The BBC has issued a warning to the government over the future of digital TV if ONdigital closes down.

Director-General Greg Dyke said that the proposed date of 2006 for the closedown of analogue "will not happen" unless digital terrestrial becomes a success.

"What is clear is that, without digital terrestrial TV, we will not get analogue switch-off," he said.

"We think the government should do more," added BBC Chairman Sir Christopher Bland.

"People don't want to pay for digital TV and someone has got to have a decent free-to-air service. We did hope that would happen earlier," said Dyke.

Rumours of BBC investment in a digital terrestrial service were dismissed totally, however.