By silicon.com, 9 August 2004 18:00
NEWS 09.08.99: The BBC is being attacked by commercial broadcasters and digital TV vendors over its plans to charge digital television subscribers an extra £24 per year.
Describing it as a "digital poll tax" BSkyB, Cable & Wireless, Carlton, Granada, ITV, NTL, Pace, Telewest and United Broadcasting Entertainment have appointed an unnamed law firm to deal with the planned approach to the EU regarding rules on state aid.
A spokesman for the companies explained that last week's publication of the Davies committee report into the future funding of the BBC could "discourage people using digital TV". He added: "It's putting money straight into the BBC's pocket."
09.08.04: The BBC, through its Freeview joint venture, was first to start picking up the pieces of the shattered digital terrestrial revolution after the ITV Digital fiasco. Though there is no additional charge for Freeview, bar the one-off fee of the set-top box.
The move injected fresh momentum into the move away from the analogue signal, though more will still be needed if the plan to switch off the current signal altogether by 2010.
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1. Lee reynolds
I really think that Sky, ntl etc should refuse to broadcast BBC if they go ahead with the charge increase, i mean after all we wont be losing alot. Its about time the Beeb scrapped the license and broadcast adverts like every other channel