Kim Howells, the new minister for broadcasting, film and tourism, has questioned whether the original time scale for the analogue switch-off is achievable. According to an interview in the Financial Times this morning, Howells believes that there are too many people dependent on television for their entertainment to rush the decision.
Also in the interview, Howells admitted that there is a tendency within Government to delay difficult decisions. He suggested Christmas as a date for publication of the draft Communications Bill.
On the question of ONdigital’s present difficulties (see Job Losses Expected As ITV Restructures), he argued that Sky has achieved what it has by taking risks and that ONdigital would have to market its way out of the situation.
