- Above: One of the oldest TV entries
Image courtesy of Going Digital
- Above: One of the oldest TV entries
Image courtesy of Going Digital
- Above: One of the oldest TV entries
Image courtesy of Going Digital
- Above: One of the oldest TV entries
Image courtesy of Going Digital
- Above: One of the oldest TV entries
Image courtesy of Going Digital
- Above: One of the oldest TV entries
Image courtesy of Going Digital
A competition to find New Zealand’s oldest telly has received almost 300 entries from Invercargill to Whangarei, including 13 from the Southland region.
The Oldest Telly competition, part of a campaign by Going Digital to raise awareness of the switchover to digital television, encouraged New Zealanders to rummage through their garages or wardrobes for their oldest working TV set. The competition closed on Wednesday 25 May and an expert judging panel has now been tasked with identifying the winning set, which will then be converted to digital live on TV next month.
Greg Harford, national manager of Going Digital: “We’ve been delighted with the number of entries and the level of interest shown in the competition. New Zealanders have searched far and wide for some of the earliest televisions and it’s been fascinating to hear their stories".
“Now we’re looking forward to showing New Zealand that almost every TV set can go digital, including those with only wires for aerials".
“Making New Zealand’s oldest working television go digital will prove to viewers that there is no need to go out and purchase a new TV.”
The winner of the competition will receive a home theatre system including a 46-inch Sony television with an in-built Freeview receiver and internet video.
New Zealand will make the switch, region by region, by November 2013, beginning with Hawke’s Bay and the West Coast in September 2012. Households that have Freeview or Sky are already watching digital TV and do not need to do anything, unless they have other sets which have not gone digital. Other viewers do not need to buy a new television to go digital, but may need to buy a set-top box and possibly a new aerial or satellite dish depending on what equipment they currently have and where they live.
The Going Digital campaign provides a website, www.goingdigital.co.nz and a free-phone helpline, 0800 838 800, so people can get the information and advice they need about switching to digital TV.
