Annex B
A BRIEF HISTORY OF SWITCHOVER
In 1999 Chris Smith, the then Secretary of State
for Culture, Media and Sport, first mooted the possibility of
digital television switchover.
To assess the feasibility of switchover Government
formed The Digital Television Action Plan (DTAP) at the end of
2001. It prompted the formation of a Government/industry Digital
Television Project to undertake a number of early tasks, which
had been identified as being necessary to prepare for switchover.
These included spectrum planning, market preparation and technology
and equipment preparation.
One of the specialist working groups established
by the DTAP was the Spectrum Planning Group (SPG), led by Ofcom.
This was charged with responding to the challenge from Government
to plan a full DTT post-switchover network that would significantly
replicate analogue coverage and at the same time release frequencies
from the broadcasting spectrum for future alternative use.
Based upon the SPG's recommended frequency plan
and subsequent refinements, Ofcom issued Digital Replacement Licences
to ITV, Channel 4, five and Teletext at the end of 2004. These
licences contained several switchover related obligations, including:
— a requirement to extend DTT[20]
to substantially replicate analogue coverage (defined by Ofcom
as PSB core coverage of 98.5%)[21];
— a requirement to agree a communications
plan with Ofcom aimed at informing their viewers of the timetable
for switchover and how to receive their channels after switchover;
— to complete the build-out of the
DTT network switchover within the UK by the end of 2012.
The SPG also recommended that 14 channels in
the broadcast spectrum should be released to Ofcom for alternative
use.[22]
At the same time, Government conducted a cost-benefit
analysis to demonstrate the net benefit of digital switchover
to UK plc[23].
In September 2003 the Government decided to
pursue digital switchover. At this point the work moved from a
question of "whether" and on to questions of "how"
and "when".
The DTAP did further work to recommend a "managed
migration" approach, emphasising voluntary switching and
substantial notice of switchover in each region. It developed
high level plans for frequency planning, consumer equipment, consumer
support and communications. It also highlighted the possible policy
impacts, and conducted a risk assessment of digital switchover.
But the DTAP was not designed to deliver switchover, only to pave
the way for the Government decision.
The DTAP came to an end on 31 December 2004.
By this time the BBC and those with licence obligations to deliver
switchover (the commercial public service broadcasters) and commercial
multiplex licensees had convened to create a "shadow SwitchCo"
working team, to mould the successor project to the DTAP.
These parties then worked together with the
supply chain representatives to develop the objectives, structure
and remit for SwitchCo.
SwitchCo Ltd. was incorporated on 12 April 2005.
SwitchCo's consumer-facing launch as "Digital UK" was
made on 16 September 2005, the day after the Secretary of State
for Culture, Media and Sport's announcement at the Royal Television
Society Cambridge Convention which reiterated the Government's
commitment to switchover and set out the regional timetable and
early details of the Government's targeted assistance scheme.
20 DTT currently transmits from only 80 transmitter
sites in the UK. At switchover, turning off the analogue signal
will enable the digital signal to be boosted in power at those
80 sites, and introduced for the first time to the remainder of
the 1,154 transmitter sites used in analogue. Back
21
The term "PSB core coverage" refers to the proportion
of UK households that can receive all of the PSB services. Back
22
Ofcom has responsibility for spectrum management in the UK, and
will decide on how to allocate the spectrum released by the switchover
process. Possibilities include further TV services, high definition
TV (HDTV), mobile TV services or wireless networks. Ofcom is not
expected to make a decision on the use of this spectrum until
late 2006 or early 2007. Back
23
The latest version of the Government's Cost Benefit Analysis,
published on 10 February 2005, indicated a Net Present Value to
UK plc of completing digital switchover by the end of 2012 of
£1.7 billion (central case-assuming 2012 completion date). Back
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