BECTU backs digital TV rescue

A proposed coalition to save terrestrial DTV has been welcomed.

In a paper submitted to the UK Parliament Department of Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee, the union gave its support to the tentative plans of major broadcasters to launch a set-top box to receive free digital channels.

The digital terrestrial TV system, branded ITV Digital, has drained more than £800m from its owners, Granada Media and Carlton, since it was launched in 1998.

Most of its 1.1m users have received free set-top boxes in return for monthly payments for a range of subscription TV channels. Although more than a dozen channels are free-to-air, including BBC1, BBC2, ITV and Channel 4, few households have paid the higher price of set-top boxes without taking out a month subscription.

Free set top boxes, plus subsidised aerial installation if needed, initially cost ITV Digital roughly £250 per household, however the cost of acquiring new subscribers has reduced to £150 thanks to the re-cycling of used boxes handed back by dissatisfied customers.

A free-to-air box, probably retailing around £100, would save ITV Digital the cost of free equipment, and purchasers who later decided to pay for subscriptions channels would simply be sent an unlocking card to plug into the box.

BECTU has supported the digital terrestrial TV system since its launch, and warned that its collapse would leave viewers dependent on subscripton-based broadcasters like satellite company BSkyB, or cable TV operators ntl and TeleWest.

The union's comments to government came after further comments were invited on the Communications White paper, which may become a Parliamentary Bill early next year.

In spite of its welcome for new digital services, BECTU pointed out that up to 40% of households have expressed no desire to replace their 5-channel analogue sets with multi-channel digital receivers, posing a major obstacle to plans for a shut-down of the current transmitters.

BECTU has also called for BSkyB to be included in the regulatory regime which will place obligations for range and quality of content on a list of named public service broadcasters, including ITV and Channel 4.