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07|12|06

Ofcom sets Digital Switchover related licence conditions

Ofcom today confirmed details of Digital Switchover related licence conditions for companies providing digital terrestrial television (DTT), further to a public consultation published in July 2006.

Coverage

DTT, commonly known as Freeview, is transmitted on television multiplexes which use a digital signal to carry a collection of content including television programmes, radio and data services. Ofcom licenses five out of six television multiplexes under the Broadcasting Act 1996. The other television multiplex is operated by the BBC under their Royal Charter agreement and is not licensed by Ofcom.

Today’s statement confirms Ofcom’s view that local communities currently with access to analogue television transmissions should continue to have access to digital terrestrial television services at switchover.

The statement therefore sets out specific conditions to ensure that licensed multiplex operators deliver appropriate levels of digital coverage following switchover. For multiplex licence holders carrying public service TV channels this will mean achieving coverage of 98.5% of the UK population.

Public Service Broadcasting (PSB) multiplex operators

In addition to the BBC Royal Charter multiplex, two other multiplexes will carry public service TV channels (such as BBC1, BBC2, ITV1, Channel 4, Channel 5 and Public Teletext) at switchover. These multiplexes are operated by Digital 3&4 Ltd (jointly owned by Channel 3 and Channel 4) and BBC Free to View Ltd.

To achieve coverage of 98.5% of the UK population both multiplexes will be required to transmit at switchover from all 1,154 sites currently used for analogue television transmissions. Ofcom has also concluded that nine additional transmission relays are necessary to ensure appropriate coverage at switchover.

The list of PSB multiplex transmission sites will be kept under regular review and Ofcom may propose further relays as necessary.

Commercial multiplex operators

SDN Ltd (controlled by ITV plc) and National Grid Wireless Ltd (NGW) operate commercial multiplexes and will be required to transmit at switchover from their current list of 81 sites which achieve around 73% population coverage on analogue.

Commercial multiplex operators must ensure digital coverage does not fall below this 73% level. Efficiencies from switching off the analogue transmissions means the same 81 transmission sites will give around 90% population coverage after switchover.

Ofcom is willing to consider future requests for additional sites. These would be commercial decisions for SDN and NGW, who have indicated they have no plans to increase the number of transmission sites at this stage. Ofcom wants to ensure all stakeholders have a clear view on the coverage obligations of licensees and will update and review the list of commercial multiplex transmission sites as necessary.

All multiplex licence holders will also be required to:

• Follow the Government's indicative timetable for regional Digital Switchover, as set out in September 2005. Ofcom will keep this timetable under regular review;
• Co-operate with other parties involved in Digital Switchover, including Digital UK;
• Report annually to Ofcom on their Digital Switchover related activity;
• Ensure viewers are informed about rescanning, where some viewers’ set top boxes will need to be manually retuned.

See Related Items for the full statement.

Self help relays

Separately today, Ofcom has published a consultation on the proposed licensing regime for digital self help relays. Up to 12,000 households currently receive their TV signal through analogue self help relays. These are funded by small communities outside broadcasters’ analogue network.

Some communities will no longer need a self help relay after switchover. Ofcom is proposing that digital self help licences are made available in areas where problems with reception arise. The deadline for responses is 1 March 2007 - see Related Items for the full document.

Ends.

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