Digital UK is a British television communications company owned by the BBC (1922), ITV (1955), Channel 4 (1982) and Channel 5 (1997) which supports Freeview viewers and channels. It provides information about receiving terrestrial TV and advice on reception and equipment. The company also handles day-to-day technical management of the Freeview Electronic Programme Guide (EPG), allocates channel numbers and manages the launch of new services and multiplexes onto the platform. Digital UK has been licensed by Ofcom as an EPG provider.
In 2015 Digital UK and Freeview developed Freeview Play, a connected TV service offering both live linear TV and on-demand content, including a range of popular catch-up players. The service is available on both TVs and set-top boxes and is now widely supported by more than 20 manufacturer brands.[1][2]
Digital UK leads development of the Freeview Play product specification which is based on open standards, working with manufacturers and industry bodies.
From 2008 to 2012, Digital UK led the implementation of digital TV switchover and oversaw the clearance of terrestrial TV services from the 800 MHz band of spectrum to prepare for the launch of 4G mobile broadband services.
Digital UK was formed on 13 April 2005 as SwitchCo,[3] adopting its present name five months later. It is based in Mortimer Street in Fitzrovia, London.
The company completed the first pilot digital switchover in Whitehaven, Cumbria in 2007, and the last switchover was completed in Northern Ireland on 24 October 2012.[4]
In July 2021 Digital UK acquired Freesat the free to air satellite television platform, from the BBC and ITV and formally merged into Digital UK.[5][6]
In December 2021, Channel 5 joined the venture, marking it as "the first time that the venture has been wholly owned by all four PSBs".[7]
Digital Switchover banner in Porthmadog, Wales, as seen in September 2009.
Digital UK was responsible for explaining the switchover from analogue to digital television broadcasting to the public and provided information to consumers through a website and a telephone helpline.
Transmitter work
One of the main reasons for switchover was to allow reception of digitals signals through normal aerials and digital terrestrial television, usually known in the UK as Freeview.
Before switchover began, around one quarter of the UK public could not receive Freeview, because the digital signal was broadcast at low power in order not to interfere with analogue television. By switching the analogue signal off, it became possible to increase Freeview coverage. When switchover was completed, 98.5% of UK homes were able to receive the service.[citation needed]
Extending Freeview involved re-engineering work at 1,150 transmitter sites across the country between 2008 and 2012. Digital UK was responsible for co-ordinating this work, which was carried out region by region.[citation needed]
Suppliers
Digital UK also worked with electrical manufacturers and retailers and promoted the 'digital tick' logo, a certification mark for the public that identifies TV equipment in stores that will work before, during and after digital switchover.[citation needed]
Switchover Help Scheme
Digital UK worked alongside the BBC-run Switchover Help Scheme, which helped older and disabled people convert one of their sets to digital.[citation needed]
Previous shareholders
Until March 2021, Arqiva was a shareholder of Digital UK, but was asked to stand down by the other shareholders at the time.[8] Arqiva subsequently went through a process of restructuring.[9]
^"Digital UK shareholder update". Arqiva. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
^Bevir, George. "Arqiva confirms restructure and redundancies". IBC. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
External links
Official website
January 20, 2023
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Digital UK is a British television communications company owned by the BBC 1922 ITV 1955 Channel 4 1982 and Channel 5 1997 which supports Freeview viewers and channels It provides information about receiving terrestrial TV and advice on reception and equipment The company also handles day to day technical management of the Freeview Electronic Programme Guide EPG allocates channel numbers and manages the launch of new services and multiplexes onto the platform Digital UK has been licensed by Ofcom as an EPG provider Digital UKFormation13 April 2005TypeCompany limited by guaranteePurposeSupports Freeview viewers and channelsHeadquartersDigital UK Riverbank House 2 Swan Lane London EC4R 3TTRegion servedUnited KingdomOfficial languageEnglish WelshKey peopleCaroline Thomson ChairmanJonathan Thompson Chief ExecutiveParent organizationBBC ITV Channel 4 Channel 5Websitefreeview wbr co wbr uk wbr corporateIn 2015 Digital UK and Freeview developed Freeview Play a connected TV service offering both live linear TV and on demand content including a range of popular catch up players The service is available on both TVs and set top boxes and is now widely supported by more than 20 manufacturer brands 1 2 Digital UK leads development of the Freeview Play product specification which is based on open standards working with manufacturers and industry bodies From 2008 to 2012 Digital UK led the implementation of digital TV switchover and oversaw the clearance of terrestrial TV services from the 800 MHz band of spectrum to prepare for the launch of 4G mobile broadband services Digital UK was formed on 13 April 2005 as SwitchCo 3 adopting its present name five months later It is based in Mortimer Street in Fitzrovia London The company completed the first pilot digital switchover in Whitehaven Cumbria in 2007 and the last switchover was completed in Northern Ireland on 24 October 2012 4 In July 2021 Digital UK acquired Freesat the free to air satellite television platform from the BBC and ITV and formally merged into Digital UK 5 6 In December 2021 Channel 5 joined the venture marking it as the first time that the venture has been wholly owned by all four PSBs 7 Contents 1 Duties 1 1 Switchover communication 1 2 Transmitter work 1 3 Suppliers 1 4 Switchover Help Scheme 2 Previous shareholders 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksDuties EditSwitchover communication Edit Digital Switchover banner in Porthmadog Wales as seen in September 2009 Digital UK was responsible for explaining the switchover from analogue to digital television broadcasting to the public and provided information to consumers through a website and a telephone helpline Transmitter work Edit One of the main reasons for switchover was to allow reception of digitals signals through normal aerials and digital terrestrial television usually known in the UK as Freeview Before switchover began around one quarter of the UK public could not receive Freeview because the digital signal was broadcast at low power in order not to interfere with analogue television By switching the analogue signal off it became possible to increase Freeview coverage When switchover was completed 98 5 of UK homes were able to receive the service citation needed Extending Freeview involved re engineering work at 1 150 transmitter sites across the country between 2008 and 2012 Digital UK was responsible for co ordinating this work which was carried out region by region citation needed Suppliers Edit Digital UK also worked with electrical manufacturers and retailers and promoted the digital tick logo a certification mark for the public that identifies TV equipment in stores that will work before during and after digital switchover citation needed Switchover Help Scheme Edit Digital UK worked alongside the BBC run Switchover Help Scheme which helped older and disabled people convert one of their sets to digital citation needed Previous shareholders EditUntil March 2021 Arqiva was a shareholder of Digital UK but was asked to stand down by the other shareholders at the time 8 Arqiva subsequently went through a process of restructuring 9 See also EditDigital switchover dates in the United Kingdom Digital switchover Department for Business Innovation and Skills Department for Culture Media and Sport OfcomReferences Edit About us Freeview co uk Retrieved 21 February 2022 Digital UK About Freeview Play Digitaluk co uk Industry funded SwitchCo launches today DTG 13 April 2005 Analogue TV signals to end in October 2012 BBC 14 October 2011 BBC ITV and Channel 4 announce the completion of Digital UK and Freesat s integration BBC Media Centre 8 July 2021 UK TV Earthquake Freeview And Freesat Become One Company by Or Goren Cord Busters July 8 2021 Channel 5 joins Digital UK Freeview co uk Digital UK shareholder update Arqiva Retrieved 4 June 2021 Bevir George Arqiva confirms restructure and redundancies IBC Retrieved 4 June 2021 External links EditOfficial website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Digital UK amp oldid 1133009158, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
