§ Nick HarveyTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many and what proportion of homes in North Devon, and what proportion of total geographical area in North Devon, were unable to receive(a) digital terrestrial, (b) digital satellite, (c) cable and (d) none of those television signals in each of the past seven years; and if she will make a statement. [51776]
§ Dr. HowellsThe information can be provided only in the form requested at disproportionate cost. However, estimates of coverage of digital television services in North Devon, provided by the Independent Television Commission are as follows:
- (i) digital terrestrial: approximately 46,000 viewers in North Devon can receive BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5 services from the Huntshaw Cross transmitter. 42,000 of whom are able to receive all digital terrestrial services;
- (ii) digital satellite: UK coverage is around 98 per cent. of the population; and
- (iii) cable services: these are not available in the North Devon area.
§ Nick HarveyTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many homes are unable to receive analogue television signals in north Devon; and if she will make a statement. [51777]
§ Dr. HowellsI understand from the Independent Television Commission (ITC) that around 2,000 homes in north Devon may experience difficulty in receiving good quality analogue signals. However, the ITC also advise that, depending on the quality of individual aerial installations, reception is often possible in areas where signal strengths are low, though a degradation in picture quality may be noticeable.
§ Nick HarveyTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans she has to improve(a) television and (b) radio reception in north Devon; and if she will make a statement. [51778]
§ Dr. HowellsThe provision of television and radio services in the UK is a matter for the BBC, the Independent Television Commission, the Radio Authority and the commercial broadcasters to determine, subject to spectrum availability.