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Tommy Broughan on digital broadcasting

Labour Party spokesperson on communications, Tommy Broughan, has challenged the Minister for communications to set a date for the turning off of analogue broadcasting signals – particularly, it seems, television signals. The press release follows below the break.

Labour Party Spokesperson on Communications, Deputy Tommy Broughan, has accused Minister Noel Dempsey of being “evasive and complacent, and of dragging his heels on digital broadcasting.” Deputy Broughan was commenting following a series of questions he put to the Minister on the future of digital broadcasting in Ireland.
Deputy Broughan commented, “Last week I specifically the Minister if a date would be set by the Government in line with other EU states for the analogue switch-off, and the likely impact on Ireland and RTE of decisions already taken on digital broadcasting in the U.K.
“I was informed by the Minister that he was merely ‘examining the proposed digital terrestrial platform’ and that specific analogue switch-off dates are only being considered at present. This issue has become increasingly important since the BBC decided to disengage from the BSkyB satellite platform in June 2003 and changing to a Free-Sat service, whereby Digital Terrestrial Television customers can now receive the free-to-air channels for a once-off fee.
“The British Government has indicated that the analogue TV signal could be switched off as early as 2006 and that the process could be completed by 2010. They have also commissioned a comprehensive report on the digital switchover from the communications regulator OFCOM. The German capital, Berlin, successfully switched off it’s analogue signal in 2003 and the rest of Germany and many other EU countries are following its lead.
“Yet, Ireland has been extremely slow in this area in comparison to our European neighbours. In July last year, the then Minister Dermot Ahern was reported to be considering the launch of a digital terrestrial television service carrying both Irish and UK channels. Nothing has been heard since of this initiative. Minister Dempsey seems to be even more lethargic than his predecessor and there is little debate or information from the Department on the opportunities and potential of digital broadcasting.”