31 March 2004
The
Cheif Executive of Ofcom, the independent regulator for the UK
communications industries, has said that Government and industry cannot
rely on market forces alone to deliver near-universal switchover from
analogue to digital broadcasting in television. In a speech to the
Westminster Media Forum, Mr Stephen Carter revealed some of the key
findings of Ofcom's report to the Secretary of State for Culture, Media
and Sport on the prospects for digital switchover. Mr Carter said: "Digital
television in Britain has been one of the most successful market-led
technologies ever. Our assessment is that the market alone will deliver
somewhere between 75-85% penetration. However, if unaided, it will then
stall."
The report concludes that switchover is both desirable and
achievable, provided that Government is in a position to give greater
certainty over the timing of switchover. Its key recommendations:
- Greater progress towards cross-party political support for digital switchover.
- The creation of a new autonomous body, a "SwitchCo" with
representation from Government, industry and regulator but independent
of all parties, with responsibility for achieving switchover by a
specified date.
- The BBC Charter Review process should be used as an opportunity to
put the BBC's formal commitment to digital switchover on the same
footing as other terrestrial broadcasters.
- The BBC's commitment to digital switchover should be platform-neutral.
- Access to free-to-view digital TV through satellite should be
improved to encourage take-up of digital services prior to switchover.
Ofcom Website
