§ Lord Pestonasked Her Majesty's Government:
What were the obligations imposed on Channel 5 with respect to the retuning of video recorders and how far these obligations have been met.
§ Lord McIntosh of HaringeyUnder the terms of its licence from the Independent Television Commission (ITC), Channel 5 Broadcasting Ltd. was required to retune or otherwise modify, without cost to the viewer, video recorders and any other domestic equipment liable to interference from the transmission of Channel 5. The ITC determined that the Channel 5 service could not be broadcast in the areas where equipment was liable to such interference until at least 90 per cent. of the homes at risk from interference had been dealt with. On 13 March, the commission announced that it was satisfied, after independent verification, that Channel 5 had met the 90 per cent. target for the first nine specified80WA transmitter areas and could therefore start broadcasting. A further nine transmitter areas were brought into service progressively between July and September, again only after the ITC was satisfied that the 90 per cent. target had been met.
The liability of Channel 5 Broadcasting Ltd. to retune or otherwise modify domestic equipment suffering interference from Channel 5 services is limited to three months from the start of transmissions. For the original nine transmitter areas specified by the ITC, Channel 5's obligations have ceased. Channel 5's obligations for the most recent transmitter areas will end on 28 December.