Freeview Boosts Prospect Of Analogue Switch Off

The Government’s plan to switch off the analogue signal by the 2010 deadline has received a boost with news that over one million people have requested information on the new digital terrestrial platform, Freeview.

According to the Freeview consortium, which comprises BBC, BSkyB and Crown Castle, around 400,000 calls have been made to the Freeview information line and 600,000 unique users have visited the platform’s website, www.freeview.co.uk, in the month since its launch (see BBC Revives Digital Terrestrial TV With Freeview Launch).

Reports suggest that heavy promotional activity has encouraged between 65,000 and 100,000 viewers to buy the £99 Freeview reviewer, which offers unlimited access to up to 30 free-to-air TV channels, as well as a range of digital radio stations and interactive services (see BBC And BSkyB Name Free-To-Air DTT Service).

Commenting on the initial success of the Freeview platform, the BBC’s director of marketing and communications, Andy Duncan, said: “Of course it’s early days yet, but we’re delighted that the first signs for Freeview are so positive.”

Peter Abery, president and managing director of Crown Castle, added: “It’s very encouraging to see that the Freeview channel package is proving attractive and is generating significant interest in digital television.”

Freeview is aimed at the section of the population that has not yet subscribed to digital satellite TV. Its success will be vital to the Government’s plans to sell off the analogue spectrum, which will only become possible when 95% of viewers have access to digital TV.

BBC: 020 8743 8000 www.bbc.co.uk BSkyB: 020 7705 3000 www.sky.com Crown Castle: 01635 872011 www.crowncastle.com

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