Brit digital TV decoders may get gov't boost
The intention is to speed the transition from analog TV to digital in the U.K. over the next few years. Terrestrial and satellite broadcasters and the cable industry would welcome government assistance as they prepare to go digital.
Chris Smith, secretary of state for culture, media & sport, made the announcement at the Royal Television Society's convention in Cambridge. Smith said he wants "to ensure universal access to the current free-to-air public service channels and wants that access as soon as possible to be through digital services."
Although the government's plans are not yet specific, any direct or indirect subsidization of the move to digital would be controversial, as public money would be used to finance the private sector, such as the digital terrestrial consortium British Digital Broadcasting, the company owned by the ITV network companies Carlton and Granada.
The non-subsidized cost of a decoder set-top box is estimated at about $600, but digital broadcasters are likely to subsidize the price to the consumer.
