Free satellite in 900,000 homes
The latest figures from Ofcom reveal that there are over 900,000 households with a free satellite service in the UK.
The Communications Market: Digital Progress Report for the second quarter of 2008 shows that around 840,000 homes were using free satellite - from BSkyB, BBC/ITV or other retailers - on their main television set. This is an increase of around 120,000 on the previous quarter.
In addition, between June and September BBC/ITV Freesat sold a further 60,000 units, meaning that the total number of households using a free satellite service is now around 900,000.
The report also shows that 88 per cent of households now have digital TV on their main set.
The second quarter of 2008 showed that households remain focused on switching their secondary television sets to digital as well. Over half (19.1 million) of the 35 million secondary sets have now been converted to digital.
Source: Ofcom Q2, 2008 Progress report
Item added: 6th October 2008



Ofcom opens Pay TV consultation
Ofcom has opened a new consultation on BskyB’s proposed Pay DTT service.
Ofcom has said that it is willing to allow for such a launch but only under certain conditions. One of these conditions is that BskyB makes its premium services available on a wholesale basis and another that it use simulcrypt so that other pay service providers using different Conditional Access systems can also access BskyB content.
BskyB had previously proposed to replace its existing free-to-air DTT service with five premium Pay TV services.
Source: Ofcom website
Item added: 6th October 2008



More Switchover dates announced
Digital UK has announced dates for the switchover from analogue to digital DTT services in Cumbria, South West Scotland and the Isle of Man.
The Isle of Man will start switching to DTT on the 18th June 2009. This will be followed by most of Cumbria and the South West of Scotland on the 24th June 2009.
Source: DTG website
Item added: 6th October 2008




Freesat, 100,000 boxes sold
Freesat the free-to-air UK satellite TV service form the BBC and ITV has sold 100,000 set top boxes since its launch on the 6th May.
Freesat currently offers 130 radio and TV channels, some of which are HD, and additional channels are added each month. Freesat will also start offering Freesat+, which is an STB complete with recorder, in November.
Freesat uses the DVB-S2 standard and MPEG-4, H.264 AVC compression.
Standard definition boxes (without dish antenna and LNA) are currently available for under £50, a price that includes VAT at 17.5%.
Source: Advanced-Television.com
Item added: 30th September 2008



Sky drops plans for Pay-DTT service
Sky has dropped its plans for a Pay-TV service on the UK DTT platform reports Broadband TV News. The service to be named Picnic was to have combined a mini-pay package, which included Sky One, Sky Sports, Sky Movies, Sky News, Disney Channel and Disney Channel with broadband and telephony services. Instead Sky will continue with its present free-to-view line-up.
Press reports quote Sky as blaming a lack of clarity from the regulator Ofcom as its main reason for shelving the service. In a statement, the regulator said any decision to suspend the project was a matter for Sky and highlighted repeated delays in responding to its investigation into the Pay-TV market both by Sky and other interested broadcasters.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 23rd September 2008


Dangers of TV Spectrum Auctions
The BBC's Catherine Smadja warned other countries against following UK plans to auction off spectrum to the highest bidder during the IBC session entitled, The Great Spectrum Landrush, at the recent International Broadcasting Convention in Amsterdam.
Smadja, a senior policy advisor at the corporation, said spectrum did not belong to the regulator or the broadcasters, but to citizens. She went on to say that Ofcom's auction plans have several potential pitfalls, one of which was that the spectrum would go to the highest bidder, preventing smaller operators from having any likelihood of obtaining spectrum and went on to say that “we should not be taking decisions that will lead to indefinite licenses in this changing environment.” arguing that the final aim for the allocation of the "digital dividend" should be about delivering public value. "Spectrum belongs to the public. It is not only a question of money".
There was also a warning against pan-European auctions and the prospect of confusion amongst manufacturers having to make variations in their products for different countries. Guard areas might be needed to prevent interference.
Smadja said the regulator Ofcom had come out against BBC proposals to create a “use it or lose it rule” to prevent spectrum hoarding.
Sources: ibce-daily and Broadband TV News
Item added: 17th September 2008



BBC to start regular DVB-T2 HD broadcasts in 2009
Catharine Smadja head of strategy at the BBC said that regular HD transmissions using DVB-T2 would begin on the digital terrestrial platform in the UK during November 2009.
The comments were made during a briefing of the DVB-Group at the recent International Broadcasting Conference in Amsterdam.
She went on to say that one multiplex would be upgraded to DVB-T2 and MPEG-4 so that BBC HD and two other HD services could be broadcast. The current five other multiplexes would remain broadcasting DVB-T services.
It is also reported that three other HD services will be added later but since no additional capacity is available on the terrestrial multiplexes these services could only be made available on the Freesat satellite platform.
Main source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 17th September 2008



BBC research demos end to end DVB-T2
On the 60th birthday of BBC Kingswood Warren, engineers from BBC Research & Innovation succeeded in demonstrating a working real-time demodulator capable of receiving signals compliant to the DVB-T2 standard for the very first time.
Following the approval of the standard by the DVB on 26 June 2008 and then the successful test transmissions from Guildford on 27 June, the achievement – on Friday 29 August – is another significant milestone in the delivery of HD over Freeview.
The demonstration of DVB-T2 used a 36 Mbit/sec multiplex in a single 8 MHz channel. The multiplex contained three high definition programmes each coded at 11 Mbit/sec with the latest MPEG-4 encoders.
The demonstration was transmitted using a 256 QAM constellation with a 32k FFT, a 1/128 guard interval, and an FEC frame of 64800 bits code rate 3/5.
The system will also be demonstrated at IBC in Amsterdam later this month on the DVB stand 1.D81
Source: BBC press release
Item added: 2nd September 2008




Two apply for HD/DTT licences
Communications regulator Ofcom has received two bids to operate HDTV services on UK terrestrial multiplex B. The applicants are Channel 3 (ITV) and Channel 4.
Ofcom had invited the three public service broadcasters to tender for the three available licences one of which is reserved for the BBC.
Both applications are available for reading on the Ofcom website and comments can be posted regarding these applications up until 5.00pm on the 28th August 2008.
Licence holders will be allowed to provide HD services using the MPEG-4, H.264 audio video codec and DVB-T2 transmission to most efficiently use the available bandwidth.
Services would start in each region following the region-by-region phased switchover timetable and sooner in some, where suitably free frequencies are found to be available.
Source: Ofcom
Item added: 22nd August 2008


Sky reaches 8.98 million subscribers
Sky the British satellite DTV broadcaster now reaches almost 8.98 million subscribers according to recent figures.
Over 40% of subscribers now have Sky +digital video recorders so that they can both record and time shift programmes. HDTV subscribers have also reached 500,000.
Source: informitv
Item added: 4th August 2008

DTT growth continues
Despite a change in reporting methodology, which reduces some figures the latest Q1 results continue to show DTT growth in the UK.
Based on the new methodology figures to the end of March 2008 saw the take up of multichannel TV on main sets increase by 190,000; from 86,5% to 87.2% and by 6.9 percentage points year on year.
This mean that there are now almost 22.2 million households with multichannel equipment connected to their primary television set.
Freeview is in a total of 16.1 million homes a figure, which includes 9.6 million DTT only homes (Freeview + Pay DTT).
The number of TV sets relying on the analogue terrestrial platform decreased from around 44% in Q1 2007 to 32% in Q1 2008
Source: Ofcom website
Item added: 15th July 2008




Ofcom invites candidates to tender for MUX B capacity
Communications regulator Ofcom is inviting candidates to tender for licences on multiplex B, which is to be cleared of existing SD services so that it can host HD services using the DVB-T2 specification, together with MPEG-4, H.264 coding.
Ofcom are currently making two licences available for HD services with a third licence reserved for the BBC.
A fourth licence is expected to be offered at a later date.
Capacity on multiplex B will begin to become available from the 1st November 2009 as each region is switched to digital on a progressive basis. However Ofcom have also announced that it expects to find frequencies in some regions that might be used for the HD service ahead of planned switch over dates.
Multiplex B will ultimately offer 98.5% population coverage.
Only public service broadcasters can apply for the licenses. Applications must be received by 13 August.
Source: Ofcom website
Item added: 8th July 2008



West Country switch-off dates announced
The Huntshaw Cross transmitter group, serving North Devon, will begin the transition from analogue to digital broadcasting on the 1st July 2009.
Shortly afterwards, on the 8th July 2009 the Redruth transmitter group, serving west Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly will start the switchover.
Finally the Caradon Hill transmitter group, serving Plymouth, parts of Devon and east Cornwall, will begin the switchover on the 12th August 2009.
Next year, five main TV transmitter groups in the West Country will switch to fully digital signals, making Freeview channels available across the whole region to nearly a million households.
Source: Digital UK press release
Item added: 8th July 2008

