Government Launches Digital TV Action Plan
The Government has launched a Digital TV Action Plan which it says will help to increase the quality, reliability and geographical coverage of digital TV, as well as making switchover possible by the 2006-2010 deadline.
The plan was outlined today by Douglas Alexander, e-commerce minister and Kim Howells, broadcasting minister, and includes the launch of a pre-Christmas publicity campaign to increase the knowledge of retailers and consumers.
Howells said: “These plans should help to increase the momentum in digital TV development both for the broadcasting industry and the viewers at home.”
Other features of the plan include boosting the power of terrestrial digital TV signals to improve quality and reliability and extending geographical coverage so that 72% of all households have potential access to all channels and 84% can access digital channels from BBC, ITV and Channel4.
A digital TV “Team Leader” is to be appointed to act as a focal point for work on the platform and a government website providing information on the subject has been launched, www.digitaltv.culture.gov.uk
This new effort from the government to move the digital revolution forward should be welcomed by the industry, which has been calling for action for some time (see ONdigital Chief Calls For Joint Effort In Digital TV Promotion). The e-commerce minister admitted today that, “Both Government and industry have roles to play in advancing digital TV. Today’s announcement marks the next step by the Government.”
One issue which digital broadcasters have pressed for action on is that of manufacturers continuing to sell analogue television sets, rather than pushing those with integrated digital recievers. As the manufacturers are not legally obliged to stop selling analogue sets in favour of digitally integrated ones, and there is still consumer demand for the cheaper analogue sets, there is little impetus for change in this respect. The Government action promised on this in the Action Plan runs as far as a planned report which will “Comprehensively investigate with industry and European Commission issues surrounding the transition to exclusive sales of integrated digital TVs.” This is due during the final quarter of this year, but further action following this is not specified.
DCMS: 020 7211 6200 www.culture.gov.uk
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