Ofcom grants BBC restrictions on HD
June 15, 2010
Ofcom has agreed to allow the BBC to restrict access to the EPG for Freeview HD programming. The BBC plans to restrict access to manufacturers of STBs and integrated Freeview HD TV’s that include copy protection technology. This technology will allow broadcasters to control the multiple copying of HD content and its retransmission over the Internet.
Freeview HD is being rolled out in line with the existing digital switchover schedule and will eventually be available to 98.5% of UK households by the end of 2012.
In response to a public consultation on this issue, the BBC, ITV and Channel 4 provided evidence that without a content management framework in place the range of HD content available on the Digital Terrestrial TV (DTT) platform – in particular high value film and drama content – would be compromised.