Too Early For Analogue Switch-Off Date, Says ITC

It is too early to set a date for the switch-off of analogue television according to the Independent Television Commission (ITC), which issued its response to the government’s Television: the Digital Future consultation today.

The ITC says that, “if viewers’ expectations are to be met and social exclusion is to be avoided, digital television needs to maintain both the near-universal availability of analogue transmissions and the greatly valued regional services.” Along with ITV (see Analogue Shutdown Date Should Be Announced Within 2 Years Of Digital, Says ITV), the Commission believes that only digital terrestrial television (DTT) can satisfy these criteria.

Whilst ITV believes that a switch-off date should be decided on as soon as possible (within two years of the launch of DTT), the ITC says that there is no advantage in setting a target date now when viewers’ attitudes to digital are untested. However, the criteria for analogue switch-off should be set now, according to the watchdog.

Independent Television Commission: 0171 255 3000