Ofcom DTT Technology Upgrade To Give Viewers Greater Channel Choice
Ofcom has revealed it is to facilitate a major technology upgrade of Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT), in order to enable UK viewers to have greater access to more channels and HD programming.
The changes mean that viewers using new receiving equipment should be able to get up to four new high definition channels as digital switchover is completed in the UK in 2012, with the first three available as switchover takes place in the Granada and subsequent regions from 2009.
Ofcom says the upgrade can take place without the loss of existing television services currently available to viewers on DTT.
The watchdog believes that the process will deliver major benefits for viewers and broadcasters, with viewers able to access an array of new channels and services through their television aerials and new HD set-top boxes, and broadcasters able to deliver a greater range of services.
Switchover will be a key factor in making these new services available on DTT, as it will allow the capacity of DTT to increase by about 20%.
Compression technology will also be needed to minimise the data capacity required to transmit video and audio services that are broadcast digitally. The latest compression standard, called MPEG-4, is expected to be up to twice as efficient as the current MPEG-2 standard.
A new European transmission standard, called DVB-T2, will also be required to increase capacity by at least 30%.
Taken together, these advances and the clearing and reorganising of public service multiplexes will free-up capacity for new services and allow for the reorganisation of how services are broadcast on the multiplexes.
The extra capacity on the reorganised multiplex will allow broadcasters to introduce new and innovative services, including HD channels.
To achieve this, one of the slots on the multiplex will remain for the BBC Trust to oversee. It is expected that this will be used to broadcast the BBC high definition channel. The other three slots will be awarded to commercial public service broadcasters (ITV, Channel 4, Five, Welsh channel S4C) through a competitive bidding process to be run by Ofcom.
Applications for each individual slot will be judged on three main criteria: efficient use of the spectrum; contribution to public service broadcasting; and contribution to the range and diversity of television services in the UK.
Viewers wishing to access the new services will need to buy equipment that is compatible with the new technologies, such as a new set-top-box.
A decision on the successful licensees will be taken later in the summer.
Ed Richards, Ofcom chief executive, said: “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to upgrade digital terrestrial television. It offers benefits for broadcasters – who will be able to launch new services without using any new spectrum – and viewers – who will have access to new channels and services on free to air.”
Today’s Ofcom announcement concludes a consultation process on the Freeview HD proposals which was begun last November. They still require government approval to go ahead (see Ofcom Has Plans Ready For Four Freeview HD Channels).
Ofcom: 020 7981 3040 www.ofcom.org.uk