International Journal of Communications Law & Policy

THE POLITICS OF UK TELEVISION POLICY: THE INTRODUCTION OF DIGITAL TELEVISION

By Paul Smith

Download the Paper in PDF Format: IJCLP Web-Doc 3-3-1999

Abstract

Unlike in some other European countries, such as Germany and Spain, digital tele-vision began in the UK with a comprehensive regulatory framework already in place. When, in October 1998, BSkyB, the UK's leading (and only) satellite broadcaster, launched a digital service of around 200 channels, the European Directive on Advanced Television Standards had been translated into detailed regulations and specific regulatory responsibilities had been assigned to the existing television and telecommunications regulators. BSkyB's digital launch was followed almost immediately by the introduction of the world's first digital terrestrial television service, providing around 30 channels, including additional channels from the established analogue terrestrial broadcasters and pay-TV channels from the newly formed ONDigital, a joint venture between the existing ITV broadcasters Granada and Carlton. This 'world first' was facilitated by the 1996 Broadcasting Act, which detailed the specific licencing and regulatory arrangements for UK digital terrestrial television. Finally, when Cable and Wireless Communications (CWC), the UK's largest cable company, launches a digital service later this year it will do so against the background of the established regulatory framework.

Despite this, however, there remains considerable uncertainty surrounding policy outcomes in UK digital TV. Will all three delivery platforms (satellite, terrestrial and cable) survive? To what extent will pay-TV services and specifically pay-per-view (ppv) services dominate digital TV? What degree of vertical integration will be tolerated by UK regulators? What will the structure of UK television be like in 5 years time? To answer these questions with any degree of certainty is practically impossible.