§ Mr. HoyleTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many households have digital television in(a) the UK and (b) each other EU country. [100047]
§ Janet AndersonBy the end of September, BSkyB had signed up 1.8 million subscribers and ONdigital had signed up 411,000 subscribers in the UK. Information about the number of UK households which have digital television without subscribing to digital pay-tv services is not available. My Department has no readily available information on the numbers of digital television households in each EU country.
§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement on his plans for securing access to the Internet through digital television. [100136]
§ Janet Anderson[holding answer 30 November 1999]: As we take forward plans to switch analogue television transmissions over to digital, the Government will consider whether internet access might be guaranteed as part of a core package of services available to all viewers. We are also working with the industry on a public information campaign which will inform consumers about the benefits digital television has to offer; the services available, including internet access, and the equipment they will need.