Published:
09-Jul-07
The UK could get high-definition channels on digital terrestrial television before analogue switch-off, Ofcom has said. At the recent Westminster Media Forum in London, debate focused on whether or not there should be HDTV on DTT and how this should be achieved within the framework of the Digital Switchover process and the Digital Dividend strategy managed by OFCOM.
'Plan A' (Ofcom's initial view in the Digital Dividend Review report published last December) is to allocate all of the 112 Mhz 'digital dividend' UHF spectrum through a technology-neutral, service-neutral auction, and to do so as soon as possible so that the new services can start just after digital switchover. The auction is expected to raise about £5bn.
'Plan B', supported by the BBC and other public service broadcasters, is that 48 Mhz of 112 Mhz should be put aside to allow broadcasters to launch four or five HDTV feeds after digital switch-over, while the rest of the capacity would being auctioned as planned to other users.
Ofcom, however, has now suggested a third way which they hope could stop the row and make all parties happy. Ofcom thinks that extra capacity could be found in order to accommodate four to five HD channels within the current six multiplexes without reducing the number of existing standard definition channels and without additional spectrum use. This could be done by re-organising/optimising the current multiplexes before digital switchover and by using modulation improvement, DVB-T2 and MPEG-4 compression.
Ofcom stated that it is ready to do everything it can to help public service broadcasters 'create an HD presence on the DTT platform using existing spectrum'. The new plan would allow the offer of some HD channels before analogue switch-off and means that the move to HD would initiate an early switch to MPEG-4, thus promoting better spectrum efficiency immediately.
Ofcom is planning to make a final statement on the issue later this year.
Our take...
This new development shows Ofcom's desire to stick to the technology-neutral auction process, still viewed as the best way to maximise general interest and allocate spectrum for new services like mobile TV. At the same time it provides a means of satisfying the infuriated public service broadcasters and viewers' lobbies over HDTV.
Unfortunately public broadcasters are still far from being convinced by this third plan and are sticking to their guns over the favoured 'plan B'. Public service broadcasters argue that they are not convinced by the technicalities of the multiplex restructuring proposals and also don't see how they could lawfully obtain the new capacity as it is held by multiplex operators including National Grid Wireless. Ofcom recognises the new plan would be a complex process requiring full cooperation of all broadcasters and it would cost a bit of money too.
Consumers represented by the 'Voice of the Listener and Viewer' association, are also pressing for free-to-air HDTV on Freeview and urge the Government to introduce a mandated road-map for the consumer electronics industry to encourage the supply of television sets and DTT set-top boxes that MPEG-4 HD-compatible. This would require introduction of a law similar to that recently brought in in France.
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