Television Services (Hansard, 20 May 1980)

§ Mr. Whitelaw

The 405-line VHF television services of the BBC and the IBA transmit BBC-1 and ITV in black and white only and are now substantially duplicated by the 625-line UHF services which transmit BBC-1, BBC-2 and ITV in colour, and which will in due course transmit the fourth channel service. Phase II of the current UHF engineering programme for extending the 625-line services to communities with populations of 500 or more—over 99 per cent. of the population—should be completed by about 1984.

Closure of the 405-line services

The need to close the 405-line services in the early 1980s was recognised by the Pilkington committee and the Annan committee on the future of broadcasting. The manufacture of sets capable of receiving the 405-line services ceased some years ago and the transmitting equipment is rapidly nearing the end of its useful life. Substantial capital expenditure would be required to extend its life beyond the next few years and such expenditure on a duplicate and obsolescent service could not be justified.

I have, therefore, agreed with the broadcasting authorities on a timetable for the closure of the 405-line services. Closure 94W will begin in 1982 and will be phased over a period of about four years. The BBC and the IBA will aim to end their services in particular parts of the country together, subject to differences in the two authorities' transmitter networks. The closures will be carefully phased to minimise any inconvenience to the remaining 405-line viewers. The firm intention is that transmitters serving significant areas not covered by UHF 625-line services will not be closed down until towards the end of the period, after the phase II UHF provision in the area is available, although this cannot be completely guaranteed in every place. The broadcasting authorities will consult closely with my Department about the programme of closures as it is developed with this objective in mind. Wherever possible they will give about two years notice to the public in the affected areas and every effort will be made to ensure that wide publicity is given. They will also offer advice on alternative means of reception to those affected.

Extension of the 625-line services

The broadcasting authorities estimate that up to about 90,000 people will remain without a usable service at the end of the phase II UHF engineering programme. A further 200,000 people will not be served to the strict technical standards used by the broadcasting authorities, though most of these should be able to receive programmes to a standard at least as good as that of any 405-line monochrome service in the areas concerned.

I fully recognise the importance of television to small communities and, in view of the need to close the 405-line services, the broadcasting authorities and the Home Office have been studying ways of extending 625-line coverage. I have now given my approval to proposals to extend UHF coverage to groups of less than 500 wherever it is reasonably practicable for this to be done. The broadcasting authorities will direct this phase III of the UHF programme towards groups which are totally unserved by the 625-line services and will give special consideration to those which will lose their 405-line services. Because of the 95W varied nature of these small groups there can be no obligation on the BBC and the IBA to provide a service to them and a precise lower limit cannot be specified, but in practice groups of fewer than 200 are unlikely to benefit. This further programme will be phased over several years and it will be built up as the current programme tails off. It will not cause any delays to the current phase II programme or to the engineering programme for the fourth channel service.

In addition, I have agreed to new procedures for licensing groups which prove to be too small to benefit from the phase III programme and which wish to provide a small relay at their own expense, where this is technically possible and where the provision of a wired distribution system is not practicable or economic. The broadcasting authorities will give assistance to such groups in drawing up proposals which will be considered by the joint television planning group of the Home Office, the BBC and the IBA. Before the proposed transmitter is licensed by the Home Office, the broadcasting authorities will carry out a check to ensure that it will not cause interference to the reception of existing or planned stations. Although every assistance will be given in dealing with these proposals, the rate at which they can be introduced will inevitably be governed by the availability of resources within the broadcasting authorities and the Home Office.

I believe that the proposals for a phase III of the UHF programme and for licensing self-help schemes which I am announcing today will, over time, have a significant effect in reducing the numbers of people who will be left without a useable service though it will never be possible to provide 100 per cent. coverage.

Where to get advice

The BBC and the IBA will shortly announce the details of the first year of the closure programme for the 405-line services. Viewers who want advice on alternative means of reception should approach either the BBC Engineering Information Department, Broadcasting House, London W1A 1AA or the IBA Engineering Information Service, Crawley Court, Winchester, Hants. S021 2QA.

96W

Identification of 405-line receivers

Viewers who have monochrome receivers and who are unsure whether their receiver is to 625-line or 405-line standard should check whether it can receive BBC-2. If it cannot and it carries no labels indicating BBC-2 or UHF it is probably a 405-line receiver.