§ Mr. Masonasked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that many television sets receive British Broadcasting Corporation and Independent Television Authority transmission without outside aerials; and if he will order a study of the clarity of reception within different areas, with a view to discovering the grey and bright reception districts when sets are used with and without outside aerials, respectively.
§ Mr. BevinsSatisfactory reception of Very High Frequency television signals on indoor aerials is possible at favoured sites, that is, where the viewer is sufficiently close to the transmitter and the signals have an unobstructed path to the receiving aerial. There are many instances, however, where viewers using 147W indoor aerials tolerate a less than satisfactory picture. As I told the hon. Member on 16th July, the introduction of UHF transmissions will increase the need for outdoor aerials.
I do not think that the study referred to in the latter part of the Question is necessary since any competent radio dealer would be able to advise on the different kinds of aerials needed in his area.
§ Mr. Masonasked the Postmaster-General if he will direct his research department to carry out tests of television reception with a variety of indoor television aerials with a view to making recommendations on the type that may be best adopted in areas where it is suitable.
§ Mr. BevinsThe design of domestic receiving aerials and the recommending of which types to use are not matters for my Department. Television reception varies so widely in any given area that I do not think it would be practicable to make recommendations of the kind the hon. Member has in mind.
§ Mr. Masonasked the Postmaster-General if he will ascertain the views of television manufacturers on the design of sets to receive colour pictures without having an outside aerial.
§ Mr. BevinsNo. All I have said about the need for outdoor aerials for satisfactory television reception applies with equal if not more force to the reception of colour television.