-BBC outlines digital future.

(From DMEurope)

DMEUROPE-30 June 2004-BBC outlines digital future (C)2004 DMeurope.com (http://www.dmeurope.com) & DME Ltd. All rights reserved. The UK state broadcaster, the BBC, yesterday outlined its vision of how it should operate and its role in British society advance of the upcoming review of its Royal Charter. The charter describes the broadcaster's aims, objectives and functions and is up for government renewal at the end of next year. As part of the self-described 'radical' manifesto for the future of the BBC, the corporation's director general, Mark Thompson, and chairman, Michael Grade, unveiled a nine-point plan laying out the priorities for BBC, highlighting in particular its role in Britain's digital development. Mr Thompson underlined the important role the BBC had to play in the delivery of digital TV, radio and internet services. "Creating a fully digital Britain is a public challenge the BBC must help to lead. It is a Britain from which the BBC, and only the BBC, can ensure no-one is excluded,' he said, adding that the country should be ready for complete switch-over to digital by 2012 - two years later than the government's proposed switch-over date. As a not-for-profit institution, the BBC says it can play a powerful role in enabling the less affluent and digitally adept to make the most of new technologies, ensuring no one gets left behind. The BBC said it will work with others to create a free digital satellite service, offering a broader range of channels and interactivity than DTT can currently support, and able to reach those households who will not be able to receive DTT. A free satellite offering will bring digital television access to the 27 per cent of homes currently outside DTT coverage (approximately 4m people have already contacted the BBC or Freeview to be told they are out of coverage). It also provides an alternative for those homes that need an aerial upgrade to receive DTT. The corporation is also considering a number of alternatives to achieve this, including working with BSkyB who have recently also announced their ambition to develop a free-to-view satellite proposition. The manifesto also says that the BBC will increase support for the roll-out and take-up of digital radio, and that it will invest in its DAB ...