Free digital TV services
Free-to-air
Will the new HD channels requiring upgrades of digital equipment pose a threat to the future of free digital TV services, such as Freeview and Freesat? asks George Cole.
L ast year saw the UK finally switchover
from analogue television to digital, which makes it good time to consider what the future holds for the two major digital free-to- air TV services, Freesat and Freeview. Freeview offers over 50 channels including, several HD channels: BBC One HD, The BBC HD Channel, ITV1 HD and Channel 4 HD. The BBC and Channel 4 have suggested using the spare 600MHz frequency band to offer up to ten more Freeview HD channels, a proposal supported by Ofcom. However, in order to view the new HD channels, consumers would need to upgrade their digital TV equipment to a standard known as DVB- T2, which uses a more efficient form of video compression than the current technology (DVB-T).
The HD challenge
Guy North, marketing communications director of Freeview, is keen on the prospect of extra HD channels, “This is something we would most certainly welcome given that through our own research we have found substantial consumer appetite for this type of content”. Bob Hannent, senior technology manager at Humax, is more cautious, “There is still a surprisingly strong market for low-end, standard definition set-top box products, which means there are still products in the market that are not able to receive HD channels.” He notes that while additional Freeview HD channels may increase interest in high definition viewing and drive more people to upgrade, the business case for further HD channels has always been
20 The Independent Electrical Retailer February 2013
difficult for financially-pressed broadcasters. “I also have a concern around the commitment to providing real HD channels instead of just upscaled content,” he adds. Panasonic spokesperson Matthew Billing, says, “More HD channels has got to be a good thing, because HD is a fantastic medium. However, if its arrival was at the expense of the picture quality for existing digital television channels, I would be concerned.” Steve Simper, managing director of aerial, satellite and set-top box distributor, Alltrade, says, “We think it’s good news for the consumer and should help retail too. More HD channels, particularly if backed by BBC and C4 advertising, should encourage more people to upgrade their TVs to HD or buy a suitable receiver to connect to their HD
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