§ Mr. BeggsTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what percentage of the population of(a) Newtownabbey, (b) Carrickfergus and (c) Lame are able to receive Freeview digital television services. [168197]
§ Estelle MorrisAccording to BBC Freeview prediction figures, access to Freeview in Newtonabbey is approximately 10 per cent., Carrickfergus, around 80 per cent. and in Lame, very little, if any coverage is currently predicted.
For mainly technical reasons, it will not be possible to significantly increase digital terrestrial television coverage prior to digital switchover. However, the Government are committed to ensuring that everyone who can currently receive the main public service broadcasting channels in analogue form will receive them on digital systems at switchover.