Digital UK Begins Consultation on Usage of BBC Three Slot

LONDON: Digital UK, which manages the logical channel number (LCN) listings for DTT/Freeview, has launched a consultation about what to do with BBC Three's channel position once the service moves online.

With the BBC Trust's decision to transition BBC Three to an online-only service, the SD and HD linear services will be removed from the DTT platform and create vacancies for LCN 7 and LCN 105, respectively.

As for the slot currently occupied by BBC Three HD, Digital UK offers the position to the public service channel at the next lowest LCN in the HD genre.

As for the LCN 7 position, Digital UK has identified two options. One is for all public service channels at LCNs higher than 7 (in the general-entertainment genre) to move down. The benefit is that all pubcasters could move to lower LCNs and maintain their relative position in the general-entertainment space. It also improves the prominence for local TV in Scotland and Wales. The drawback is that channel and viewer disruptions are likely to be increased, and that all 23 public service stations would need to change their branding and marketing.

The other option is for Scotland's BBC Alba and Wales' Channel 4 to move up one position to 7. Then, channel 8 could be used for local TV in Scotland and Wales. The benefit is that all local channels would be allocated the same LCN irrespective of geography, giving viewers across the U.K. access to more local content from Scotland and Wales. Channel and viewer disruption would be less than if option one was adopted. Therefore, Digital UK's recommendation is to go with option two.

No date has been set yet for the switch, but Digital UK is calling for responses to the proposals to be in by January 22.