRD and smartcard will apply. The responsibility of ensuring that the user’s IRD is Aurora Ready rests with the dealer. Where the user’s IRD is not an Aurora Ready, the purchase is at the end-users risk and here is no assurance that Aurora services will continue to be successfully delivered via the IRD.

6. Smartcard Authorisation, End User Registration and Entitlements
6.1 Initial Smartcard Authorisation
Smartcards will be issued ‘cold’, that is, with no entitlements. ABC and SBS are available to viewers anywhere in the country. For reception of commercial services viewers will need to indicate that their location is within the licence area of the broadcaster concerned.

To receive ongoing entitlements, the end user (or installer acting on their behalf) must first contact Optus as below. The information to be supplied by the end user is smartcard number, end user name, address, postcode, contact telephone number, services required, purpose of decoder (e.g. domestic reception, community re-transmission etc), the type of decoder in use and the supplier. Once Optus have initialised the card Imparja can then arrange for our services to be activated.

6.2 Contact with Optus & Imparja 
The contact with Optus for initial activation of Aurora smartcards is the Optus SSS. The best way to do this is to complete the Aurora Smartcard Activation Request Form (Aurora Smartcard Activation Request Form (PDF) ) and email to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or fax to 1300 555 221.

You can email Imparja directly at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or fax 08 8953 0322. .

6.3 Imparja Activation
Imparja Television (and Southern Cross Television Central -formerly Seven Central-) are commercial broadcasters licensed by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) to transmit only to the TV1 licence area which encompasses designated areas of remote and regional central and eastern Australia. If, according to the postal address information passed on to us by Optus, we can confirm that an applicant within this licence area, we will automatically approve the application and switch on Imparja.

A map of this licence area can be viewed by  clicking here.

1. Leave the set top box connected to power and the receiving antenna.
2. The set top box may be left in the standby mode if not in use. This enables the set top box to receive any updates to system information as they occur.
   
   Failure to follow this practice may result in loss of service for a period, until the box receives the latest updated information. This problem is most likely to occur if you reactivate your box after a lengthy period of disconnection.
   
   Users need to be aware of the effects of leaving a smartcard out of a working receiver.
   
   Version 1.4 smartcards (4000 serial numbers) require regular access to the Aurora multiplex in order to work properly. If a smartcard is removed from a receiver, or a receiver is switched off for a period of more than 2 or 3 weeks, it may not work immediately when the receiver is switched on again, taking several hours to re-achieve authorisation.
   In the event of a fault or problem with a service, end users (DTH or re-transmission site operators) should contact the broadcaster or equipment supplier concerned. For information it is suggested that prior to contacting the broadcaster or equipment supplier, the end user should take the following steps-