Date: 29th August 2000

Britain May Give Away Digital Decoders


In an effort to accelerate the transition to digital and high-definition TV and sell off the existing analog spectrum, the British government is likely to give away settop converter boxes within the next two years, the London Sunday Times reported.

The plan would allow viewers who refuse or cannot afford to pay for digital TV to continue to receive the stations that now broadcast analog signals as well as certain other free networks due to launch over the next four years.

The report quoted a source close to British Trade Secretary Stephen Byers as saying that the government was prepared to provide more than two million settop boxes at a cost of at least $80 million. The source said that the estimate was based on a "hard core of digital refuseniks" of between 5 percent and 10 percent of all households.

Source: Studio Briefing