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Section 4

The national and regional dimension

4.1 Ofcom considers it is important that the benefits of digital TV are extended throughout the UK and are not just confined to metropolitan areas. One of the roles Parliament gave Ofcom was to secure the availability of a wide range of electronic communications services throughout the UK. Ofcom has established separate advisory committees for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to provide advice on the whole breadth its communications responsibilities and maintains an office with a senior member of staff in each nation. The advisory committees will be important in monitoring progress towards digital switchover as it affects the nations and regions of the UK.

4.2 Take-up of digital TV in mid-2003 varied across UK regions from a digital adoption rate of 37 per cent in the South West ITV region to 56 per cent penetration in the Wales ITV region. Chart 4.1 shows the take-up rate in different regions. Since adoption grew strongly at the end of the year after this survey, most regions in Chart 4.1 have penetration rates below 50 per cent. Other data indicates that since this data was collected, take-up has added five or six percentage points to each area.

Chart 4.1: Digital penetration by ITV region - mid 2003

Source: BARB establishment survey

4.3 Large parts of the UK, predominantly rural areas, are currently unable to receive DTT. Chart 4.2 shows the gaps in current coverage which cannot be filled unless new transmitters are converted to digital and the power levels of the signal are increased, both of which depend on digital switchover. Specific DTT coverage problems exist in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland and also the upland areas England and Wales. In Northern Ireland, only three transmitters - Divis, Limavady and Brougher Mountains - broadcast the DTT signal, limiting its coverage and DTT take-up significantly.

Chart 4.2: The coverage of the current digital terrestrial signal

Source: BBC and ITC

4.4 After switchover, the DTT signal can be boosted. Chart 4.3 shows the expected coverage of the BBC digital terrestrial service across the UK after switchover. It should be noted that the switchover plan is still under development and that a final agreement on the number of sites to be adopted and therefore extent of digital coverage has not yet been reached. However, Chart 4.3 shows that the coverage is expected to be improved significantly and in many rural areas compares favourably with the coverage of the current analogue signal shown in Chart 4.4.

Chart 4.3: The expected coverage of the BBC DTT signal after switchover

Source: Ofcom

4.5 Chart 4.4 shows the current analogue coverage map for BBC1 across the UK. It shows that in many rural areas, particularly in Scotland and Wales, coverage is often marginal. Few households live in these areas, however. General problems include the upland areas of the UK. Specific local difficulties also exist, such as the parts of Edinburgh around Corstorphine Hill, which do not receive a good analogue signal.

Chart 4.4: The coverage of the current analogue BBC1 signal

Source: Ofcom

4.6 DTT is only one route to digital TV. Chart 4.5 shows the coverage of the digital satellite service. It shows that the satellite signal is available to almost everyone in the country, subject to a lack of coverage in areas where a poor line of sight to the satellite exists, such as the north coast of Devon. Satellite reception is also subject to practical limitations such as planning restrictions, whether individual flats have a south facing aspect, and whether the line of sight to the satellite is obstructed by large office blocks for some city centre homes. Research carried out by the ITC indicated that between 96 and 98 per cent of households within the shaded area are able to receive digital satellite services via a dish mounted on their roof.

Chart 4.5: The coverage of the digital satellite signal

Source: Ofcom

4.7 Chart 4.6 shows the areas within which the cable companies were allocated franchises and within which they operate their cable networks served by digital cable services. It should be noted that the cable companies have not fully built out their cable networks within these areas. Cable TV services are available to over half the population, although virtually all of these are in urban areas.

Chart 4.6: Cable franchise areas in the UK

Source: Ofcom

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