Ofcom names the day December 31 2012

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Ofcom has published a consultation document on the digital replacement licences (DRLs) that will take the UK's commercial terrestrial broadcasters through to a fully digital future.

The regulator has set December 31 2012 as the backstop date by which all licensees will be obliged to stop broadcasting their analogue services.

Digital licences are being offered to the current Channel 3 licensees (ITV Plc, plus SMG, which owns the Scottish and Grampian franchises, and Ulster Television), Five and Teletext Limited, which operates the public teletext licence.

If the 10-year licences are accepted, the replacement licences must be issued before December 29 this year. The digital licences will expire on December 31, 2014.

The procedure for replacing Channel 4's existing licence is different, reflecting its position as a statutory corporation. Ofcom is also consulting on a draft of Channel 4's DRL and the Channel 4 DRL will be issued before the end of the year.

This autumn, Ofcom says it will publish the methodology for calculating licence fees for Channel 3, Channel 5 and public teletext.

Meanwhile, Ofcom says it is working with broadcasters, the Government, consumer groups and others to develop SwitchCo, a body responsible for ensuring switchover by a specified date, and the provision of consumer information and advice.

The initial expiry date for each DRL is 31 December 2014. Ofcom has said that the switchover process could begin as early as 2007. The consultation closes on October 25.