Prime Minister Tony Blair

Digital TV switch 'right for Britain' - Tony Blair

Bosses from the major British broadcasters gathered for a breakfast meeting in Downing Street yesterday to discuss the digital TV switchover.

Prime Minister Tony Blair, hosting the summit alongside Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell, thanked them all for the progress that has been made in switching the UK from analogue to digital television. Ms Jowell revealed this week that 70 per cent of UK households had already made the move.

Mr Blair said: "Digital switchover is the right policy for Britain and we are delighted that it has the support of the industry. A great deal of progress has been made so far, but it is vital that we continue to work together."

Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell

The Prime Minister wants communication of the change to be "very clear", with plenty of help for vulnerable groups of people. The switchover will begin in the ITV Border region in 2008 and finish in London in 2012. Some viewers in rural areas will not be able to pick up the signal until the analogue one has been switched off.

Those attending the summit included BBC chairman Michael Grade, Sky chief executive, James Murdoch, Channel 4 chief, Andy Duncan and Channel Five's Jane Lighting.

Representatives from the retail and consumer electronics industries were also there.

Source: Media Network, Downing Street press office

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