The BBC Trust have given their provision backing to a permanent high-definition channel on satellite and cable — with a few provisos.
After Ofcom published its Market Impact Assessment [PDF] saying that it didn’t believe an HD channel for the BBC would have a negative impact on the competition, the Trust had to decide whether the BBC would actually be providing a public service by creating the channel. Their provisional conclusion is that it will.
The trial BBC HD channel which currently runs on cable and satellite will, in effect, now become permanent. However, if the BBC wanted to provide HD over Freeview now, rather than waiting until switchover is complete in 2012, it would only be able to provide a four-hour schedule broadcasting between 2am and 6am every morning. The capacity for this interim HD broadcast would only be available by closing BBC Parliament, BBC Four and three BBCi streams during those hours.
Another problem exists with this arrangement: if the BBC wanted to be able to provide the same nine-hour HD service on Freeview after switchover as it does on cable and satellite, viewers will have to buy a different set-top box to be able to pick it up.
This dilemma forms the crux of the BBC Trust’s public consultation: should the BBC Executive forge ahead with a Freeview HD service now?
Although the BBC could launch a four-hour overnight service almost immediately on Freeview within its existing spectrum allocation (subject to the schedule changes specified in the management’s application), Ofcom’s possible reorganisation of the DTT platform in the future could mean licence fee payers having to make two equipment upgrades in a short space of time. In short, the set-top box which could deliver the first four-hour service would not work after reallocation of the spectrum and a new set-top box would be necessary in order to receive the full nine-hour channel.
In view of this, the Trust is minded to delay the launch of the four-hour interim service on Freeview until after Ofcom’s proposals for digital spectrum are clear early next year. However, the Trust is particularly interested in the public’s view on this in its consultation: would people prefer the BBC to launch the service as soon as possible, even if that meant people having to buy two set-top boxes in order to receive the service within a very short period of time?
While everyone ponders that question, there are some limits set out on what content BBC HD may contain. Namely:
It shouldn’t attempt to replicate the BBC1 schedule (a la Sky One and Sky One HD), but show programmes from across the BBC’s portfolio of channels.
The mixed genre nature will be specified in the service licence for the channel. The channel mustn’t be allowed to be a full-on competitor for dedicated HD film and sports channels. Also, the BBC will have to monitor how it spends money on rights to broadcast events to ensure that budgets aren’t distorted by the presence of an HD channel.
The BBC has commitments to Parliament for what it shows on BBC Parliament. In the event that a Commons debate overruns, BBC Parliament’s live transmissions will take priority over BBC HD on Freeview (if the 2am-6am option described above is taken up).
The BBC Trust is inviting public responses until 23 October. To make your views known, go to the Trust’s consultation page, where you can complete an online form, or you can email hdconsultation@bbc.co.uk. Alternatively you can address your snail mail to:
HDTV consultation
BBC Trust
35 Marylebone High Street
London W1U 4AA
