Ofcom to Facilitate DTT Upgrade

LONDON, April 4: British
viewers can expect up to four free high-definition channels on the Freeview
digital terrestrial television platform, as part of a technology upgrade that
is being facilitated by media regulator Ofcom.

Ofcom announced that
viewers should be able to receive up to four new HD channels as digital
switchover is completed in the U.K. in 2012, with the first three available as
switchover takes place in the Granada and subsequent regions from 2009.

Ofcom is now seeking an
order under the Communications Act 2003 from the British government that would
amend the Broadcasting Act 1996 to facilitate the upgrade. The enhancements
will increase the capacity of DTT by around 20 percent.

Ofcom has proposed
clearing one of the three multiplexes currently used for public-service
broadcasting. The existing channels on this multiplex will be moved to use
spare capacity on the other multiplexes. Once this is complete, Multiplex B
will be upgraded to use new technologies and standards. The extra capacity on
the reorganized multiplex will allow broadcasters to introduce new services,
including HD channels. To achieve this, one of the slots on the multiplex will
remain for the BBC Trust to oversee. It is expected that this will be used to
broadcast the BBC high-definition channel. The other three slots will be
awarded to commercial public-service broadcasters (ITV, Channel 4, Five and
S4C) through a competitive bidding process to be run by Ofcom.

Ed Richards, Ofcom’s chief
executive, said: “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to upgrade digital
terrestrial television. It offers benefits for broadcasters, who will be able
to launch new services without using any new spectrum, and viewers, who will
have access to new channels and services on free to air.”

—By Mansha Daswani