[Community Television] Ofcom could back Sky rival

[Michelle McGuire]

Ofcom could back Sky rival
Conor Dignam
05 April 2004 10:21

Ofcom will today outline a radical package of proposals to turn the 
idea of analogue switch off into a reality - including the possible 
launch of FreeSat - a non-subscription satellite service to rival Sky.

Ofcom’s proposals for 23 steps that must be taken to achieve switchover 
to digital broadcasting, are contained in a report Driving Digital 
Switchover that has been sent to media secretary Tessa Jowell.

The communications watchdog demands:

+  A timetable that will allow the industry to start planning for the 
switch-off at the end of 2010.

+ Switchover should be phased in, region-by-region - with one or two 
analogue TV channels switched off first so that the digital signal can 
be boosted. TV screens would not go blank overnight.

+ Greater incentives for broadcasters to make the digital switch - 
including reductions on the licences they pay if they are converting 
audiences to digital.

+ The move could see spectrum charges applied to the BBC, Channel 4 and 
S4C in 2006 for analogue spectrum.

+ The BBC’s Royal Charter should be changed to include specific 
obligations for promoting digital TV - including rolling-out digital 
transmission nationwide and providing public information.

+ Ofcom is also considering whether it should intervene to secure a 
"free-Sat" offering - a free to air satellite rival to Sky.

Ofcom also says that at a later date the government should consider 
financial help to aid some groups - such as the over 75s - in affording 
the cost of switching to digital technology - and the TVs and VCRs that 
would need to be replaced.

Source: broadcastnow.co.uk