It’s been a good 24 hours for the c.20 million UK homes with TV sets which rely on an aerial, or in industry-terms, use digital terrestrial TV (DTT) platforms like Freeview.
These sets depend on access to airwaves, which are governed by global regulations. Today, the international body responsible for those airwaves took a decision that will ensure secure access for DTT platforms well into the next decade.
The agreement was reached by administrations from over 150 countries including the UK, despite significant lobbying to open up those airwaves used by DTT (its radio spectrum) to mobile internet use. If the rules had changed, digital terrestrial TV would have been left without dedicated spectrum, risking investment in the platform, and as a result, in home-grown UK programmes.
DTT’s use of the airwaves has become ever more efficient. This has allowed broadcasters to free up more spectrum for mobile internet use. There are plans to clear more spectrum for this purpose by squeezing DTT channels into less spectrum than they currently use. This will be challenging but today’s announcement gives the long-term certainty needed for broadcasters to focus on delivering this clearance, while minimising disruption to viewers. The announcement follows confirmation again in this week’s Comprehensive Spending Review that the clearance will be funded.
Taken together, the measures should ensure that both mobile internet users benefit, while DTT viewers also continue to enjoy the nation’s favourite channels, free-to-air. They enable the BBC to ‘ride two horses’ (as set out in our recent strategy), serving those who have adopted the internet, while at the same time making sure that those who want to carry on watching and listening to traditional channels continue to be properly served too.