BBC begins Freeview HD test using DVB-T2
The BBC has commenced DVB-T2 test transmissions from its Guildford transmitter. The tests follow the approval by the DVB Project on June 26th of the DVB-T2 specification, which increases bit rate capacity by more than 30%.
Plans announced in April by broadcasting regulator Ofcom will see multiplex B cleared of its current standard definition services and converted to use the DVB-T2 standard and MPEG-4, H.264 compression to increase its total capacity. The new capacity will then be used for the carriage of BBC HD and other public service broadcast offerings on a progressive region by region basis as analogue switch of takes place. This could be as early as 2009 in some regions.
BBC Research and Innovation is conducting the test transmissions in partnership with National Grid Wireless and Arqiva. It is also developing a modem compliant with the newly-ratified DVB-T2 standard.
Main source: Digital Spy
Item added: 1st July 2008




DVB-H positioning trial successful
Rosum Corporation has announced that it has successfully completed a DVB-H positioning trial in collaboration with National Grid Wireless.
The companies conducted the trial at National Grid Wireless' DVB-H trial network in
Warwick, UK, and utilized DVB-H mobile TV broadcasts to locate precisely, prototype receivers in a variety of environments, including multi-storey car parks where GPS-based solutions are unavailable. The companies successfully demonstrated that the same signals used to deliver mobile TV content can be used to provide position-based services.
Rosum has developed, patented and fielded location and timing solutions harnessing the broadcast TV infrastructure that are effective where GPS is most challenged -- indoors and in urban canyons. The TV infrastructure is robust, distributed, and highly correlated with population centres, cellular service and broadband penetration. Analysts project as many as 446 million mobile TV handsets will be shipped globally by 2011(1). DVB-H networks in particular, with their dense topologies, are well suited for delivery of position-based services to mobile devices.
Source: investegate.co.uk
Item added: 26th June 2008



Ofcom to licence ‘white spaces’
A new consultation has been started by Ofcom on the future use of  ‘white spaces’.
The consultation deals with geographical ‘white spaces’(free spectrum) that will exist between digital transmitters, and which can be used for new low power services.
These  ‘white spaces’ could be used for a range of new applications, including: new digital television services covering most of the UK, a UK region or nation; television services covering a city or a local area; services in support of programme making and special events; and possibly mobile television and mobile broadband.
With its aim of promoting competition and innovation, Ofcom will offer tradeable licences and users would be able to decide which services to offer and which technology to use.
The award of 'white spaces' is likely to take place in phases between 2008 and 2011 and the first opportunities will be in Carlisle, Cardiff and Manchester.

Freesat launched
The free-to-air satellite service operated jointly by the BBC and ITV has officially been launched. The new platform offers 80 television programme services although many of these are regional flavoured broadcasts from the same providers. However it has also been announced that around 30 new channels will be added each month as agreements with providers are concluded. It is expected that the final total will be approximately 200 channels. The platform also hosts the new BBC HD Channel, which will be joined by other HD services as they become available.
Coverage is expected to be 98% of the UK and boxes together with dish antennas and installation are available for around £130 for SDTV only and £200 for versions including HD decoding.
The transmissions are DVB-S2 format using MPEG-4, part 10 (H.264, AVC) coding.
Main source: Freesat
Item added: 12th May 2008

Freesat prepares to launch Free Satellite Services
Freesat, the new Free-to air satellite service, backed by a joint venture between the BBC and ITV, is due to launch in early May 2008.
It will offer the main terrestrial channels as well as the new BBC HD high definition service initially followed later by other HD programming as it becomes available. The service will be receivable across the UK with 98% of homes within the satellites footprint.
Viewers will be able to access services ‘free of charge’ after the purchase of a receiver and satellite dish costing between £130-£200, depending on whether it is an SD only unit or includes HDTV decoding. The price includes installation but a UK TV licence will still be required for legal viewing.
Main source: Informitv
Item added: 29th April 2008



Report on Whitehaven ASO published
Digital UK has just published its report on the first UK digital switchover, which took place at Whitehaven in Copeland Cumbria at the end of 2007.
It says that the switchover process was a success with residents well informed and prepared. The switchover process was said by most residents to have been straightforward and they are pleased with the new services available on the digital platform.
Residents also converted 95% of their second sets for DTT by the end of December but there were a few issues that did not go so well.
These issues highlighted the need for better communications between tenants and landlords, improved explanations of the benefits of the Help Scheme, and a shorter transition period in the two-staged switchover process.
A total of 72 UK areas will switch-off analogue services in the next 4 years. The full report can be accessed by clicking on the following source link.
Source: Digital UK website
Item added: 28th April 2008


Eight bidders for the L-band auction
Telecom operator O2 has pulled out of the upcoming L-Band (1452-1492 MHz) spectrum auction leaving eight bidders.
The bidders are:

Ofcom confirms its HD plans for the DTT network
The media regulator Ofcom has confirmed that its previously announced plans to re-organise the composition of the UK’s multiplexes, to make space for HD programmes, will go ahead.
The re-organisation will allow up to four HD channels to be made available in a single multiplex.
In order to make this possible both MPEG-4, H.264 Audio visual Coding and the new DVB-T2 specification will be employed.
Even though the DVB-T2 specification is still to be completed it is expected to provide another 30% capacity (the design target) which together with H.264 coding will allow enough space for the new HDTV channels.
Ofcom proposes to re-arrange the three of the six UK multiplexes, which are already used for public service broadcasting.
Multiplex B, which is currently licensed to BBC Free to View Ltd., will be cleared for the new HD service and its current channels re-assigned to spare capacity in other multiplexes.
Once completed Multiplex B will be upgraded for the new HDTV services. Three slots will then be made available and a further fourth HDTV slot in 2012.
Viewers in some parts of the country could be receiving HDTV signals at the end of 2009, according to Ofcom.
The rest of the UK will get the new services on a region-by-region basis as the progressive digital switchover is made. This process will be completed by the end of 2012.
One of the new HDTV slots will be assigned to the BBC trust but the other three will be awarded to commercial public service broadcasters through a competitive bidding process.
Source: Ofcom
Item added: 8th April 2008

Digital television in 22 million households
The number of UK households with digital television on their main set has risen to 22.2 million homes according to research published by Ofcom today.
The Digital Television Progress Report for the fourth quarter of 2007 (October-December) shows that multichannel television take-up has reached 87.6 percent of households, up from 86.1 per cent in the previous quarter.
Over 15 million homes now have a Freeview device connected to at least one television, an increase of 1.3 million on the previous quarter.
More second television sets in people’s homes are being converted to digital with many consumers having already converted their main sets. Of the 22m DTT enabled sets, 12.4 million are now secondary sets.
Source: Ofcom
Item added: 1st April 2008

Ofcom to auction L-band slots in April
Ofcom has confirmed that it plans to auction radio spectrum suitable for a range of services, including mobile television and satellite radio.
A number of possible uses of the 1452 - 1492 MHz band, the so-called “L-Band”, have been identified including:mobile multimedia services including mobile TV (which could be deployed using a variety of technologies); satellite digital radio; and broadband wireless access or high-speed internet on the move.
The release of the spectrum in the 1452 - 1492 MHz band is part of a wider programme to release around 400 MHz of prime spectrum. Other awards in this programme include the digital dividend - the spectrum that will be freed-up through the switch to digital television - and the 2.6 GHz band.
The spectrum, which is available over much of Europe, will be released on a technology and service neutral basis, allowing users the flexibility to decide what technology to use, what services to offer and to change their use of the spectrum over time. All licences will be tradable.
Ofcom also announced that the provisional deadline for applications is 10 April 2008, with the online auction likely to start at the end of April.
Source: Ofcom website
Item added: 23rd March 2008



Freeview sales continue to increase
Freeview today confirmed that sales for 2007 hit an all-time high with 9.7 million Freeview branded products sold, up 64% year-on-year.  The Gfk Q4 figures also reflect the success of Christmas sales with 3.8 million purchases, Freeview’s best quarterly figures to date.
Digital TV (iDTV) and set top box (STB) sales continued to be strong during Q4 with 2.1 million iDTVs being sold in the quarter, an increase of 133% on the previous year.  Sales of Freeview set top boxes, largely bought to convert second sets, are still growing by 27% year-on-year and there are around 19 million second sets remaining to convert.
Commenting on the figures, Ilse Howling, Freeview’s General Manager, said:
“Freeview continues to be a truly compelling offer and the latest sales figures further cement our position as the most popular digital platform in the UK.  More than half the homes in the country now have Freeview and the value of Freeview Playback is set to grow further for these homes and the millions of others with additional sets still to convert.”
Source: Freeview Press release
Item added: 23rd March 2008

TV transmitter location maps published
Ofcom, the UK’s Broadcast regulator, has published maps that detail the location of all the countries TV transmitters. The maps show the dates planned for analogue to digital switchover in each region.
Source: Ofcom website
Item added: 11th February 2008

