[Community Television] Ofcom outlines switch-off plans

[Michelle McGuire]

Ofcom outlines switch-off plans
  29 November 2004 10:10


  Ofcom said today that analogue switch-off should be completed by 31 
December 2012 and that the country will undergo a phased switch off - 
one ITV region at a time.

It said that despite some concerns it planned to press ahead with the 
backstop date, saying any risks were "manageable and acceptable". The 
BBC, which is not governed by Ofcom, has already suggested the date is 
manageable. The government will need to rubberstamp the date.

Ofcom added that to meet the date, broadcasters will be required to 
stage a regional roll-out with the 15 ITV franchises used as a 
template. Channel 4 and Five’s transmissions would be switched in that 
region at the same time.

  All broadcasters will be obliged to inform viewers about the 
switch-off process but Ofcom stopped short of prescribing obligations 
to market digital TV.

The regulator said it will set out the order in which the regions 
should be switched by April next year. It will also launch a 
consultation in January to work out exactly what level of digital 
coverage would be acceptable.

The regulator proposed the moves as part of its consultation new 
digital replacement license (DRL) arrangements for ITV, Channel 4 and 
Five.

  These new licenses, which will come into effect on 1 January, replace 
the old analogue licences and have a stronger commitment to 
broadcasting in digital.

Source: broadcastnow.co.uk