New Broadcasting Minister, Lord McIntosh, claims the switch to digital TV will be a “win-win” situation, but has admitted the Government is unclear on the potential uses for the analogue spectrum.
Speaking at yesterday’s Westminster Media Forum, McIntosh defended plans to go ahead with with the conversion to digital TV by the current 2006/2010 deadline, but admitted it might be “premature” to predict what benefits the freed up analogue spectrum would bring.
Apart from meaning more money for the Treasury, McIntosh explained the released spectrum would free up valuable frequencies for even more TV channels and a range of other services. He said: “The opportunity to work the spectrum even harder will provide a major boost to the economy and, hopefully, jobs in the spectrum using industries.”
However he admitted: “It might be premature to be definitive about likely uses for the freed up spectrum given the current pace at which markets and technologies are moving.”
McIntosh, who was making his first appearance as Broadcasting Minister since replacing Kim Howells last week, insisted that many had been convinced by the benefits of digital television, but acknowledged that a large proportion of the population were still unaware of its advantages.
He went on to announce that the Government would be inviting consumer organisations, including the Consumer’s Association and the National Consumer Council, to form an expert group to ensure the public has a say in the progress towards the digital switchover.
The Minister said: “We have made it clear from the start that the interests, needs and concerns of consumers are at the heart of our plans to switch to digital television. We cannot simply shift from a criteria-based approach to the announcement of a firm date, without knowing whether the interests of the consumers are fully safeguarded.”
He added: “The [Digital Television Expert] Group will ensure that the public’s concerns are a continuing, integral part of the decision-making process. I look forward to listening to their views on the issues that matter to viewers on the switch to digital television.”
The Government is intent on pushing ahead with its plan to switch off the analogue signal by the end of this decade and E-Commerce Minister, Stephen Timms, recently announced that the success of Freeview would make this achievable (see Analogue TV Switch-Off Target Will Be Met, Says Timms).
