10.07.02
BBC and Crown Castle To Champion Digital for Everyone |
(London, July 2002) - The BBC and Crown Castle UK have welcomed the recent decision by the Independent Television Commission (ITC).
The ITC has offered the licence for Multiplex "B" to the BBC and the remaining two licences for Multiplexes "C" and "D" to Crown Castle.
The new licences, which fell vacant following the collapse of ITV Digital, will run for 12 years.
Greg Dyke, Director-General, BBC said: "This is a fresh start for digital television in the UK and the best outcome for viewers.
"It won't be an easy task - the platform has been through a major crisis - but we believe that a simple, entirely free-to-view digital option has the best chance of success with consumers."
Peter Abery, President and Managing Director, Crown Castle added: "We are delighted by this decision from the ITC.
"We will now be working closely with the BBC to get the digital terrestrial platform, free from the technical problems that dogged ITV Digital, back up and running as quickly as possible."
The BBC and Crown Castle will work together with other DTT licence holders, broadcasters, manufacturers and retailers to ensure the long-term success of the platform.
In total, the ITC received six applications for the multiplex licences.
In addition to the complementary applications from the BBC and Crown Castle, there were linked applications from the Digital Terrestrial Alliance (ITV companies Carlton and Granada with Channel 4) and Freeview Plus.
Other applications came from SDN, a company owned by United Business Media, S4C and NTL, and another from venture capital firm Apax.
DTT (Digital Terrestrial Television) provides a range of digital television services to viewers via their existing aerials. The three multiplexes now being applied for were formerly used by ITV Digital.
More about the BBC's digital services and how to receive them at www.bbc.co.uk/digital
|
|