Digital TV Group questions Ofcom’s HD/DTT plans
The Digital TV Group (DTG), has responded to industry regulator Ofcom’s consultation: The Future of Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT).
While the Group welcomes Ofcom’s recognition that High Definition TV (HDTV) public service broadcasts should be provided for on DTT, it believes the regulator’s current proposals have the potential to compromise DTT’s long term viability.
It believes that the temporary loan of additional spectrum for HDTV is vital if the quality of both HDTV and SDTV is not to be compromised by squeezing them in to the existing allocations before the proposed new compression and transmission technology has been developed sufficiently.
The DTG go on to say that a national HDTV strategy encompassing all TV platforms: cable, IPTV, satellite and terrestrial is required.
The DTG's response can be downloaded from the following link: DTG Ofcom response
Source: DTG website
Item added: 5th February 2008

Leading UK retailers only stocking DTT receivers
Three leading UK retailers, Currys, Dixons and PC World are to stop stocking analogue televisions and will instead promote "integrated" sets with built-in digital Freeview tuners.
The chains which are all owned by DSG International, said that more than 90% of the TVs they sold were already digital.
Source: BBC News
Item added: 29th January 2008


9.3 million DTT homes in the UK
Ofcoms latest quarterly report for the period from July to September 2007 indicates that multichannel TV viewing takes place in 86% of UK homes. The increase is attributed to the growth in digital terrestrial television, which saw its second largest increase with almost 2.4 million purchases of Freeview equipment during the quarter. Whilst many consumers have already converted their primary television sets for digital the total number of secondary sets also converted now stands at nearly 12 million.
The total number now using Freeview as their only digital platform has reached 9.3 million and 14 million homes now have a Freeview device connected to at least one television in their home.
Source: Ofcom website
Item added: 27th December 2007

HD/DTT looks set to go ahead in the UK
Just before Ofcom announced the opening of a consultation on the proposal to clear multiplex B for HD use, British broadcasters got together to sign a memorandum of understanding to do much the same.
The Ofcom general proposal is that by switching all the transmissions still broadcast using 16QAM to 64QAM and a slight re-arrangement of services it would be possible to clear multiplex B for other uses. The other uses would be HDTV, made possible by changing to MPEG-4 (H.264) compression instead of MPEG-2 and the use of DVB-T2. Although the DVB-T2 specification is still being defined it is thought that 3-4 HDTV channels could be fitted into multiplex B.
The joint approach now agreed in Britain by the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5 seems to be in general agreement with the Ofcom proposal.
The broadcasters seem to have accepted the view that no new spectrum will be made available for HD in the UK and that they will have to make it happen within the existing allocations. The non-binding memorandum of understanding signed by the broadcasters would see the first HD services on the DTT platform being made available from late 2009 or early 2010, with Channel Five following as soon as capacity becomes available by 2012 at the latest.
Although broadcasters seem already to be in agreement, the Ofcom consultation is still seeking opinions from other interested parties until it closes on the 30th January 2008.
Sources: BBC website   and Ofcom website
Item added: 27th November 2007

BBC Trust approves BBC HD
The BBC Trust today (19th November 2007) approved the BBC’s proposal for a mixed-genre high definition terrestrial TV channel, although this may not be for some time.
BBC HD will launch on cable and Sky satellite as soon as possible, on Freesat as soon as it launches and on Freeview as soon as is feasible.
BBC HD on Cable and Satellite
A nine-hour daily schedule will run from 3pm to midnight, available when a service licence is effective. When "Freesat" launches the channel will automatically be a part of the offering.
Freeview
Provision of BBC HD on Freeview will be reviewed by the Trust in Spring 2008, "when it is envisaged there will be greater clarity on HD broadcast standards and the spectrum capacity available to provide the channel."
However, there will be no interim four-hour overnight service on Freeview, due to technical constraints and public scepticism: "An interim overnight service should not be launched before the review of DTT provision in 2008 nor before equipment is available that allows viewers to access both an interim service and new services after switchover.
However, the Trust did approve the option of the BBC providing the four-hour overnight service, once such equipment is available, for regions where late digital switchover means that these regions would not otherwise have access to HD programming."
Source: HDTV UK
Item added: 20th November 2007


Freeview launches Christmas Ad campaign
Today (16th November) Freeview kicked off its first ever television advertising campaign, forming part of a wider Christmas marketing initiative. The ads are airing in three TV regions, all close to digital switchover (Border, Central and Granada).
Ads invite people from all walks of life to join the (claimed) 14 million homes in the UK that are already enjoying Freeview. The  marketing campaign will promote Freeview set-top boxes, Freeview Playback digital TV recorders as well as digital television sets.
Sophie Alexander, Head of Consumer Marketing at Freeview said: “Our Christmas advertising campaign was designed to serve two purposes. Firstly, to reach homes that don’t have digital TV and secondly to reach out to our existing customers who are looking for a second set solution”.
Source: Freeview website
Item added: 20th November 2007

UK completes first digital TV switchover
Whitehaven in Cumbria became the first area of the UK to switch to all digital television when it the last three analogue television channels were switched off at 02.00 am on Wednesday 14th November 2007 and replaced by the all digital service at 03.27 am on the same day.
Instead of the previous five analogue channels the 25,000 homes in Whitehaven now have access to 20 Freeview TV channels  and 10 radio channels.
Whitehaven was the first step in the nationwide switchover program (from 2008-2012) which will ensure that free terrestrial television is available to virtually all UK households.
Source: digitaluk
Item added: 14th November 2007


Analogue TV switchover program for Scotland announced
Scotland will begin the switch to digital television on the 6th November 2008 according to Digital UK.
Scottish Borders will become the first area to switch when analogue television services are turned off from the Selkirk transmitter in November 2008. The process will continue in South-west Scotland in 2009 and in most parts of Scotland in 2010, concluding when the Black Hill transmitter, covering Glasgow, is switched off in 2011.
The complete transmitter switchover timetable can be found at the following source link.
Source: Digital UK Scottish ASO
Item added: 30th October 2007

Ofcom to outline HD plan for Freeview
Following recent Ofcom conference and press announcements it has now confirmed that it will publish proposals next month outlining a "migration path" for the entire Freeview offering, to be available in HD from as early as late 2009.
Delivering Ofcom's annual lecture in Westminster, the regulator's chief executive, Ed Richards, said plans to use compression technologies to double capacity for HD without the cost of investing in a new multiplex would, if possible, be a "major prize" in paving the way for HD broadcasting.
HD broadcasts would be supported by the new DVB-T2 standard currently under development by the DVB Project with content compressed using the latest MPEG-4, H.264, AVC standard.
Provision of the service would be free, in line with Freeview's established ethos, he said. "We see it as a wonderful stand-alone opportunity to free the system already in use."
Until the proposals were published, he was reluctant to say if the plans would cover only the five terrestrial broadcasters, but he indicated that it was likely that consumers would have to upgrade to new set-top boxes. This would also mean that all those who bought HD-ready integrated Free-view TV’s would also have to buy an additional STB to receive HDTV.
The OFCOM proposa,l to fit HDTV within the existing multiplex allocations, would make it possible for the UK government to continue auctioning off the broadcast spectrum released at analogue switch off.
Main source: broadcastnow.co.uk
Item added: 23rd October 2007

UK’S Analogue switchover to Digital TV begins
At 0200 on the morning of Wednesday the 17th October 2007 the analogue switch off in the UK begins.
The starting place is the town of Whitehaven in Cumbria where the switch over to digital services will be completed by the 14th November.
The switch over then continues progressively on a region-by-region basis:
Border 2008/2009
West Country and Granada 2009
Wales 2009/2010
Scottish TV Central and West 2010/2011
Yorkshire, Anglia and Central 2011
Meridian 2011/2012
Ulster, Tyne Tees and London 2012
Source: digitaluk
Item added: 16th October 2007

Ofcom opens consultation on Sky's pay-DTT proposal
Ofcom has published a public consultation on a proposal from British Sky Broadcasting Ltd (Sky) and National Grid Wireless Ltd (NGW) to replace Sky’s free-to-air channels with pay TV services on the digital terrestrial television (DTT) platform.
Sky currently provides Sky News, Sky Sports News and Sky Three on the DTT platform on a free-to-air basis. Under the proposal, these channels would be replaced with Sky Sports 1 and, in the evening, Sky One (including an hour of Sky News content) and Sky Movies SD1. Sky would use the remainder of its capacity to retail two further channels from third party providers in the daytime: a factual channel and a children's channel.
The BSkyB proposal for pay-DTT services provides viewers with an increase of choice and availability of pay television services, but it may have an adverse impact on competition since BSkyB could emerge as the main supplier of pay television services on the DTT and satellite platforms.Ofcom seeks views on whether it should allow BSkyB and NGW to make these proposed changes, and if so, under what conditions.The consultation closes on the 14th December 2007.
Source: Ofcom website
Item added: 9th October 2007

