Ofcom ignores experts group on HDTV

chris

UK television regulator Ofcom has ignored the advice of a powerful Experts Group and instead opted for a wholesale reassignment of the existing Multiplex system for Digital Terrestrial TV, in order to clear space for HDTV transmissions.
An Ofcom statement on April 3 said that the new transmission model would be based on MPEG4 compression and DVB-T2 transmission. “Terrestrial television is broadcast on six multiplexes. These are distinct blocks of transmission capacity which carry television channels. Ofcom proposes to clear one of the three multiplexes currently used for public service broadcasting (Multiplex B, licensed by Ofcom to BBC Free to View Ltd). The existing channels on this multiplex will be relocated to use the spare capacity on the other multiplexes. Once this is complete, Multiplex B will be upgraded to use new technologies and standards,” says Ofcom.

Using this methodology, says Ofcom, viewers in some parts of the UK could be receiving HDTV signals later in 2009, expanding to the rest of the British Isles as and when analogue TV is switched off on a region by region basis.

Ofcom’s statement explained that the UK’s existing network broadcasters – other than the BBC – would have to competitively bid for transmission spectrum on the new multiplex. The extra capacity on the reorganised multiplex would allow broadcasters to introduce new and innovative services, including high-definition channels.

“To achieve this, one of the slots on the multiplex will remain for the BBC Trust to oversee. It is expected that this will be used to broadcast the BBC high definition channel. The other three slots will be awarded to commercial public service broadcasters (ITV, Channel 4, five, S4C) through a competitive bidding process to be run by Ofcom. Applications for each individual slot will be judged on three main criteria: efficient use of the spectrum; contribution to public service broadcasting; and contribution to the range and diversity of television services in the UK,” says Ofcom.

This decision is a body blow to the all-industry Experts Group which on March 9 firmly advised Ofcom to dump its plans and instead adopt a nationwide Single Frequency Network approach for transmission which would have created space for 20 HDTV channels, and up to 40 in the longer term.

The worry now is whether in creating fresh spectrum for just three or four HDTV channels,Freeview, the UK’s digital terrestrial service, would ever find long-term favour with 21st Century viewers. However, the Ofcom statement is undoubtedly good news for the UK’s satellite and cable TV players. Satellite already offers 17 channels, with more promised, and cable is beginning to add HD to its systems.

Read the full Ofcom statement at: _http://www.ofcom.org.uk/consult/condocs/dttfuture/statement/


Source: Rapid TV News

__________________