The communications regulator will review its
Code of Practice to govern the switchover to digital and the switch
off of analogue television, which will take place from 2008 to
2012. It has outlined some of the problems that could be
encountered.
The set up of nationwide digital terrestrial
television (DTT) to replace analogue television could affect
current DTT services, which only some households use.
"The digital switchover (DSO) programme may
affect the coverage of existing DTT and analogue services," said
the discussion paper on the Code issued by Ofcom. "Several years
before switchover, the existing digital antenna may need to be
removed to enable the construction of new DSO-ready antennas (e.g.
to make room on the mast)."
There could also be problems with interference
as digital signals are broadcast more widely, and into areas where
analogue signals are still live.
Analogue switch off will be performed on a
region by region basis, according to the ITV franchise areas. The
Borders area will be first, in 2008, because it is a relatively
self-contained broadcast area. Other areas such as the south east
of England are far more complicated because they have much greater
population density and because the spectrum used must inter-lock
with other countries' spectrum, such as that of nearby France.
"As the regions are scheduled to switch over
at different times the transmissions using the new digital switch
over frequency channels being adopted in one region may cause
interference that would affect the reception of existing DTT or
analogue services in another region," said the discussion
paper.
Ofcom has announced that it will change its
Code of Practice to ensure that problems such as these are
minimised. The parties involved have until March to contribute
ideas to Ofcom for possible inclusion in the revised Code.
The Code says that where this disruption
denies viewers access to television, and where a DTT service will
not be available, the operators of the digital television network
must offer those people an alternative paid for by the operator.
That is likely to be a satellite television service, which does not
rely on DTT transmission networks.
