[opendtv] Richards explains Ofcom stance on HD

["Manfredi, Albert E" <albert.e.manfredi@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Looks still more likely that HDTV in the UK will require fitting the HD
channels within the existing spectrum.

Bert

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http://www.dtg.org.uk/news/news.php?class=countries&subclass=0&id=2525

Richards explains Ofcom stance on HD

Ofcom chief executive Ed Richards says the regulator is ready to "do
everything we can" to help public service broadcasters "create a
high-definition presence on the DTT platform using existing spectrum".

In a keynote speech to the Institute of Economic Affairs' conference on
the Future of Broadcasting, Richards denied that Ofcom was "in some way
indifferent to high-definition television in general and Freeview in
particular". But he told broadcasters, consumer electronics
manufacturers and retailers lobbying for spectrum to be set aside for HD
channels on Freeview that Ofcom was "not yet persuaded" by their case.

Richards described HD as a "very exciting development". As content
production was rapidly moving to HD "the UK will need a strong home HD
market to remain internationally competitive". "We have no wish
artificially to advantage or disadvantage any one platform. We want
viewers to have the widest possible choice. We remain platform neutral
but also pro-competition. And we are enthusiastic supporters of the wide
availability of exciting new services such as HD-and that absolutely
includes Freeview.

"So where does that leave us? Firstly, we continue to believe in a
market-based approach to spectrum, driving forward spectrum
liberalisation, releasing more spectrum, encouraging spectrum trading
and overall a more efficient use of spectrum across the whole economy.

"Secondly, as of today, we are not yet persuaded by the case, argued
predominantly by the 'HD for All' campaign, that the best and only way
to maximise the economic and social benefit of the spectrum released by
digital switchover is simply to gift some or all of it to the
broadcasters for high definition broadcasts for free."

Richards said Ofcom was looking closely at what would be "achieved in
the two thirds of the spectrum released by digital switchover which has
already been pre-assigned by Government for broadcasting on the DTT
platform".

"At the technical level, there is much less difference than has been
rumoured between Ofcom and the broadcasters about what is technically
feasible as a result of adopting new coding and transmission standards.
The best advice that we have is that Freeview could get up to four
universal coverage high definition terrestrial channels from 2012, with
the possibility of a more limited set of services being available in
some parts of the country from as early as 2009-10, just by using the
existing spectrum.

"This is a prize well worth aiming for. It's in the interests of
broadcasters, in the interests of viewers and in the interests of
competition. So we will do everything we can to make it happen."

Richards said there would need to be some additional transmitter
building costs to deliver HD services on Freeview. "However, this cost
is significantly less than the cost of a new seventh multiplex using
released spectrum and very significantly below the opportunity cost
likely to be associated with this spectrum." And there would also need
to be "some rearrangement of who sits where within the DTT platform,
which will require a concerted effort between us, broadcasters,
multiplex operators and Government".

"But let me make clear today that we are ready to do everything we can
to help the broadcasters create a high definition presence on the DTT
platform using existing spectrum today. We are ready to hold the ring to
help ensure that the practical issues are addressed objectively and
equitably so that the viewers will gain from the evolution of the
platform and from the more efficient use of the spectrum that is
possible.

"I hope that the broadcasters and multiplex operators will reflect on
this opportunity carefully. It is important to demonstrate to the
general public that every effort is being made to make the best of what
is available today, rather than merely defaulting to asking for more of
a scarce national resource. I believe that by working together, we can
secure the all-platform high definition future that many of us would
like to see."

Lovelace Consulting 28.06.2007
 
 
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[opendtv] Richards explains Ofcom stance on HD