Retuning Problems Continue For C5

The British Retail Consortium, which represents 90% of the retail industry, has written to the ITC and the Department of National Heritage expressing concern at the retuning task facing Channel 5 before its launch in 1997.

The BRC is particularly worried about the limited two-days training which 7,000 unskilled people will be given to retune an estimated 10 million video recorders. Under the ITC licence rules, C5B must retune at least 90% of those video recorders which otherwise would interfere in the reception of the new station.

These latest comments regarding the retuning task add to the criticism which has already dogged this aspect of the last new terrestrial TV channel. The pilot retuning scheme launched in Surrey in June and received heavy criticism for being slow, costly and inefficient *Channel 5 Faces Retune Problems: many believe these are the problems which will face the nation-wide programme which begins shortly.

A row is also brewing between C5B and the Department of Trade and Industry over the use of channel 35. As reported on Newsline *ITC Supports Channel 5 Plan, C5B submitted a proposal to the DTI suggesting it use the defunct channel 35 to broadcast to the 3.7 million people which otherwise would not be able to receive a clear signal. The DTI remains resistant to this proposal, arguing that the channel may be needed to transmit portable digital TV services. A meeting is scheduled this week between David Elstein, of C5B, and technology minister Ian Taylor, in an attempt to resolve the differences.

*MediaTel subscribers only

C5B: 0171 497 5225 BRC: 0171 371 5185