Consultation Launched To Improve Take-Up Of Digital Television

A consultation document has been issued to look into ways of improving the take-up of digital television in the UK. The ITC, OFTEL and the OFT have joined together to determine which factors could improve the affordability, accessibility and availability of the medium, as the Government attempts to meet its deadline for a switchover to digital.

Chris Smith has set the date for the switch off of analogue systems between 2006 and 2010 (see Chris Smith Sets Out Digital Agenda). Announcing the digital agenda for Britain, he set two tests to be met before a switch-off would occur. These vowed to make digital available as an accessible and affordable medium to the majority of people.

In order to push the take-up of the medium, the Government has requested the consultation document to enable the market to develop in a way which will “not inhibit competition or set unnecessary barriers for consumers to access new services.”

The regulators will use the results of the consultation to give practical advice to the government on what regulatory or government action might be necessary to improve access to the new medium across the UK. It plans to look at all obstacles preventing consumers from taking up digital services, from those who want only free-to-air channels to those who are interested in a range of platforms.

Views can be sent to the ITC by 16 June.

Independent Television Commission: 020 7306 7743