§ Mr. Llew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what proportion of television viewers in Wales have access to Channel 4 television; and what plans he has to increase the availability of Channel 4 in Wales; [121930]
(2) what proposals he has to increase the availability of Channel 5 in Wales, other than via pay-for-access satellite; [121928]
(3) if he will make a statement on the availability of Channel 4 in Wales following the implementation of digital television. [121929]
§ Janet AndersonThe priority for the use of scarce frequency channels is to develop digital terrestrial television across the UK, rather than to extend analogue Channel 5 services.
78WThe Welsh transmitters broadcast analogue S4C, instead of Channel 4, so only the 40 per cent. or so of Welsh viewers who can receive signals from English terrestrial transmitters can obtain terrestrial analogue Channel 4. The introduction of digital television has improved the availability of Channel 4 in Wales, since it can be broadcast alongside S4C from Welsh transmitters.
The Government will ensure that all consumers in Wales who presently receive analogue television will be able to receive the main free-to-air channels digitally, before the analogue transmissions are fully switched to digital.