BBC approves launch of HD channel
The BBC Trust has provisionally approved the launch of £21.5m a year, nine-hour high definition channel but has asked the corporation to hold fire on rolling it out on Freeview.
The Trust believes that while an HD channel will be beneficial to the Freeview platform, there is a risk that launching a four-hour late night service on the platform before switchover could cause problems.
The technology required to view HD on Freeview will change at switchover, meaning consumers who purchased a new HD box to watch the four-hour service would have to buy another one after switchover to watch the nine-hour service.
The Trust may, therefore, decide that the BBC should wait until after switchover, before launching a Freeview HD offering.
A decision will be made early next year, after Ofcom's proposals for digital spectrum become clear.
Source: Broadcastnow
Item added: 25th September 2007

DTV penetration reaches 84%
Figures in Ofcom’s latest Digital Television  review, up to the end of June 2007, gives the number of digital TV households, with digital equipment connected to their main TV, as 21.4 Million.
During the second quarter of 2007, 1.9 million DTT receivers were sold, of which 900,000 were IDTV’s.
DTT households accounted for 81% of the growth in digital TV homes, equivalent to 9.1 million TV households. This shows that Digital terrestrial television is and continues to be, the most commonly used television platform in the UK.
Taking all the figures together, Digital TV penetration reached 84% by the end of June.
Source: Ofcom
Item added: 25th September 2007



Freesat to launch in March 2008
The network operator Arqiva has been awarded a contract by the BBC, to provide end-to-end distribution services for the free-to-air satellite service, Freesat.
Freesat supplements the free-to-air DTT service, Freeview, ensuring that all households in the UK have access to free-to-air digital TV services both during the progressive analogue switch off programme and after it.
Freeview’s DTT coverage is expected to reach 98.5% when switchover is complete.
Source: Arqiva press release
Item added: 25th September 2007



Ofcom to permit the use of DVB-T 8k mode
Ofcom have recently updated the UK’s “Reference Parameters for Digital Terrestrial Television Transmission”
The updated now permits the use of the 8k mode of transmission, at specified transmission sites, subject to Ofcom’s approval.
The change will help ease the digital transition which is taking place on a region-by-region basis. The UK was the first to launch DVB-T and used 2k anticipating that 8k capable chips would not be available for the launch. As it turned out 8k chips were available sooner than expected but the UK was already committed 2k. The digital switch over gives the UK the chance to correct this, bring it in to line with the rest of Europe who all use the 8k mode.
The 'Reference Parameters' documents is available from the
Ofcom Website
Item added: 18th September 2007


Freesat testing by the DTG
The Digital TV Group (DTG) will provide test and conformance services for the free-to-air satellite platform, Freesat, scheduled to launch early in 2008, reports Broadband TV News.It credits Richard Lindsay-Davies, the head of the DTG, as saying that the DTG will be looking to capitalise on the experience its testing centre, DTG Testing, had gained from the Freeview DTT platform.Freesat, a joint BBC and ITV venture, is expected to offer more than 200 television programme services. It will include HD support and use the same MHEG-5 middleware employed by DTT. A broadband return path may also be included.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 18th September 2007


Freeview Set Top Box for only £10
UK supermarket chain Tesco has launched a Freeview Digital Terrestrial TV STB for only £10 (€ 14.8).The box, manufactured by Techwood, offers reception of the standard available TV channels plus many radio stations.
It’s half the price of the previous cheapest STB available and said to be a loss leader.
However the offering demonstrates the continued sharp drop in the price of DVB-T receiving equipment for the worlds most popular Digital Terrestrial Transmission system, DVB-T.
Source: Informitv
Item added: 3rd September 2007



Half of UK homes ready for the switchover to digital
According to the Ofcom/Digital UK Tracker survey half of UK households have now converted all their TV’s for digital use. The survey of 2,400 households found that 50% of those surveyed reported that all their TV’s were digital; 87% were aware of a future switchover, the highest level recorded so far and  66% understood how to prepare for switchover, up 25% since the same time last year.
In June Ofcom reported that approximately four out of five homes had digital television, a digital penetration of 80.5%.
Source: advanced-television.com
Item added: 21st August 2007

New Digital TV Licences for the UK
As the process for Digital Switchover in the UK begins, Wireless Telegraph (WT) licences are being issued to the digital terrestrial television multiplex operators for the provision of DTT services in the UK.
These WT licences will be varied later to include details of the transmitters and frequencies being used.
The first variations will be made in preparation for the commencement of first Digital Switchover to take place in October at Whitehaven.
Wireless Telegraphy Act licences where issued to the following companies during July; British Broadcasting Corporation, Digital 3 & 4 Limited, BBC Free to View Limited and SDN Limited.Source: Ofcom
Item added: 14th August 2007

Arqiva adds another contract for the UK digital TV upgrade
Arqiva has been awarded the contract to upgrade and maintain Digital 3 and 4 Ltd. as well as the previous award from SDN.
The contract to build and operate the high power national digital terrestrial TV network runs until 2034.
Digital 3 and 4 are the operating companies of ITV and Channel 4 respectively.
The upgraded network will carry ITV and Channel 4’s main digital services including ITV1, ITV2, ITV3, ITV4, Channel 4, E4 and More4 with its transmissions reaching 98.5% of the UK population.
Main source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 14th August 2007

SDN signs with Arqiva for new digital TV network
Arqiva has been awarded a contract by SDN Ltd - a wholly owned subsidiary of ITV plc - to upgrade and operate the existing multiplex to a high power network, in preparation for digital switchover. The contract will run until 2034 and is estimated to be worth in the region of £500 million over its 27 year term. SDN currently broadcasts a range of popular free-to-air channels including Five, S4C and QVC together with pay-channels via Top Up TV.
SDN intends to continue to broadcast from the 81 key transmission sites from which it is currently transmitted but Arqiva will increase its transmission power levels to provide enhanced coverage so that it will be available to over 90% of the UK population by the end of switchover.
This latest contract follows the appointment of Arqiva as digital transmission supplier to the BBC (two multiplexes) and as preferred supplier to Digital 3 and 4 Ltd. These three Public Service Broadcasting (PSB) multiplexes will use the nationwide infrastructure of 1154 sites to provide 98.5% coverage
Source: Aquiva
Item added: 1^st August 2007

Space for 4 HDTV channels on DTT platform, says OFCOM
Ed Richards, chief executive of Ofcom recently said that the regulator is drawing up plans that will allow up to four HDTV channels to be broadcast within the existing DTT multiplexes.
He went on to explain that by a combination of new compression technologies such as the H.264, AVC MPEG-4 codec and a reshuffle of the DTT line-up, additional capacity could be created for HD. “The whole point is that we can use spectrum space more efficiently, “ he said, speaking to the Broadcasting Press Guild.
While not proposing a wholesale shift to MPEG-4, it was suggested as a way to make a new HDTV service possible.
He said that some independent research into what could be done has been commissioned and the findings would be made public in due course.
Main source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 24th July 2007



Grade forming HDTV ‘war cabinet’
ITV executive chairman Michael Grade is reported to be forming a ‘war cabinet’ with other senior members of the ‘HD for All alliance’.
The Government plans to sell of the spectrum released during the analogue switch-off, instead Grade wants the bandwidth to be used to broadcast terrestrial HDTV services on a free-to-view basis.
Grade is reported to have told the Sunday Telegraph that “Retailers, manufacturers and rival broadcasters are determined to get the Government and the regulator to understand, the level of consumer anger they are going to face after analogue switchover, when the public realise that they are unable to receive their favourite channels in HD on Freeview, on the HD-ready TV sets that they are buying by the millions”
Source: Digital Television Group
Item added: 26th June 2007

UK Digital penetration over 80%
Household take-up of digital television reached 80.5% (20.4m homes) in the first quarter of 2007 according to the latest figures released by Ofcom, 77.2% up on the last quarter.
Freeview over the digital terrestrial platform is viewed on the primary television set in 8.4 million homes with another 885 thousand viewers accessing Freeview from the digital satellite platform bringing the total number of viewers of Freeview to 9.3 million.
Subscribers to BSkyB reached 8 million during the quarter however the satellite platform is still the most popular in the UK with 8.9 million viewers in total when Freeview digital satellite platform viewers are taken in to account.
Source: Ofcom Q1 2007
Item added: 21st June 2007


Ofcom to charge for all broadcast spectrum
Ofcom has announced plans to charge fees for radio and TV spectrum starting in 2014. According to Ofcom “ this will provide clear incentives for the efficient use of the radio spectrum used by terrestrial television and radio broadcasters”
The fee to be known as the Administered Incentive Pricing (AIP) will have to be paid by radio and TV broadcasters according to the amount of spectrum they use. Ofcom argues that the most valuable spectrum to the UK economy is below 1GHz, 400MHz of which is used by broadcasting.
Source: Ofcom
Item added: 21st June 2007


Mobile TV for the channel island of Jersey
Jersey telecom and Alcatel are planning a trial of mobile TV to mobile phones later this year. The service will use DVB-SH technology to bring streaming TV to Jersey for the first time. DVB-SH transmissions are beamed to phones directly form satellite and utilise ground based repeaters, where necessary, to fill in poor reception areas ensuring seamless TV reception.
Source: advanced-television.com
Item added: 5th June 2007



