HD a matter "for individual broadcasters"

Broadcasting minister Shaun Woodward has said that the Government does not have a role in whether public service broadcasters choose to provide high definition services.

Peter Luff MP, the Conservative member for mid-Worcestershire, tabled a written question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport asking "what steps [the] Department is taking to encourage public service broadcasters to make their services available in high definition format."

In response, Woodward said: "The question of whether to offer services in high definition format is one for individual broadcasters to consider. The BBC's Public Purposes under the Charter include the general obligation of helping deliver to the public the benefit of emerging communications technologies and services."

Woodward comments have come after MPs expressed concern that high definition broadcasts from the main public service broadcasters should be available on digital terrestrial on a free-to-air basis.

An in depth look at "HD for all" will appear this Sunday in a Weekend Spy report here on DS.