§ Andrew SelousTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport which areas of the South-West Bedfordshire constituency are unable to receive Freeview; and when she expects all areas in the constituency to be able to receive this service. [188246]
§ Estelle MorrisOfcom do not hold data on Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) coverage in individual constituencies. However, according to Ofcom, Freeview coverage in South-West Bedfordshire is patchy, with coverage from both the Oxford and Sandy Heath Transmitters.
At present around 73 per cent. of UK households can access DTT services, but the Government are committed to ensuring that at Switchover everyone who can currently get the main public service broadcasting channels in analogue form (BBC 1 and 2, ITV, Channel 4/S4C and Channel 5) can receive them on digital systems.
Much progress has been made in the discussions between the Government, Ofcom and the Public Service Broadcasters and while the broadcasters have not reached a full consensus on the optimum timetable, some—including the BBC—have suggested that 2012 may be the most appropriate date for the completion of Switchover.