bob
11-03-2008, 12:28 AM
Ofcom told: ‘Get back to basics’ for UK HDTV
UK broadcasting regulator Ofcom is attempting to create space for HDTV on terrestrial TV. It has been told that its plans are too complicated, risky to implement, and not far-seeing enough.
Ofcom wants to clear a currently fully-utilised digital transmission multiplex and convert it in order to make space for three, and perhaps four, high-definition channels. A new study coming from an industry experts’ group says the strategy is wrong.
Ofcom’s existing plan, unveiled formally last November and which is currently receiving industry responses, calls for Mux B to be cleared and its services reallocated. Mux B is operated by BBC Free to View Ltd (with BBC4, BBC Parliament and 10 radio stations) says Ofcom, and its licence was awarded to the BBC (and National Grid Wireless, shortly likely to be absorbed by transmissions specialists Arqiva) on the basis that its services would be used on a “free-to-air basis”. Ofcom says it will release its post-consultation findings towards the end of March.
There are currently six digital multiplexes in the UK, confusingly called Mux 1 and 2, and Mux A, B, C and D. Mux 1 carries a BBC group of channels, while Mux 2 is used generally by ITV and Channel 4.
In essence Ofcom wants to shift three video services and 10 radio stations from Mux B to Mux 1, and then juggle around some of the other multiplexes in order to create spaces for the shifted channels. Ofcom fully admits that the changes would need to be “carefully managed” in order to avoid confusion. It also admits that the proposed changes pose many questions, not least whether viewer’s current aerials and set-top boxes will cope with the changes, and transmission service strength levels maintained. The scheme to empty Mux B would be implemented later this year and through 2009.
The idea is that the “cleared” multiplex would then become home to a new more efficient digital compression technology, MPEG4 (and DVB-T2 transmission) and thus able to handle up to three and possibly four, high-def channels. Viewers would need new set-top boxes, and upgraded integrated TV sets to view the new signals. New services would then emerge on Mux B “in late 2009 or early 2010”, says Ofcom.
“Don’t bother,” implied a new Independent Expert Industry Group, in a presentation at the Digital Television Group (DTG) Summit in London March 7. Dr Ian Childs, from the DTG’s Technical Council, along with the DTG’s Graham Mills, Brendan Slamin and Roderick Snell (of Snell & Wilcox) formed the expert’s panel, and their proposals generated a positive response from delegates.
Their concept is simple in the extreme – and if implemented would create room for 20 high-def channels, and potentially up to 40 free HD channels for UK viewers. Dr Childs said that while Ofcom’s proposals were quite attractive at first blush, he questioned whether a maximum of four high-def channels on digital terrestrial would be a compelling proposition for viewers.
The Group’s proposal is that the UK adopts a Single Frequency Network (SFN) plan for the whole of the UK (excepting some South Coast and East Coast portions of the country where interference might still create problems). Under this scheme each broadcast channel would be allocated a single – and identical – frequency covering the whole of the UK. “This would permit over the longer term a target of up to 40 high-def channels services and yet use only 22 frequencies (compared to 32 in use today under the current digital switch off plan),” which is technically perfectly feasible, said Dr Childs.
“The regulator can still sell off ********,” said Dr Childs. “But government might have to forgo – for a while – some of its income expectations.” He added that over time the ******** would become more valuable, and thus government’s revenue benefit would probably work out to its advantage.
Graham Mills, responding to a question on financing, said there were three different methods for freeing up ******** for the scheme: “A large, well-endowed company might in a ******** auction take up sufficient bandwidth to run two SFNs, and then do deals with the other broadcasters and end up with perhaps five empty frequencies, which it could use for other commercial purposes, or sell on just like landing slots at Heathrow. The second option could see a consortium coming together and by being adequately funded these changes could be made in a very short number of years and not the two or three decades that [some speak about].”
His third way questioned whether the British government’s revenue-raising plan to sell off the bulk of the freed-up ******** following analogue switch-off, was the best. His theory was that the land rent for this ******** would only rise over the upcoming years, and thus create an ever-higher benefit over time. “******** that was then part of a very flourishing HDTV system, when compared with a dying digital terrestrial platform that is being out-competed by satellite and cable.”
Instead of Digital Switch Over, we should be calling the next few years our “Digital ******** Optimisation” scheme, said Prof. David Youlton, chairman of the DTG, who proposed that this new Experts Group should be widened to include European broadcasters. “Leave governments out of its for the moment because they screw things up big time,” said Prof Youlton.
