[CMA TV] MPs back Ofcom plan to sell analogue spectrum

[Editor, Airflash Magazine]

MPs back Ofcom plan to sell analogue spectrum
David Rose
8:00am
Terrestrial broadcasters' plans for HD services have been dealt a  
massive blow after MPs backed Ofcom's controversial plan to auction  
off the analogue spectrum freed up by digital switchover.

The rebuff by the cross-party media select committee was unexpected.  
MPs are currently inquiring into the future of public service  
broadcasting and have yet to submit their report to media secretary  
Tessa Jowell.

But in a separate report on new media and creative industries, the  
committee dashed hopes that they might side with broadcasters to  
bring pressure on ministers to overrule Ofcom.

The report said: "Although we will continue to listen to the  
arguments, we do not believe that a persuasive case has yet been made  
to justify reserving spectrum for high-definition television  
following digital switchover.

"We endorse Ofcom's approach in not favouring any particular  
technology or application in the framework being drawn up for  
reallocation of spectrum under the Digital Dividend Review."

The report reiterated Ofcom's view that "a requirement to pay merely  
brings broadcasters into line with most other spectrum users,  
including emergency services and the Ministry of Defence".

Both the BBC and ITV have criticised the planned auction, saying it  
will prevent them developing free-to-air digital HD services.

The BBC has said there is no business model that would enable it to  
afford the prices likely to be achieved in the auction. In its  
submission to Ofcom on the subject, director general Mark Thompson  
said: "If pure market mechanisms are applied to the whole digital  
dividend, our fear is that it will jeopardise the success of  
universal access to high quality public service broadcasting, free to  
air on all main platforms and also lead to an erosion of the digital  
terrestrial platform and its ability to compete."

Michael Grade also voiced concerns last month. He said Ofcom's  
approach would leave millions of viewers looking forward to HD  
services disappointed and said the auction would "undermine the  
principle of equality at the moment we finally achieve digital  
equality".

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Source: Broadcastnow
http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/broadcastnowArticle.aspx?intStoryID=168977



Michelle McGuire
Editor, Airflash Magazine

Community Media Association
http://www.commedia.org.uk

"Access to the media for people and communities"