§ Mr. Peter DuncanTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what proportion of Freeview is paid for by the television licence fee. [135270]
§ Estelle MorrisUnder the terms of the shareholder agreement which established Freeview (DTVS Ltd.), the BBC, BSkyB and Crown Castle each pay one third of the company's costs. These costs cover marketing and customer support for Freeview including the cost of liaising with manufacturers and retailers. In common with other broadcasters on the digital terrestrial platform, the BBC must also, separately, pay for the technical costs of broadcasting its channels, and make payments to the ITC for its multiplex licence, but these payments are not made to or through Freeview (DTVS Ltd.).