BBC awarded digital opportunity

The post-ITV digital terrestrial broadcast license had gone to the BBC and BSkyB coalition. The Corporation, working alongside Murdoch and transmission business Crown Castle, took on a second bid from the ITV companies. The independent television commission, who decided who should get the new franchise, felt the BBC bid was most likely to encourage the population to move over to digital TV – perhaps enabling the government to turn off analogue signals in 2010 as it desperately wants to do. "The commission believes that the BBC/Crown Castle application is the most likely to ensure the viability of digital terrestrial television,” UTC chairman Sir Robin Biggam told reporters: “It will target those viewers who have not been so far attracted by digital TV and will help facilitate the move towards digital switchover." The new service will contain 28 free channels, so consumers have to pay only a one-off cost of around £100 for a digital set-top box. Ex-ITV Digital customers will be able to use their existing box. The licence runs for 12 years and the service should be up and running within months, including an as yet to be confirmed music channel.