The future of digital television has again been thrown into question with the release of a new report claiming that only half of the UK population will be able to receive the medium through their existing aerials.
Research carried out by
Logica on behalf of the
ITC indicates that the digital TV signal is currently not strong enough to reach the majority of UK households. There are plans to boost the signal but even these measures are deemed insufficient to meet the Government’s target of having 95% of the population switched over to digital before the analogue signal is turned off.
The legacy of ITV Digital One of the predicaments faced by ITV Digital was variable picture quality in parts of the country and certain atmospheric conditions regularly caused the signal to freeze or break up. This is thought to have contributed to the high churn rate experienced by the pay-TV operator. Approximately one in four of ITV Digital’s customers were cancelling their subscription in the months leading up to the company’s demise.
Final applications are due in this Friday for the three ITC licenses vacated by ITV Digital. The regulator has already indicated that it would be willing to consider a reduction in the number of channels available to viewers if this results in a better television reception.
The ITC’s findings are bound to encourage the body of support calling for the Government’s analogue switch-off target of 2006-2010 to be abandoned. A recent report from the Informa Media Group predicted that digital TV penetration will have reached only 64% by the end of the decade (see Government Switch-Off Target Cannot Be Met, Says Informa Media Group).
Mapping the way ahead A national conference, ‘Making Digital Relevant’ takes place today in Brighton. Delegates will debate proposals intended to encourage digital take-up in the UK and there will be a keynote speech from Stephen Timms, the minister responsible for communications and information.
“2002 is the year in which digital television take-up has approached 40% of all UK homes, while some of its pioneers have taken the strain,” said ITC chief executive, Patricia Hodgson.
“Customer loyalty is key to a prosperous future for digital. The priority now is to stabilise the market, engage consumers and make digital relevant to those thinking about making the switch.”
