Ofcom report to urge action on digital television switchover

Government and industry cannot rely on market forces alone to deliver near-universal switchover from analogue to digital broadcasting in television, Ofcom Chief Executive Stephen Carter has warned.

In a speech to the Westminster Media Forum the head of Ofcom revealed some of the key findings of Ofcom’s report to the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on the prospects for digital switchover. The full report has now been presented to DCMS and is expected to be published soon.

Mr Carter said: "Digital television in Britain has been one of the most successful market-led technologies ever. Our assessment is that the market alone will deliver somewhere between 75-85% penetration. However, if unaided, it will then stall."

The report will conclude that switchover is both desirable and achievable, provided that Government is in a position to give greater certainty over the timing of switchover.

Key recommendations in the report will include:

• Greater progress towards cross-party political support for digital switchover;
• The creation of a new autonomous body, a ‘SwitchCo’ with representation from Government, industry and regulator but independent of all parties, with responsibility for achieving switchover by a specified date;
• The BBC Charter Review process should be used as an opportunity to put the BBC’s formal commitment to digital switchover on the same footing as other terrestrial broadcasters;
• The BBC’s commitment to digital switchover should be platform-neutral.

The report will also recommend that access to free-to-view digital TV via satellite should be improved to encourage take-up of digital services prior to switchover.

(GB)