BBC plans HDTV on as many platforms as possible
The BBC trust is asking for feedback on the corporations plans for a permanent-free-to-view, high-definition television channel. The BBC is hoping to launch a permanent HDTV channel on satellite, cable and broadband platforms. It would be on air for 9 hours a day from 3pm to midnight from the end of 2008. It also intends to broadcast HDTV over the DTT network, but due to the lack of available capacity this will only be for four hours overnight. Viewers of the terrestrial service would require new MPEG-4 receivers with HD capable digital video recorders.
Source: Informitv.com
Item added: 5th June 2007

Ofcom postpones spectrum auction
Ofcom published the results of its consultation on the Digital Dividend and delayed the planned spectrum auctions until it has had more time to review all the inputs received. In total there were 750 responses from stakeholders, which included public-service broadcasters, mobile- network operators, equipment manufacturers, consumer and advisory groups, public bodies, Members of Parliament and individuals.
More details can be found in the Ofcom source document by clicking on the source link.
Source: Ofcom
Item added: 31st May 2007

Public Value Test for BBC HD
The HD trial being run by the BBC, on terrestrial TV channels, is to be extended from the previous June end date until November, during which time the media regulator OFCOM will conduct a Market Impact Assessment (MIA).
The MIA terms of reference and the timetable for the Public Value Test (PVT) will be published on the 21st May after which there will be a 28-day consultation period.
Seetha Kumar said earlier this year that the BBC aspired to have an HD service that would be universally available on all technically capable platforms. This included the terrestrial Freeview platform, although he acknowledged that additional capacity would need to be made available to accommodate around fiveHD channels, which research showed was the number that potential viewers found attractive.
Ofcom's plan to auction the released spectrum, made available from the analogue switch of, has been universally criticised by those wanting HD on the terrestrial platform, who maintain that the spectrum will go to other users who have more buying power, preventing HD services on the DTTplatform.
Ofcom recently announced that the plans to auction all the freed spectrum where now being reviewed because of the outcry.
More recently the BBC trust has given the go ahead to the launch of Freesat (Free to Air Satellite) a joint venture with ITV. Over 200 channels are planned to be made available as well as HD programmes.
Main source: DTG website
Item added: 1st May 2007

BBC Trust gives go ahead for Freesat
The BBC trust has given the go ahead for the launch of Freesat (Free to AirSatellite) a joint venture with ITV.
The Standard and High definition services are expected to be launched in the spring of 2008. Consumers will have free-to-view access to an expected 200 channels.
An open market for set-top boxes will be developed on the same lines as the present Freeview offerings and  BBC has already been in discussion with potential receiver manufacturers.
Research organisation Strategy Analytics has been reported to say that HD will have a 90% penetration by 2020 if Ofcom allows HD on the terrestrial platform.
Without the terrestrial allocation it is expected that penetration will drop to only 60%.
“The Ofcom and the UK government decisions on HD-DTT over the next few months will shape the UK’s broadcasting environment for many years to come,” notes David Mercer, principal analyst at Strategy Analytics. “They must consider the long term impact on public service broadcasting before making any final decision on spectrum allocation.”
Main source: Broadband TV news
Item added: 1st May 2007

Freeview overtakes BskyB as the largest digital platform
Freeview, the free-to-air DTT platform, has overtaken satellite provider BSkyB to become the most popular digital platform in the United Kingdom.
Freeview is now the primary television reception platform in 8.2 million households compared with 8 million BSkyB homes.It also estimated to be used in over 11 million households when secondary TV use is taken into account. In the first quarter of 2007, approximately 1.7 million DTT receivers were sold.
Source: Guardian
Item added: 24th April 2007

Ofcom and Spectrum for Terrestrial HD
Ofcom CEO Ed Richards offered some hope that it may reconsider the plan to auction of all the analogue spectrum freed by the switchover to DTT leaving some for HD.
He made these comments while speaking to the UK Parliamentary media committee saying that he wants to settle the dispute between those who want terrestrial HD and Ofcom’s plan to sell of the spectrum to the highest bidder. However he also said that Ofcom believe that broadcasters already have sufficient spectrum for between four and six HD channels on terrestrial TV. Ofcom is reported to have already received 750 applications for the freed spectrum even though most of it will not be released until 2012
Source: Media
Item added: 24th April 2007


7.7 million Freeview only homes
According to the latest figures from Ofcom there are now 7.7 million Freeview homes in the UK.
1,002,000 new digital homes were added in the fourth quarter of 2006 compared with 800,000 in the previous quarter and 700,000 in the second quarter. Taking in to account the figures for all digital platforms this mean that 77.2% of UK homes now have some form of digital TV viewing device with 48.5% of the 60 million TV receivers connected to digital devices.
There are also 10.6 million Freeview devices in homes with 7.7 million of them connected to the main receiver in the house.
Source: Ofcom
Item added: 21st March 2007


UK Digital Switch Over Begins on October 17th 2007
Whitehaven in Cumbria is set to become the first place in the UK to be switched from analogue to digital TV. With only 25,000 viewers and no current DTT services, Whitehaven is seen as the perfect place to learn about the problems that will be encountered during switch over.
BBC Two’s analogue signal will be switched off first, with the remaining channels moving to digital only reception on November 14. Once BBC Two is switched off it will be immediately replaced by ITV, allowing the commercial broadcaster’s analogue frequency to be used for the first of the public service multiplexes, comprising BBC One, BBC Two, BBC Three, BBC News 24 and CBBC.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 21st March 2007


UK’s HDTV haves and the HDTV have nots
United Kingdom Broadcasters warned that the UK will soon have a two tier television society, at a recent DTG summit in London. Public service broadcasters, retailers and manufacturers challenged the government not to allow Ofcom’s plan to auction off the spectrum required for the launch of terrestrial HDTV services.
David Youlton, DTG chairman, said that "The spectrum belongs to the citizens of this country and this is such an important public services issue that our elected representatives, not Ofcom, should be responsible for making such a far-reaching decision on our behalf."
If HDTV is not provided on the terrestrial platform then only those with enough money to subscribe to cable or satellite will have access to these services. Terrestrial viewers will be restricted to SDTV only, creating a two-tier viewership.
Initial source: IBE
Item added: 13th March 2007

BBC Trust approves "Freesat"
The BBC Trust has provisionally approved the BBC's proposed free-to-view satellite platform "Freesat".
Freesat which is expected to be a joint venture with other British public service broadcasters such ITV and Channel 4, will allow all license fee payers in the United Kingdom to receive digital services, including the BBC's digital television and radio services, without a subscription.
A public consultation has been launched prior to making a final decision in April 2007.
According to acting BBC Chairman Chitra Bharucha: "Over half of those yet to switch to digital TV fall outside the present Freeview DTT coverage area. For these homes, the new service would mean being able to access BBC digital services they have already paid for via their licence fee but until now have been unable to receive on a guaranteed subscription-free basis."
Analogue switch off in the UK is planned to take place on a regional basis and DTT services will not be available in all planned areas until 2013.
Source: BBC press release
Item added 5th March 2007

Ofcom to open consultation on BskyB’s Pay-DTT proposal
Ofcom are to open a consultation on the BskyB proposal to remove its existing free to view programs on the Freeview platform and use the space to provide Pay-TV services using MPEG4 coding instead of MPEG2.
Ofcom expects the consultation to consider the following points: -

*The potential benefit of a migration from MPEG2 to MPEG4.

*The potential detriment associated with a reduction in the number of channels received by  existing MPEG2 STB’s and digital receivers.

*The risk that existing STB’s or digital televisions might be incompatible with multiplexes broadcast using both MPEG2 and MPEG4.

*The overall effect on consumer confidence in the digital switchover process.

