Digital TV News

HDTV for all?

26 February, 2007

editorial@consumerchoices.co.uk

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A campaign to secure Freeview High Definition (HD) television was launched on February 6th 2007, formed by a coalition of TV manufacturers, retailers and public service broadcasters.

Currently, High Definition (HD) TV is available to consumers with an HD-ready TV set and particular subscription channels. The media regulator, Ofcom, plans to auction off the publicly-owned HD spectrum when the digital switchover takes place. According to Digital TV Group (DTG), free-to-view networks could get left out as they cannot afford to bid for the capacity to show HD signals. Freeview users might be unable to watch programmes in high definition.

With nine million households already using freeview, the UK could be divided into the ‘HD haves’ and the ‘HD have nots’. Chris Eagle, commercial manager for DigitalChoices.co.uk, says, “this is worrying for TV services in the UK. People expect good quality images from digital TV, and that’s what they should get – it will be a shame if some households miss out. If freeview users are buying HD-ready TVs in preparation for a digital revolution, they might be wasting their money.”

Ofcom has suggested that free-to-view channels could use some of their current spectrum to host HD channels, but this would mean reducing the number of channels available. A DTG representative recently claimed that an auction “will put at risk the unifying role of television in the UK where every citizen has access to the same quality of TV service… irrespective of the ability to pay for additional services.”