[CMA TV] BBC and C4 ask for spectrum

[Michelle McGuire]

BBC and C4 ask for spectrum
Geoff White and Susan Thompson
26 January 2006 07:50

The BBC is trying to convince Channel 4, ITV and Five to join forces  
with it in a bid to persuade the government to release a large chunk  
of the analogue spectrum for high-definition services when digital  
switchover begins.

As analogue is switched off the spectrum will become free for other  
uses and the government has announced plans to auction it off. But  
the BBC wants the spectrum to launch HD versions of its main channels  
and has also approached rival terrestrial broadcasters to discuss  
their involvement in a consortium that would argue for spectrum to be  
released for public service broadcasting.

A C4 spokesman confirmed discussions had taken place but said they  
were at an early stage. Last week C4 chief executive Andy Duncan said  
in a speech at the Oxford Media Convention that the channel would  
need "additional gifted DTT capacity" to help it fulfil its public  
service remit. The channel is understood to be spending around £10m  
on spectrum on digital platforms.

While the BBC wants the new spectrum to be used largely for HD  
services on the Freeview platform, Duncan last week questioned the  
strategy and said: "I'm not sure the BBC should be setting out to  
offer HDTV universally. I'm not sure it's going to get into all  
homes. It's very hard to see that, even by 2020, HDTV will be in a  
majority of homes."

However, all channels with PSB remits are discussing how they could  
work together on the BBC's HD trial launching in mid-2006 on the  
Freeview platform in the London area. It will be a limited trial,  
with the BBC showing a selection of HD programmes based around BBC1's  
output, and is expected to include live World Cup matches. There is  
the possibility that other programmes from terrestrial broadcasters  
could also appear in HD during the trial.

Martin Stott, deputy head of corporate affairs at Five, said: "We've  
had some discussions with the BBC. We are not yet in a position to  
say whether we will join the trial or not." The decision over what  
will happen with the spectrum released as a result of switchover is  
time tabled to be taken this year.

The method for the auction process will be decided in autumn when  
Ofcom publishes its Digital Dividend Review - a year-long project  
examining the options for spectrum. On 15 February Ofcom will hold  
its first stakeholders meeting for interested parties to discuss  
options which include TV over mobile and wireless broadband, with  
high-speed data and voice services as well as HD. In May the Regional  
Radio Conference will plan the use of spectrum across Europe.

Once Ofcom publishes its findings, it will be up to the government to  
decide what happens to the spectrum. Last week media secretary said  
Tessa Jowell that there would be an auction for the spectrum.

The BBC argues that as a platform neutral service, it should be able  
to offer HD on Freeview as well as on satellite and cable, platforms  
currently planning HD services. It also believes that around 14  
frequencies of spectrum will be released after analogue switch-off in  
2012.

It estimates that 12 frequencies would be needed to transmit the five  
terrestrial channels in high definition across most of the country.
The remaining two could be used to broadcast TV for mobile phones -  
in the recent trial in Oxford just one channel's worth was able to  
accommodate 16 mobile phone channels.

O2 and Arqiva are currently lobbying Ofcom to allocate digital  
spectrum for a full-scale rollout.

Source: broadcastnow.co.uk


-- 
Michelle McGuire
Editor, Airflash Magazine
Development Officer

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