The consultation will take place when BskyB make a formal request for a change in its licence and that of National Grid Wireless, who provide the DTT platform. After an application, Ofcom expect the consultation period to be about 10 weeks.
Source: Ofcom
Item added: 20^th February 2007

BBC to trial VOD on Freeview
The BBC have announced that they plan to carry out a research trial of Video On Demand (VOD) services on the Freeview platform. At present it is purely a research project and there is no intention to launch it according to a BBC spokesman. The VOD service will be operated using the Freeview platform’s interactive capabilities and the intention is to produce an easy to use interface enabling viewers to call up programmes from a carousel storing 50hours of programmes on the STB’s hard disc. The BBC is already working with STB manufacturers to segment part of the hard drive on Freeview PVR’s. The service could be made available to other broadcasters on the Freeview platform if it is successful.
Source: Advanced-television.com
Item added: 20^th February 2007

BSkyB to launch a new DTT subscription service on “Freeview” platform
Satellite broadcaster BSkyB is to launch a new subscription service of four channels available on digital terrestrial television. The existing Sky channels will then cease to be freely available on Freeview.
Viewers will need a new set-top box to receive the service, which will use MPEG-4 digital video compression, allowing four channels of news, sport, entertainment and movies to be squeezed into the place of the three Sky channels currently available on Freeview in the United Kingdom.
The launch of a premium service from Sky is a further challenge to Top Up TV, which offers additional pay-television services on the existing digital terrestrial television platform, recently moving to a push video-on-demand model.
It is also a response to Sports broadcaster Setanta, which acquired some of the rights to Premiership football and recently announced the launch of premium sports coverage on Freeview through Top-Up TV.
Source: BskyB
Item added: 13^th February 2007

Digital coverage predictions announced
Ofcom the UK regulator has published the predicted the coverage of public DTT services which are to be provided following digital switchover. The three public service multiplexes will match existing analogue coverage and be available to 98.5% of UK households which amounts to 24.8 million people. All six multiplexes will be available to 90.5% of households amounting to 22.8 million people; 6.4 million more than can receive them now. Full details of the announcement as well as a transmitter guide showing households covered by each transmitter can be found on the Ofcom website.
Source: Ofcom
Item added: 13^th February

UK HD now viewed in 160,000 households
BskyB’s High Definition satellite service is estimated to have signed up 140,000 customers by the end of 2006. In addition another 20,000 households are reported to be receiving HD via cable from the NTL/Telwest service. This brings the current number of household viewing HD in the UK to 160,000.
It is also estimated that there are now 2.4million HD-ready screens in the UK, bought primarily because they are flat but also possibly with future proofing in mind so that consumers are ready for HD DVD players or new HD services when they are available in the future.
Terrestrial broadcasters and TV manufacturers have also been lobbying for HD services to be given space on the Freeview platform, but at present, there isn’t the necessary spectrum space available and when it is, at analogue switch off, the government intends to auction the space for a variety of possible services and not specifically for HD.
Main source: DTG News
Item added: 6th January 2007

'HD for All' group to lobby on DTT
Terrestrial broadcasters, TV manufacturers and retailers are calling on the Government to ensure that spectrum is set aside for high-definition television (HDTV) on the UK's fast-growing Freeview platform according to the DTG website. Media regulator Ofcom wants the market to decide which services should get access to spectrum liberated from switching off analogue transmitters, with an auction planned for 2008.
The HD for All group—which includes the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Five—said it was "important that all television viewers in the UK should have the opportunity to enjoy the UK's free-to-air public service television channels in HD".
"However, this will require some additional spectrum for the DTT platform (the home of Freeview) and we will be making the public interest case for such spectrum in the context of Ofcom's review," said a statement. ITV's interim CEO John Cresswell, said: "It is clear that the UK public expect an HDTV option whichever digital platform they choose. But the future of HD on the UK's fastest growing platform, Freeview, is far from guaranteed."
Full article: DTG website
Item added: 27th December 2006

DTV penetration reaches 73%
The latest figures published by Ofcom show that by the end of September 2006, 73.3% of households are accessing digital television services on their primary television sets. This is an increase of 3.1% compared with the previous quarter.
In the third quarter of 2006, 1.4 million DTT receivers have been sold of which 556,000 were iDTVs. Since the launch of Freeview in October 2002, over 14 million DTT receivers have been sold.
Ofcom estimates that 9.3 million homes are equipped with at least one DTT receiver. It also estimates 7.0 million homes rely on the DTT platform for their digital services. This means that more households watch DTT services than watch traditional analogue services on their main television set (7 million versus 6.4 million).
Overall, the number of DTT homes in Q3 2006 grew by 600,000 compared with a growth of 15,000 in the previous quarter.
Source: Ofcom website (click for full report)
Item added: 27th December 2006

Ofcom opens consultation on the digital dividend
Whist groups lobby for HDTV terrestrial spectrum the broadcast regulator Ofcom has published its Digital Dividend Review for public consultation. The Review sets out Ofcom's proposals for the most effective use of the frequencies (470-862 MHz) released by analogue switch-off between 2008-2012.
It has identified many possible uses of the releases frequencies including: local DTT services, HDTV, mobile TV, mobile voice and data communications, broadband wireless applications, low-power wireless applications, public safety services, etc and
does not believe that it is best placed to decide which services should or should not have access to the spectrum. Ofcom has proposed to offer licenses that would be tradeable and liberalised to allow users the flexibility to decide what technology to use, what services to offer, and to change their use of the spectrum over time.
Ofcom also proposes to award the frequencies by auction. The consultation seeks public views on a number of different auction designs. It is likely that the auction will be held towards the end of 2008, subject to the outcome of this consultation.
The consultation closes on 20 March 2007.
Source: Ofcom website
Item added: 27th December 2006

HD display owners expect HD on the DTT platform
The recent London trial of HD on the DTT platform has been an overwhelming success. The trial was made available to a closed sample group of 450 viewers, 98% of which now feel it is important to have HD services on the Freeview platform in the future; 86% expect these services within three years and 90% believe that UK broadcasters the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Five should be at the forefront of HD developments.
At the present time no spectrum is said to be available for HD or DVB-H on the terrestrial broadcasting channels until analogue switch-off takes place.
Source: DTG
Item added: 28th November 2006

Digital TV sales overtake analogue TV sales for the first time
Sales of digital television equipment have overtaken analogue for the first time according to research by GfK released by digitaluk on November 6^th.
The findings show that in the first three months to September, combined sales of digital televisions, set top boxes and recorders accounted for 51% of all television equipment sold.
Sales of flat panel displays, the majority of which have a digital tuner, grew by 83% over the quarter while CRT sales fell by 40%.
The research is based on sales in 20,000 stores across the UK.
Source: digitaluk press release
Item added: 6^th November 2006

Update on switchover timetable
Digital UK has announced switchover timings for the West Country, Wales and Granada regions under the Governments 2008-2012 switchover timetable.
The timings are as follows:
West Country
Q2, 2009: Beacon Hill, serving south Devon; Stockland Hill, serving south-west Somerset, parts of west Dorset and south-east Devon, including Exeter.
Q3, 2009: Huntshaw Cross, serving much of Cornwall and Devon, including Plymouth.
Wales
Q3, 2009: Preseli, serving south-west Wales; Carmel, serving south Wales; Llandona, serving north-west Wales, including Anglesey; Moel-Y-Parc, serving north-east Wales.
Q1, 2010: Blaenplwyf, serving west and central Wales; Long Mountain, serving east-central Wales; Wenvoe, serving south-east Wales, including Cardiff.
Granada
Q4, 2009: Granada region switches during this quarter when Winter Hill and its relays are changed.
Dates for the other regions are as follows:
Border                                                  2008-2009(Q2)
West Grampian, Scottish                     2010
Central, Yorkshire, Anglia                   2011
Meridian, London, Tyne Tees, Ulster  2012
Channels Islands                                 2013
Source: Digital UK
Item added: 17th October 2006

Freeview growth continues
The proportion of households in the UK receiving digital television services on the primary TV set increased to 70.2% during the three months to June 2006. This accounts for 17.7 million households, an increase of 168,000.
However, sales of DTT equipment during the quarter reached 1.2 million, which together with the previous figures shows that many households are now converting secondary TV sets.
DTT only households reached 6,402 million by the end of June, an increase of 15,000 from the previous quarter.
Source: Ofcom quarterly report
Item added: 10th October 2006

Top Up TV’s PVR offering gives 100 programme choice on DTT platform
Top Up TV, the UK’s digital terrestrial pay-TV operator has announced the revamp of its services, launching in the autumn.
'Top Up TV Anytime' will offer customers more than 100 programmes at any time according to its website, all from a range of 18 channels.
Programmes will be stored on a Thomson manufactured PVR which also receives all Free-view channels.
The TV recorder will allow two channels to be recorded at the same time. New programmes will be added and refreshed daily according to Top Up TV. The stored programmes can then be played when required by the customer.
Source: Top Up TV
Item added: 5th September 2006

DTT popularity grows
According to the Institute of Practitioners in Advertising, (IPA) the popularity of Digital Terrestrial TV (DTT) continues to grow and will soon reach 30% of UK TV households. Digital TV in various formats now features in over 66% of UK homes. Conversely the report also mentions that overall traditional TV viewing still continues to drop in the UK. A recent Ofcom report earlier this month revealed that although digital viewing over the past year has risen 18%, the preferred medium for people between 16 and 24 is now Internet, not TV.
Source: DTG News
Item added: 29th August 2006

Ofcom publishes consultation document on digital terrestrial spectrum pricing
Ofcom has published proposals for the introduction of pricing on the spectrum used for both digital terrestrial radio and television services. The proposal is to introduce Administrative Incentive Pricing (AIP) to ensure the efficient use of allocated spectrum. Charges for digital radio and digital TV terrestrial spectrum are planned to start in 2012 and 2014 respectively. The announcement follows a proposal in the 2002 Cave report, that AIP (charging for spectrum) be expanded to include those services not already covered.
Responses to the consultation document must be submitted to Ofcom by 5pm on Friday 27th October 2006.
Source: Ofcom
Item added: 1st August 2006

