Digital Downside In UK: Consumer Watchdog Warns of High Costs and Poor Quality Programming

by Dale Cripps
Friday, October 23, 1998

The Downside Of Digital?

More Choice ... But Less Quality?

Instead of wider choice, digital television could bring high costs and poor quality programmes, according to a consumer watchdog.

The National Consumer Council warns that without careful government handling, viewers will be offered hundreds of channels showing repeats and old films rather than new or original programmes.

The report says there are risks that the new broadcasting system will dilute standards and prove too expensive for many customers.

The organisation has urged the government to wait at least 15 years before switching off the current analogue signals.

NCC director Ruth Evans said: "Not only are there doubts about cost and accessibility there is also no guarantee that the new services will deliver quality programmes.

"While there will be many more channels to pick from we do not know whether there will be real choice and diversity in terms of programming."

She warned that digital TV, which launched in the UK earlier this month, could lead to hundreds of channels showing repeats and films while new or original programmes became increasingly rare.
"Digital TV will certainly change things but only time will tell if the changes are what consumers want," she said.

She called on the government to delay the switch-off of analogue broadcasting for at least 15 years and pointed out that replacing old TV sets and investing in new technology could be costly and an option that may not be instantly available to all.

"It's not just a question of the cost of the digital service - there's also the fact that once analogue is switched off old TVs and videos which consumers have invested in will become useless without extra gadgets."

The report, called TV's Last Wave, also urges the government to review the analogue switch-off in seven years and consider whether it needs to be delayed even further.

The NCC says it would be wrong to end analogue broadcasting without first consulting consumers.

The council also wants analogue television equipment, both new and second-hand, to be clearly labelled to show that additional equipment will be needed to use it in future.