Ofcom unveils switchover licence conditions

[BGonaSTICK]

Media regulator Ofcom is making it a condition of public service digital terrestrial television (DTT) multiplex licences that operators must reach 98.5% of the UK population by switchover. Commercial multiplex operators will be required to reach at least 73%, the same proportion as today, but that should rise to 90% of the population after switchover.

Under the Broadcasting Act 1996, Ofcom licenses five of the six DTT multiplexes; the other multiplex is operated by the BBC under its charter. Following a consultation this summer Ofcom has concluded that communities currently able to view analogue television transmissions should continue to have access to digital terrestrial television services at switchover.

The two multiplexes carrying public service channels are operated by Digital 3&4 Ltd (jointly owned by Channel 3 and Channel 4) and BBC Free to View. Ofcom said to achieve coverage of 98.5% of the UK population both multiplexes will be required to transmit at switchover from all 1,154 sites currently used for analogue television transmissions. Ofcom has also concluded that nine additional transmission relays are necessary to ensure appropriate coverage at switchover.

Commercial multiplexes SDN (controlled by ITV) and National Grid Wireless (NGW) will be required to transmit at switchover from their current list of 81 sites, achieving 73% population coverage on analogue. Ofcom said commercial operators "must ensure digital coverage does not fall below this 73% level. Efficiencies from switching off the analogue transmissions means the same 81 transmission sites will give around 90% population coverage after switchover".

In addition, multiplex operators will be obliged to:

• [#] Follow the Government's 2007-2012 switchover timetable.
  [#] Co-operate with other parties involved in switchover, including Digital UK.
  [#] Report annually to Ofcom on their switchover progress.
  [#] Ensure viewers are informed about rescanning, where some viewers' set top boxes will need to be manually returned.