Engineering work underway in preparation for Digital Switch-Over
Network operator Arqiva has begun engineering work on two masts, Caldbeck and Selkirk, which transmit to the Border region, so that switchover can commence in the Whitehaven area during 2008.
The new 337 metre high mast at Caldbeck is the third tallest structure in the UK. New digital transmitting antennas will be installed at Selkirk in 2006.
According to Steve Holebrook, Arqiva’s managing director of Terrestrial Media Solutions: "Digital Switch Over is a wide-ranging and complex project and, whilst viewers won’t begin to see the benefits until 2008, the engineering work is now underway.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 25th July 2006

Ofcom publishes overview of Digital Switch Off programme
Ofcom has published a report on its website detailing the work required to ensure a smooth transition to an all-digital broadcast environment and the organisations responsible to action it.
The responsibilities are as follows:
Government
Set the timetable for switchover.
Establish a Targeted Help Scheme for those most likely to face difficulties in switching.
Encourage manufacturers and retailers to develop and market digital television equipment.
Digital UK
Communicate with viewers about plans for switchover in their region, addressing concerns and building viewer confidence.
Provide information and advice to viewers to help them prepare for switchover.
Work with retailers to train staff on switchover.
Ofcom
Ensure commercial broadcasters meet their licence obligations to support switchover.
Deliver a frequency plan to ensure that digital terrestrial television will be available to at least 98.5% of homes post switchover.
Provide market data and consumer research on digital television and switchover.
Source: Ofcom website
Item added: 17th July 2006

Delays to BBC/ITV Freesat launch
BBC director general Mark Thompson admitted that the free-view-satellite digital satellite service was delayed during a recent Commons culture committee. He said that the launch of the service is likely to be delayed until the autumn of 2007 and gave the reason as an agreement on standards.
Earlier reports in November from set-top-box manufacturers warned the BBC and ITV that their Freesat service might have to be delayed for a year because the broadcasters had yet to provide detailed specifications.
At present the terrestrial DTT coverage is limited to 73% of the population and coverage cannot be increased until more frequencies are released during the progressive analogue switch-off phase.
The Freesat service was planned to allow those viewers outside the current Freeview DTT coverage areas to have the benefit of the new service during the run up to switchover.
Source: DTG Website
Item added: 17th July 2006

Ofcom opens consultation on multiplex data limits
The communications regulator Ofcom has opened a consultation on the transmission of non-TV data services on the DTT platform. Currently, non-TV data services are limited to 10% of capacity on each DTT multiplex.
The UK Parliament set the data limit to ensure that the DTT multiplexes would be used mostly for television services rather than data distribution or other communications services.
The Broadcast Act of 1996 empowers Ofcom to set a tighter limit if necessary while the Secretary of State can relax the limit. With the advent of interactive services, Ofcom believes that there is likely to be an increase in the demand for data services.
As such, it plans to publish guidance on what capacity can be used for data services. Responses to the consultation should be sent to Ofcom by 14 September 2006.
Source: Ofcom website and Digitag
Item added: 11th July 2006

Freeview set to overtake Sky
According to a report by the Institute of Practitioners in Advertising (IPA), the UK free-to-air DTT platform (Freeview) is on course to overtake BskyB’s pay satellite service by the end of 2006. At present the DTT platform has 27.3% of TV households while Sky has 31.5%. The report estimates that if DTT continues to grow at 2% per quarter, the same rate that it did in 2005, it will overtake the digital satellite platform, currently the most popular in the UK, by Q4 2006.
Source: DTG
Item added: 26th June 2006

HDTV trial over Terrestrial Digital TV has begun
The joint BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel Five HDTV trial over DTT has begun.
The BBC will be a simulcast   its new HD channel, which is also available on satellite and cable, whilst ITV will broadcast its World Cup games, selected dramas and classic films in HD. Channel 4 plans to offer US imports such as   Lost and Desperate Housewives plus movies from FilmFour.
Five will air CSI and original programmes such as Tim Marlow at MOMA and movies such as Cocktail .
The trial, to a closed audience of 450 homes in range of the Crystal Palace transmitter in London, will last for six months and the feedback from triallists, all provided with special HD DTT set-top boxes, will help determine whether to go forward with HD services and how to roll them out on the DTT platform in the future.
Source: Digital Spy
Item added: 12th June 2006

Digital TV overtakes Analogue TV in the UK
Ofcom’s latest figures show that 18.2 million households were able to watch digital television at the end of March 2006. This is 72.5% of UK households. Digital Terrestrial households now total 7.09 million with Digital Satellite households still slightly greater at 7.69 million. This means that Digital Terrestrial household now exceed the number of analogue only households for the first time.
Ofcom estimates that all the homes using DTT equipment to be around 8.8 million. DTT households grew by 600k during the first quarter and by the end of March 2006, 10.9 million DTT receivers had been sold.
Off the 1.2 million DTT sales in the first quarter of the year an estimated 38% are for use on secondary sets in the home.
Source: Ofcom Digital Progress report Q1 2006
Item added: 8th June 2006

Final results of Oxford DVB-H trial
Once consumers understand how technology works they use it more, an old adage that seems to be borne out by the results of the Oxford DVB-H trial, according to the Guardian.
The six month trial of mobile television in Oxford by mobile operator O2 and broadcast provider Arqiva had 375 consumers, who spent an average of four hours watching TV on their mobiles. They had 16 channels available to view and watched in more varying locations as they became more familiar with the technology. By the end of the trial 37% of the viewing was during the daily commute, with peak viewing in the mornings and early evenings. As the trial progressed home viewing dropped to 32% as commuter viewing increased.
News and soaps were the most popular content with news bulletins drawing a 44% share of viewers and 36% watching soaps.
Overall 85% of users said that they were satisfied or more than satisfied with mobile television while 72% said that they would take up services within a year of a launch.
O2 and Arqiva are planning to extend the trial into the Autumn and possible offer interactive services.
Source: Guardian Unlimited
Item added: 1st June 2006

Arqiva selected as BBC's preferred supplier for DTT transmission
Subject to a final signed agreement the BBC has announced that transmission supplier Arqiva has been selected for the design, deployment and operation of a new High-Powered digital terrestrial television network.
The present low power DTT network was used to launch services in the UK on a non-interference basis with the existing analogue network. The plan to switch from analogue to digital services by region and on a progressive basis finally allows the correct powers to be used for a nationwide service. According to the BBC the new network will largely replicate the existing analogue coverage areas.
The new network will come into service progressively from 2008 to 2012 in line with the Government plan.
Original source: DTG
More information: Aqiva press release
Item added: 23rd May 2006

BBC launch free-to-air HD trial
BBC HD will start broadcasting on Monday May 15th with a test stream previewing forthcoming programmes.
The first live HD programme will be the opening World Cup match, Germany versus Costa Rica, on Friday June 9th. BBC commentary and studio coverage HD will wrap up the HD feed from German host broadcasters HBS (Host Broadcaster Services)
The HD trial will run for 12 months and will feature some of the BBC’s most ambitious programmes, such as natural history series Planet Earth and Galapagos, drama documentary Hannibal and some BBC Proms concerts including the first and last nights all in HD quality. The amount of new programmes each day will vary, averaging between one and two hours. Some programmes will be simulcast with BBC ONE or, in a few instances, BBC TWO. Others will be time-shifted or offer another chance to view past dramas such as Bleak House and Hotel Babylon, which were originally made in HD.
The BBC will provide its stream on all technically capable platforms such as satellite and cable as a free-to view service during the trial although HD set top boxes are required to receive the signals.
In an FAQ on the BBC website it states that both 1080i and 720p streams will be broadcast during the trial and equipments must be capable of displaying both for complete test reception.
Due to lack of free spectrum for terrestrial platforms the streams will only be available to a few hundred trial households in London.
Source: BBC website
Item added: 17th May 2006

Ofcom allows Pay TV services on all multiplexes
Following a public consultation, which ended on January 11th 2006, Ofcom has announced that the previous restrictions allowing only Free-to-view services on multiplexes B, C and D have now been lifted.
The BBC and National Grid Wireless were awarded the multiplexes in 2002 following the collapse of ITVdigital and this decision now allows them to have Pay-TV services on these multiplexes once again. National Grid Wireless currently owns multiplexes C And D while the BBC owns Multiplex B as Free-to-View Ltd.
Source: Ofcom
Item added: 20th April 2006

450 Londoners sought for HD trial as ITV joins the BBC
The UK's public service broadcasters are seeking 450 volunteers in London to take part in a six-month trial of high-definition television broadcast via the digital terrestrial platform. The BBC and ITV will air World Cup football matches during the trial while Channel 4 and Five will broadcast high-definition versions of broadcast programmes.

The trial uses local frequencies made available by a development licence from media regulator Ofcom. Beyond the trial, capacity for HD broadcasts on the digital terrestrial platform will be limited until regions start the switch to digital-only television under the Government's 2008-2012 timetable.

Liberated spectrum could be used for HD services, though policymakers have yet to decide the process by which it might be allocated, and how much capacity will be given to the digital terrestrial platform.

