Ofcom sets tough terms for DRLs;

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Ofcom, the UK communications regulator, is taking a hard line with broadcasters over future licences, demanding that they provide digital terrestrial television to all of the country’s 1,154 transmitter sites.
Only 80 of the UK’s transmitters have so far been converted to digital, although these have a wide reach and together provide digital access to 73% of UK homes.
ITV, Five, Teletext and Channel 4 must accept revised licences – so-called “digital replacement licences” (DRLs) – by the end of the year. If not, they risk having their licences to broadcast revoked.
The terms, set out in this week’s Ofcom consultation document on digital replacement licences, were broadly welcomed by broadcasters.
Ofcom has still to set the exact coverage figure that broadcasters will be required to meet. At present, 98.5% of UK homes can receive analogue terrestrial transmissions. The consultation will end on October 25.