§ Mr. Masonasked the Postmaster-General (1) in which areas experiments in pay television will be carried out in accordance with paragraph 46 of the White Paper (Command 1893);
(2) whether wire networks will be established for pay television experiments by the Post Office or by private enterprise;
(3) what cost will fall on his Department in connection with the pay television experiments.
§ Mr. BevinsThe areas will be decided after I have received and considered applications from organisations interested in taking part. It is not my present intention that wire networks should be established by the Post Office for the purpose of an experiment. The cost to my Department will be the costs of administration. I cannot yet assess these, but they will be reflected in the licence fees chargeable to the operators.
§ Mr. Masonasked the Postmaster-General (1) for what purpose it is intended to impose controlling conditions on pay television experiments; what form such conditions will take; and how he intends to select the commercial companies to whom the conduct of pay television experiments will be allocated;
(2) what conditions he proposes to impose on pay television experiments to safeguard the interests of other entertainment proprietors in the selected areas;
136W(3) when he will be making a further announcement in regard to the participation by interested organisations in pay television experiments.
§ Mr. BevinsTelevision services in this country are under the control of public organisations. I do not think it would be appropriate to set up any permanent organisation for an experiment and the necessary supervision will be effected through conditions in the licence issued to operators. I am considering the conditions. The selection of operators must await receipt of applications following an announcement which we shall shortly be making. I shall look for expertise, suitability for the job, and financial soundness.
§ Mr. Masonasked the Postmaster General if he will name the members of the Advisory Group which will control pay television experiments; and whether he has received any request for representation on the Group.
§ Mr. BevinsI have received one request to participate in any representative committee appointed. I intend the Group to be a normal departmental one which might include one or two outside experts in say market research.
§ Mr. Masonasked the Postmaster General, whether he has received any evidence of public demand for pay television from persons who are not directly or indirectly interested in its promotion.
§ Mr. BevinsNewspaper comment has indicated some interest, but I should not expect a direct demand from the public to manifest itself. The service is one for offer to subscribers, and I hope that the experiment will show if there is a significant demand.