Q&A: Ofcom's Freeview plans "unrealistic"

The Digital TV Group - the UK's digital TV industry association - recently said that Ofcom's plans to put four HD services on Freeview potentially "jeopardise" the platform. Digital Spy's Dave West asked DTG director general Dermot Nolan why the organisation, which counts the UK's major broadcasters and equipment manufacturers among its membership, holds this view.

There aren't many issues the UK's broadcasters can agree on. But Dermot Nolan, whose is to represent all of them, tells Digital Spy there is one on which they're united. Making a fuss about Ofcom's plans for the radio spectrum has become perhaps his biggest task since taking over as director general of Digital UK Group in December.

The regulator reckons it can deploy new technology to fit four HD services, earmarked as BBC HD, ITV HD, Channel 4 HD and a proposed Five HD, onto Freeview without reserving any extra spectrum. That would leave extra space for applications from mobile television to wireless broadband - and mean more cash from auctioning it off.

Why do Dermot and the broadcasters disagree?

Ofcom thinks its set-up could be ready next year - what is the problem with the timescale?
We think that's quite unrealistic. The changes (of proposed mode, transmission and format) have not been standardised yet and they would still have to be turned into set-top boxes. We have discussed this with the industry, manufacturers, vendors, and we think it will take two to three years.

And that will cause a problem for getting HDTV on Freeview?
It (the new transmission) is not here now. Ofcom's proposals are totally inadequate to provide five-channel HDTV. The DTV Group also says there needs to be capacity for BBC One, BBC Two, ITV1, Channel 4 and Five HDTV, which even with the new standards is not provided by the proposals.

What do you want Ofcom to do?
We don't mind them auctioning some of it but we would like to have a bit of it. They don't have a viable consumer proposition. We want enough on lend-lease terms to develop a viable terrestrial HDTV package until DVB-T2. Then there would be lots of spectrum to recover after that.

It sounds like a lack of HDTV on Freeview could be a problem for developing HDTV, rather than vice-versa? Especially since your non-terrestrial members are also supporting it.
One analysis said by 2020, without Freeview, 50% of people will be watching HDTV, with Freeview it would be 90%. Freeview is now the largest platform by some way. The BBC Trust would not agree (to more HDTV channels) unless it is on all platforms.

What makes you think consumers want HDTV?
We think sales speak for themselves. It is already available on other platforms and it is the fastest growing platform they have ever had. On everything else (such as consoles) HDTV is becoming the norm. France is launching seven HD channels this year. In Japan 90% of homes own a HDTV. It is definitely the future. The UK is falling behind.

There are other demands Ofcom has to consider - a survey showed consumers wanted mobile broadband at least as much as HDTV. Why should spectrum be cleared for you?
It depends on how you ask these questions. We think there is room for all - mobile and HDTV. We are a multi-platform group and we think we can have both. It is a matter for the market. For the BBC, bidding for spectrum would be an inappropriate use of public funds. They have already said they wouldn't bid for it.

> Click here for further details of the Digital TV Group position