Ofcom lifts Freeview restrictions

by Robin Parker, Media Week 19-Apr-06, 12:16

Ofcom has given the go-ahead for pay TV channels to be broadcast on Freeview.

The regulator today announced moves to deregulate existing restrictions on digital terrestrial television (DTT) that have been in place since 2002.
Freeview is transmitted on television multiplexes licensed by Ofcom under the Broadcasting Act 1996, three of which state that all channels must be free-to-air.

Ofcom said the decision to lift the restriction was influenced by the rapid development of DTT, which is now in more than a third of the 18 million UK households that can access digital television on a variety of platforms.

It said that finding the right balance between pay and free-to-air services on the platform was better left to the market.
Public service broadcasting channels from the BBC, ITV,
Channel 4, Five, S4C and Public Teletext remain free-to-air.