Appendix B

Methods of access – Broadcast Digital TV

Broadcast Digital TV is available to most households in the UK via one or more of the following delivery mechanisms. But not all TV channels are available through all the methods.

Satellite

Satellite digital TV is available by connecting a set-top box to an existing TV and a satellite receiver pointing towards a satellite that transmits digital TV programmes. For most people in the UK this involves subscribing to Sky Digital TV services, which also include access to the Open interactive services. Normally subscribers receive a free set-top box, receiver and free installation.

The interactive services are available through Open – which is owned by a consortium of major companies. Interactive services are only available within a walled garden and consist of interactive shopping Email, but not access to the Internet. However, there may be moves in this direction as the application programme interface in the Sky Digital set-top boxes is OpenTV and OpenTV appear to be wanting to make its proprietary interactive software Internet-compliant (1) and have linked with WorldGate Communications to supply the software (2). Also a new Sky Digital service – the Medical Channel due to start mid 2000 will offer Internet access as part of their interactive services (3).

Cable

There are now really only two operators of cable TV in the UK – Telewest and NTL. Telewest has launched broadcast TV digital services in October 1999 (4) and is now also offering various interactive services including home shopping, home banking and interactive games (5). NTL started offering Digital TV services in May 2000 and plans to offer interactive services from July 2000 (6).

Terrestrial

The UK was the first country in the world to provide digital terrestrial broadcasts, which started with OnDigital in November 1998. It is planning to have its second-generation set-top box ready by mid 2001, which will have an integrated hard disk and is considering boosting its existing digital terrestrial broadcasts with ADSL services delivered into the new set-top box via an ethernet interface (7). OnDigital also plans to provide to provide full Internet access later this year(8) . NTL have plans to also start a service probably during 2001.

The system uses an existing aerial, which has to be connected to the set-top box. The set-top box may be also connected to a telephone line to provide a return channel for interactive services. S4C Digital Networks Ltd (SDN), a company in which NTL, S4C and United News and Media hold equal shares also broadcast the Wales channel S4C. S4C are working closing with the Wales Digital College Network with a view to developing interactive learning services.

Instead of using an existing telephone line, serious consideration is now being given to the concept of a cell-based return channel, using techniques similar to GSM structures (29).

References

(1) article “Spyglass merger as OpenTV goes Web” Inside Digitaltv vol 3 No. 7 3 April 2000
(2) Worldgate Communications press release “WorldGate Service Available on OpenTV-Enabled Digital Set Tops” 13 December 1999
(3) Further details at http://www.themedicalchannel.co.uk/
(4) Telewest press release “Telewest Unveils Digital TV Service” 21 October 1999″
(5) Telewest press release “Telewest signs up New Brands For Interactive TV” 18 May 2000
(6) NTL Press release “NTL announces roll-out of its digital cable services and reaffirms imminent CWC Consumer Co closing” 4 May 2000
(7) Article “More viewers and more IDTVs for UK DTT” Digitag Newsletter May 2000
(8) OnDigital Press Release “Internet through the TV for the many, not just the few” 30 March 2000
(9) Article “Added Value Services for DTT” Digitag Newsletter May 2000