Digital TV News

Nearly 90% of UK now gets digital terrestrial TV

Tuesday 1 November, 2011

By Kelvin Goodson

Almost everyone is expected to be able to receive terrestrial TV digitally by this time next year, according to Ofcom

Almost 90% of the UK can now receive terrestrial television digitally, according to a new report by Ofcom.

The first Communication Infrastructure report from the communications regulator reveals that digital terrestrial television (DTT) coverage in the UK is now 89%.

This figure is expected to reach 99% by this time next year, with the analogue TV system scheduled to be switched off for good on 24 October, 2012.

This means that almost everyone in the UK will be able to receive all BBC channels, all of ITV’s channels, Channel 4 and Channel 5 digitally by November 2012.

However, the percentage of people who will be able to access every free-to-air digital channel, like Dave and Pick TV, will not be so high.

At present, 73% of UK households are able to access every DTT channel , with this proportion expected to rise to 92% in 12 months’ time.

The report also said that 96% of UK households now have digital TV on at least one television set, with 93% watching TV digitally through their main television set.

DTT accounts for 88% of the television platforms used in the UK, with paid-for satellite TV, like Sky, accounting for 35%. Cable TV, such as Virgin Media’s digital TV service, makes up 12%, free-to-view satellite, like Freesat, 8% and analogue terrestrial television 7%.

Ofcom has published the inaugural Communication Infrastructure report in order to provide “a snapshot of the UK’s communications infrastructure,” which can be used as “a base against which Ofcom can measure in subsequent reports”.