DTVE: the week in view - Ofcom’s ‘nightlight’ DTT looks like a fair bet for the future of TV
Digital TV Europe
Covering new content and distribution platforms, technology and the business of payTV and broadband.
Ofcom’s report on ‘Future of TV Distribution’ in the UK sets out options for a DTT switch-off investment in a next-gen DTT platform that is more efficient, or reduction of DTT to a core service, called a ‘nightlight’. With consumer behaviour looking like the biggest challenge to a full streaming migration, nightlight seems a fair bet, writes John Moulding.
The long-term future for broadcasting was placed firmly into the spotlight this month when the UK regulator Ofcom published its landmark report, ‘Future of TV distribution’ to kick-start a coordinated migration to what will become the next chapter in free-to-air television for the country. It outlines three possibilities, all of which assume vast amounts of streaming TV over broadband but only one of which leads directly to a full shut-down of the digital terrestrial network.
Besides broadcast switch-off, there is the option for a reduced ‘nightlight’ DTT service which would provide a minimum offer, like only the main public service channels. The third option is to invest in the continuation of a full DTT platform that is more efficient and therefore cheaper to operate for broadcasters.
Also this week