§ Mr. WeirTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions she has had with the management of Channel 5 television as to the feasibility of extending the range of their analogue television service since the collapse of ITV Digital. [57940]
§ Dr. HowellsI had no specific discussions on this topic with the management of Channel 5 television. The priority for the use of scarce frequency channels is to develop digital terrestrial television across the UK, including 355W digital Channel 5, rather than to extend analogue Channel 5 services. Therefore the multiplexes used by ITV Digital have been re-advertised by the ITC.
§ Mr. WeirTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what percentage of the(a) population and (b) land mass of (i) Scotland, (ii) Wales, (iii) Northern Ireland and (iv) England are able to receive Channel 5 television by means of the analogue signal. [57941]
§ Dr. HowellsThe information is not available in the form requested. The Independent Television Commission advise that analogue Channel 5 services are transmitted from 50 transmitters across the UK of which: 11 are located in Scotland; three in Wales; two in Northern Ireland and 34 in England. These transmitters provide coverage to 80 per cent. of the UK population. Coverage details can be found on Channel 5's website at www.channel5.co.uk.