Lib Dems call for digital switchover date

net1

The Liberal Democrats today urged the government to come up with a concrete plan for switching off the existing analogue TV network.
They seized on today's report from consumer groups calling on the government to urgently put in place a fully funded framework for digital switchover as evidence that it is dragging its feet over the issue.

The opposition parties suspect that the culture secretary, Tessa Jowell, is reluctant to make a definitive announcement on the timetable for switchover before next year's general election in case it proves unpopular with voters.

"We didn't need to wait five years to learn that the government must be more 'proactive' on the switch to digital," the Liberal Democrat culture spokesman, Don Foster, said today.

"This important report sets out many of the challenges for government, broadcasters and manufacturers. It must signal the beginning of an assault on the barriers to switchover," he added.

Mr Foster has been a vocal critic of Ms Jowell's reluctance to name a definite date for digital switchover or commit Treasury funds to subsidising the move.

"Without strong leadership and a fully costed plan and timetable, digital switchover could leave one in five people unable to watch television," he said today.

It warned the government that most people remain opposed to switching off the analogue TV signal, adding that it would miss its own 2012 deadline if it didn't help the elderly and those on low incomes to convert to digital.

The Consumer Experts Group made its concerns felt in a report commissioned by broadcasting minister Andrew McIntosh to look into the implications for consumers of digital switchover.

The pressure groups, including representatives from the Consumers' Association, the Royal National Institute for the Blind, the National Consumer Council and Age Concern, today said there was still a "long list" of issues that weren't being addressed.

"Despite more than half of households having adopted digital TV, the majority have only converted their main television set, and most consumers are opposed to analogue switch-off," says the report, commissioned by the Department of Culture Media and Sport.

Although Ms Jowell has yet to announce a firm timetable for switchover, the BBC has suggested a switch-off date of 2012.

Under draft plans drawn up by media regulator Ofcom, switchover would begin as soon as 2007 with the borders region earmarked as the first to lose its analogue signal altogether.

But the consumer groups said the government should introduce a new test, promising not to announce a timetable for switchover until seven out of 10 consumers had digital sets and vowing not to turn off the analogue signal until 95% of all consumers had switched.

Another problem inherent in the strategy to switch off the analogue signal is the fact that the Freeview signal cannot be boosted to reach remote rural areas and portable sets until after the analogue signal is switched off.

Ofcom has called for the formation of a "SwitchCo" group of broadcasters, retailers and manufacturers to drive the move towards digital switchover. However, it is understood the government is reluctant to put any extra money towards funding such a group.

DavidW

Just out of interest. Does anyone remember how long the switchover from 405 lines to PAL 625 lines took and how it was achieved?

DavidW

rolfw

Can't remember the length of time, was too young, but there were relatively few TV owners and even less multiple TV households. All new TVs after that time were dual standard and after BBC and ITV moved to UHF, all new TVs were UHF.

http://www.tvhistory.btinternet.co.u...hronology.html A nice schedule here.

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