Contrary to positive reports on the speed of digital television (DTV) take-up in homes across the US, the Digital Transition Coalition (DTC) has spoken out and said ‘DTV has a long distance to go before it becomes a reality.’
The DTC, which was formed by a wide range of companies and public interest groups who were frustrated by the slow progress of the digital transition, said that tens of millions of Americans are still unable to receive a single local network station in digital mode, with around 39 million households not receiving a complete digital network service.
George Landrith, a member of DTC said: “The transition to digital telvision is behind schedule and continues to exclude millions of Americans – especially those in rural areas. This is happening despite the fact that the nation’s broadcasters were supposed to be broadcasting their DTV service at full power by 2002.”
The DTC’s findings were based on research carried out by the Federal Communications Communication, which showed current coverage of digital signals across the US.
Here in the UK, many also feel that the government isn’t doing enough to ensure that the analogue signal is switched-off by the target date of 2010. Media commentator, Ray Snoddy, said at the Edinburgh Television Festival, that he wouldn’t bet on an digital switch-over by 2012, never mind 2010, unless the government is prepared to invest money in to making this happen (see ‘I Wouldn’t Bet On Analogue Switch-Off’, Says Snoddy).
However, Ofcom, the government’s media regulator, issued a blue-print last month, outlining the steps that have to be taken to ensure that UK broadcasters are ready for the switch-over, which could happen as early as 2007, said the report (see Ofcom Puts Steps In Place For Early Digital Swith-Over).
Related Links
