The BBC Trust approved a proposal Nov. 19 by the BBC to launch an HD channel on multiple platforms, including cable, Sky satellite, on Freesat (when a new satellite launches) and Freeview “as soon as feasible,” all in HD.
The BBC and ITV have a free-to-air satellite service (Freesat), to complement Freeview, a free terrestrial digital television system in the UK. The BBC went free-to-air on digital satellite using standard definition in 2003, with ITV moving their remaining Videoguard encrypted channels over on 1 November 2005. Freesat requires a one-time payment of £150 for equipment. Then you get 120 (standard definition) digital TV channels and 80 digital radio channels.
Free.
The exact timing of the HD Freeview launch is subject to a review of digital spectrum capacity issues next year.
The BBC Trust said it would not proceed with a proposal to allow an interim four-hour overnight HD service via Freeview before technical standards for HD on Freeview were clear and viewer equipment allowing reception of the interim and post digital switchover service was available.
Once the equipment becomes available, the BBC Trust will allow the four-hour overnight services for certain regions of the country. A statement from the BBC Trust indicated that the timing of a Freeview HD launch would be considered in spring 2008.
The UK’s digital switchover started in the Whitehaven area on 17 October 2007 and was complete on November 14 2007. About 25,000 households were the first to have the analogue signal switched off. Digital UK, an independent organization, is co-ordinating the switchover.
Virgin is the only major cable-company in the United Kingdom, with some 8 million subs. Virgin Media merged with NTL and Telewest to become a “quadruple-play” media-company with landline, cable, Internet, and mobile phone services. It competes in the UK with satellite-operator BSkyB (8 million subs), and the terrestrial service, Freeview (10 million subs), which can receive some 40 standard resolution digital television channels (plus radio) for free using an inexpensive off-the-air settop box.
Meanwhile, the BBC, ITV and Channel 4 are launching a joint on-demand service, which will bring together thousands of hours of television programmes in one place. Programming will be available for free download, streaming, rental and purchase over the internet. The BBC’s iPlayer and ITV’s catch-up service will continue to exist along the new online “aggregator”.
The UK, like most of the world, uses an OFDM-based DVB-T digital television system which is resistant to ghosting and can often be received with rabbit ears. By contrast, the proprietary ATSC system in the United States provides better range and contour charts (for advertisers), but gets killed in urban canyons and generally requires a rooftop antenna. Real smart. ATSC was designed by the gang of four, aided and abeded by Richard Wiley.
In related cable matters, Kevin Martin, chairman of the U.S. FCC, would like to give the agency more power to regulate cable operators, notes Market Watch today. His stated goal is to lower cable prices for consumers. Predatory pricing and restrictions on cable-delivered content keeps competitors out.
Yet Martin is facing stiff resistance from a number of House and Senate Republicans while his two fellow Republicans on the five-member FCC board of commissioners are openly skeptical. One of the two Democrats, Jonathan Adelstein, is also having second thoughts, although he’s come under heavy pressure from usual allies such as consumer-interest groups to back the chairman. Early Tuesday, the FCC pushed back its regular meeting scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Eastern time to 11 a.m., but there was an indefinite delay as commissioners tried to hash out the details.
The FCC may have more power to regulate the industry if the agency determines that cable is available to 70% of U.S. households, and that 70% of those who can receive cable actually subscribe.
Comcast, Time Warner Cable and other cable operators said the so-called 70/70 rule has not been fulfilled. They say subscribership is below 65 percent. DirecTV and EchoStar have more than 30 million customers.
Related Dailywireless stories include; The Free Triple Play, UK: Free For All, BSkyB: Free Broadband, Murdoch to Offer Free Broadband?, AT&T + Echostar: Real This Time?, City Fiber Networks and Mobile Satellite on the Move.
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