Government Assures BBC And ITV’s Digital Future
The Government has today published its Policy Document on Digital Broadcasting to follow on from the BBC White Paper and Media Ownership proposals. Virginia Bottomley, announcing the document, said, “Between them these three documents set out the Government’s policies for broadcasting into the twenty-first century.”
The proposal guarantees that the existing broadcasters, (BBC, ITV, C4 and C5 when it is established), will be offered access to digital frequencies, as will both national and local radio stations.
The main proposals are:
* The initial availability of six frequency channels, or ‘multiplexes’ for digital terrestrial television, each able to carry at least three television channels, with potential coverage ranging from 60-70% to over 90% of the UK population
* Guaranteed digital access to existing broadcasters, but at least 80% of the programmes broadcast on existing analogue channels must also be broadcast on the equivalent digital services.
* Seven radio frequency channels (‘multiplexes’), each with capacity to offer at least six digital stereo programme services. One of these has already been allocated to the BBC for its national services; these start broadcasting next month. Another will be allocated for independent national radio; four channels will be reserved for local radio services.
* The ITC and Radio Authority will award licences to operate multiplexes rather than individual channels. The payments to the Exchequer by multiplex operators will be waived for the first licence period to enable operations to become profitable. The first licences will be issued for a period of 12 years.
* Individual broadcasters will require broadcasting licences from the ITC or RA to ensure consumer protection.
* A maximum of 10% of the available digital terrestrial capacity will be allowed for non-broadcast, telecommunications or interactive services.
* The Government will review the existing licensing arrangements for independent national radio
* The principles of ownership regulation for digital services will remain largely unchanged, but in recognition of the potentially larger number of channels available, companies will be able to control any number of digital terrestrial television licences subject to a ceiling of 25% of the available digital terrestrial capacity – provided they remain within the limit of a 15% share of the total television audience.
Virginia Bottomley commented, “Our proposals are designed to help UK manufacturers and producers compete at home and overseas, by providing a framework which will help manufacturing industry plan for the introduction of digital receivers. The proposals make best use of the available spectrum, and ensure that there is a smooth transition, in the longer term and subject to market development, from analogue to digital, freeing up further frequency spectrum for other consumer uses.” Comments on the proposals must be submitted by Friday 6 October 1995.
Digital television receivers could take two forms; separate “set top boxes” to allow existing sets to receive digital broadcasts, or new digital sets, which would also be able to receive analogue services. Set top boxes are expected to be on the market first, perhaps by mid-1997.