Minister appears before digital switchover inquiry
10 February 2010 (updated on 22 April 2010)
Siôn Simon MP, Minister for Creative Industries, is among the witnesses appearing before the House of Lords Communications Committee as its inquiry into the progress of, and prospects for, digital switchover of television and radio in the UK continues at 10.30 am
Witnesses
10.30am
- Alison Hopkins, Principal Policy Advocate, Consumer Focus
- Tim Leech, Chief Executive, Wireless for the Bedridden
- Leen Petré, Principal Manager: Media and Culture, Royal National Institute of Blind People, and Chairman of the Consumer Expert Group on Digital Switchover
- Sarah Shannon, Regional Adviser (Services) - North West, Age Concern and Help the Aged
11.30am
- Siôn Simon MP, Minister for Creative Industries
- Keith Smith, Deputy Director - Media in the UK, Department for Culture, Media and Sport
The Digital Switchover Programme, announced in 2005, will replace the UK's existing analogue television network with a fully digital television network between 2008 and 2012. The Committee are seeking evidence that will enable them to make an interim assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of the switchover process, the Digital Switchover Help Scheme and how effective the public communications campaign has been.
The inquiry will also cover the development of arrangements for Digital Switchover for radio, including outstanding technical issues and the views of UK broadcasters and consumers.