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Digital Broadcasting

Volume 457: debated on Monday 5 March 2007

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what powers are available to the Government to ensure high definition television broadcasting is available free to air on digital terrestrial television. (124819)

The broadcasting of high definition services and the acquisition of any additional spectrum necessary for their introduction, are matters for the broadcasters. Spectrum allocation is the responsibility of Ofcom, subject to a power of direction by the Secretary of State.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether she has made an estimate of the average cost to an individual consumer of a move to satellite or cable digital television in order to receive high definition television broadcasting. (124821)

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans she has to ensure that the free to air digital terrestrial television platform is sustainable; and what plans she has to enable viewers using it to access high definition broadcasting. (124823)

The digital switchover programme will enable digital terrestrial television (DTT) coverage to be extended so that it substantially matches that of current analogue services, i.e. 98.5 per cent. of the population.

Broadcasting in high definition is essentially a decision for broadcasters. High definition uses more radio spectrum than standard definition, so broadcasters will need to consider their future spectrum use within the context of wider business needs and Ofcom’s digital dividend review.