UK broadcasting regulator Ofcom is attempting to create space for HDTV on terrestrial TV. It has been told that its plans are too complicated, risky to implement, and not far-seeing enough.
Ofcom wants to clear a currently fully-utilised digital transmission multiplex and convert it in order to make space for three, and perhaps four, high-definition channels. A new study coming from an industry experts’ group says the strategy is wrong.
Ofcom’s existing plan, unveiled formally last November and which is currently receiving industry responses, calls for Mux B to be cleared and its services reallocated. Mux B is operated by BBC Free to View Ltd (with BBC4, BBC Parliament and 10 radio stations) says Ofcom, and its licence was awarded to the BBC (and National Grid Wireless, shortly likely to be absorbed by transmissions specialists Arqiva) on the basis that its services would be used on a “free-to-air basis”. Ofcom says it will release its post-consultation findings towards the end of March.
There are currently six digital multiplexes in the UK, confusingly called Mux 1 and 2, and Mux A, B, C and D. Mux 1 carries a BBC group of channels, while Mux 2 is used generally by ITV and Channel 4.
In essence Ofcom wants to shift three video services and 10 radio stations from Mux B to Mux 1, and then juggle around some of the other multiplexes in order to create spaces for the shifted channels. Ofcom fully admits that the changes would need to be “carefully managed” in order to avoid confusion. It also admits that the proposed changes pose many questions, not least whether viewer’s current aerials and set-top boxes will cope with the changes, and transmission service strength levels maintained. The scheme to empty Mux B would be implemented later this year and through 2009.
The idea is that the “cleared” multiplex would then become home to a new more efficient digital compression technology, MPEG4 (and DVB-T2 transmission) and thus able to handle up to three and possibly four, high-def channels. Viewers would need new set-top boxes, and upgraded integrated TV sets to view the new signals. New services would then emerge on Mux B “in late 2009 or early 2010”, says Ofcom.
“Don’t bother,” implied a new Independent Expert Industry Group, in a presentation at the Digital Television Group (DTG) Summit in London March 7. Dr Ian Childs, from the DTG’s Technical Council, along with the DTG’s Graham Mills, Brendan Slamin and Roderick Snell (of Snell & Wilcox) formed the expert’s panel, and their proposals generated a positive response from delegates.
Their concept is simple in the extreme – and if implemented would create room for 20 high-def channels, and potentially up to 40 free HD channels for UK viewers. Dr Childs said that while Ofcom’s proposals were quite attractive at first blush, he questioned whether a maximum of four high-def channels on digital terrestrial would be a compelling proposition for viewers.
The Group’s proposal is that the UK adopts a Single Frequency Network (SFN) plan for the whole of the UK (excepting some South Coast and East Coast portions of the country where interference might still create problems). Under this scheme each broadcast channel would be allocated a single – and identical – frequency covering the whole of the UK. “This would permit over the longer term a target of up to 40 high-def channels services and yet use only 22 frequencies (compared to 32 in use today under the current digital switch off plan),” which is technically perfectly feasible, said Dr Childs.
“The regulator can still sell off ********,” said Dr Childs. “But government might have to forgo – for a while – some of its income expectations.” He added that over time the ******** would become more valuable, and thus government’s revenue benefit would probably work out to its advantage.
Graham Mills, responding to a question on financing, said there were three different methods for freeing up ******** for the scheme: “A large, well-endowed company might in a ******** auction take up sufficient bandwidth to run two SFNs, and then do deals with the other broadcasters and end up with perhaps five empty frequencies, which it could use for other commercial purposes, or sell on just like landing slots at Heathrow. The second option could see a consortium coming together and by being adequately funded these changes could be made in a very short number of years and not the two or three decades that [some speak about].”
His third way questioned whether the British government’s revenue-raising plan to sell off the bulk of the freed-up ******** following analogue switch-off, was the best. His theory was that the land rent for this ******** would only rise over the upcoming years, and thus create an ever-higher benefit over time. “******** that was then part of a very flourishing HDTV system, when compared with a dying digital terrestrial platform that is being out-competed by satellite and cable.”
Instead of Digital Switch Over, we should be calling the next few years our “Digital ******** Optimisation” scheme, said Prof. David Youlton, chairman of the DTG, who proposed that this new Experts Group should be widened to include European broadcasters. “Leave governments out of its for the moment because they screw things up big time,” said Prof Youlton.