"This trial will allow us to evaluate the technology and give us valuable insight into viewer attitudes to HD, helping to show the possibilities for HD broadcasts over DTT post-switchover," said Simon Fell, ITV's controller of emerging technologies.
Source: DTG website
Item added: 11th

Arqiva warns on HD delays to digital terrestrial
According to Broadcast magazine, Arqiva has warned Ofcom that delays in deciding whether Freeview will carry HD channels could result in a £70 million pound bill. Apparently this is because certain transmiters in Scotland, Wales, the West Country and north-west England need to be modified for switchover this summer by Arqiva, but the work does not include preparations for HD.
Broadcast magazine quoted an Arqiva spokesman as saying that a delay now could leave large areas of the UK without digital Terrestrial HD until 2013. He said that "It is inconceivable that digital terrestrial TV will not support HD in the future. How can 50% of the population be denied coverage of the London Olympics in HD?"
Initial source: DTG
Item added: 7th March, 2006

BBC commits to HD of Freesat and online (iMP)
BBC new media chief Ashley Highfield has confirmed plans to make high-definition (HD) programmes available via the corporation's integrated media player and free satellite platform.
The BBC has been working together with ITV on the launch of this new free-to-view satellite service which has the capacity to launch both HD and SD services, unlike the terrestrial platform freeeview which already uses all the currently available spectrum for SDTV.
The announcement comes as BSkyB are expected to launch commercial HD services within three months.
Sources: DTG and Financial Times
Item added: 23rd February 2006

Oxford DVB-H trial users overwhelmingly in favour of mobile services
UK mobile operator O2 has revealed the results of its trial of broadcast television to mobile phones in Oxford, suggesting that users were overwhelmingly favourable towards the service and the majority would consider subscribing.
The results indicate that 83% were satisfied with the service, while 76% would take up the service within 12 months.
Using Nokia 7710 phones viewers averaged three hours/week viewing time with some watching for as many as five hours.
Although the trial was a success the lack of a spectrum allocation for the service is a major obstacle. At present mobile TV has not been included in the current frequency allocations but it is hoped that this can be rectified long before the analogue switch of in 2012, when additional spectrum will become available.
Main sources: Informitv   Stuff Magazine
Item added: 18th January 2006

Sky claims 8 million DTH customers
In a recent press release Sky claim that the subscriber base for its satellite television service has reached 8 million.
Source: Sky press release
Item added: 23rd December 2005

65.9% of UK households now watching digital television
As of September 30th digital television was viewed in 65.9% of UK households according to Ofcom. This was up from 63% in the last quarter.
In total 16.5 million households watch digital television, with more than 5.775 million watching free-to-view DTV, 575 thousand of these using satellite platforms (DVB-S) and the rest watching terrestrial broadcasts (DVB-T).
The total number of BSkyB subscribers is now 7.472 million up 48 thousand since Q3, 2005.
Source: Ofcom
Item added: 15th December 2005

Companies push to be first with HDTV
BSkyB has revealed more details of its upcoming HDTV line-up according to a Digital Spy article on November 22nd.
Sky Sports HD, Sky Movies and Artsworld will be broadcast in HD as well as Sky One which will be simulcast. Other broadcasters such as Discovery, National Geographic and the BBC are also expected to launch HD channels broadcast using MPEG-4 / H.264 compression and using DVB-S2 transmission technology.
With Sky likely to launch in April 2006, cable operator, Telewest is attempting to be the first to launch HD in the UK, starting before the end of the first quarter of 2006 on its cable network.
Source: digital spy
Item added: 29th November 2005


Ofcom begins the Digital Dividend Review (DDR)
Ofcom announced on the 17th October, the start of the Digital Dividend Review, a project which will examine the options arising from the release of spectrum afforded by the digital switchover programme.
Digital broadcasting uses approximately six times less spectrum than the existing analogue equivalent. The switch to digital only services will consequently release a large amount of spectrum, which can be used for other services.
The cleared spectrum – the Digital Dividend – offers real opportunities for wireless innovation and could enable the launch of a wide range of new and different services.
Ofcom estimates that 112 MHz of UHF spectrum will be released for new uses when analogue services are switched off.
The proposed timetable is as follows:
*Digital Dividend Review (DDR) begins – Nov 2005
*Programme team and consultants in place – end 2005
*Stakeholder meetings begin – Jan- Feb 2006
*Outcome of RRC - June 2006
*DDR completed - Q3 2006
*Ofcom publishes final proposals - Q4 2006
*Digital switchover programme begins -  2008
*Digital switchover programme completed - 2012
Source: Ofcom
Item added: 21st November 2005.

Source:DTG
Item added: 19th September 2005



Digital penetration reaches 63%
Recent figures from Ofcom show that the number of digital households in the UK increased from 61.9% in the first quarter of 2005 to 63% in the second quarter of the year.
Ofcom estimates that the number of DTT only homes had grown to 5,178,000 by the end of June 2005. This is an increase of 118,000 homes compared with the first quarter of the year. A total of 7,892,500 DTT set-top boxes and iDTVs have been sold in the UK according to Ofcom.
Source:Ofcom
Item added: 19th September 2005


New report for the "Independent Audit of Spectrum Holdings"
A report from Analysys Mason, commissioned by the Independent Audit of Spectrum Holdings, has just been released.
The principle objective of the study was to forecast the future demand for radio spectrum in the UK for commercial services (non-governmental) use within the 0-15GHz frequency range.
There is a considerable section on Television which mentions both SDTV and HDTV requirements and touches on future mobile TV services.
Demand forecasts were developed for the next 20 years (2005-2025), but with a particular focus on the next 10 years (2005-2015)
The Independent Audit of Spectrum Holdings was announced by the Chancellor in his December-2004 Pre-Budget Report and is being conducted by Professor Martin Cave.
Source: Spectrum report
Item added: 6th September 2005

Planning Options for Digital Switchover (Ofcom)
Ofcom has now published the results of its consultation process on planning for the digital switchover of terrestrial television in the UK.

Its main conclusions are

• That all three public service multiplexes should aim to achieve similar levels of coverage by adopting the same mode of operation and similar power levels.
  
• Commercial multiplex operators should be able to determine their own coverage objectives but must not let the coverage of any multiplex fall below its present levels of 73%.
  
• Ofcom is also on favour of Public service multiplex broadcasters using 64QAM at switchover to maximise the number of channels available. But it makes the proviso that this should only happen if steps are being taken to ensure that coverage would reach 98.5% of the population, as analogue PBS services do at present and that switchover can be achieved between 2008 and 2012.
  
• Ofcom has decided that it is essential that 8k be used at switchover in areas where SFN’s will be in operation such as the Meridian and Anglia regions. The rest of the UK will adopt the 8k format by 2012 or earlier if the impact on existing 2k viewers is shown to be small.

The full report can be seen on the Ofcom website
Item added 2nd June 2005

Previous

Details of Oxford DVB-H trial emerge
The trial by NTL Broadcast and O2, using the DVB-H specification to deliver video programmes to mobile phone handsets, starts in September and will run for six months.
Performance testing begins in July and software developed for the project will allow the activities of the 350 O2 customers, taking part in the trial, to be monitored.
The initial batch of TV channels available include, BSkyB (Sky News, Sky Sports News, Sky Travel), Chart Show Channels Ltd (Chart Show TV), Discovery Networks Europe (Discovery Channel), Sports International (Shorts TV - bespoke short film channel) and Turner Broadcasting (CNN, Cartoon Network).
Eventually 16 channels will be available during the six month trial.
For additional information see: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/4533205.stm
Item added: 17th May 2005

UK analogue switch off begins
Analogue services around the Welsh villages of Ferryside and Llansteffan were switched off at the end of March. Only digital services now remain as part of a DTT trail. Villagers have been using their free Freeview boxes since late last year and a survey revealed that 98% would be happy for the analogue services to be switched off.
465 households are participating in the trial which began in November 2004 and is designed to see how the UK will cope with the digital switchover, scheduled to start in 2007.

UK switchover timetable announced
Ofcom has finally made official the timetable for UK digital switchover. The proposals provide detail on when each of the 15 regions, based on the old ITV franchise map, will move to digital-only broadcasting in a staged switchover between 2008 and 2012. The publication is still in the draft form and requires government approval. This will presumably wait until after the General Election. Commercial broadcasters are obligated to move to digital transmissions by December 31, 2012 following the issue of their Digital Replacement Licences. Digital television currently reaches some 73% of the UK, but it is not possible to significantly increase coverage until the existing analogue services are switched off. Viewers in the Border, Westcountry and HTV Wales regions will be the first to switch to digital in 2008 followed by Granada, HTV West, Grampian, Scottish (2009), Central, Yorkshire and Anglia (2010), Meridian, London. Tyne Tees and Ulster (2011) and finally Channel in 2012.
Source: Broadband TV News, February 10^th 2005

For the original Ofcom article click on: http://www.ofcom.org.uk/research/dsoind/smup/