The BBC may be prepared to reduce picture quality in order to get the best value out of its spectrum. The BBC Executive Board is to carry out consumer research into picture quality on the DTT system following a recommendation put forward in a Deloitte & Touche report on the BBC’s use of spectrum.
In its response to the report, the Executive outlines a series of technological improvements, due for implementation between 2007 and 2012. The BBC is currently in discussion with Ofcom over the regulators plans to reorganise DTT spectrum in order to accommodate at least four HD channels from 2009.
Although the Deloitte report covers all of the BBC’s spectrum usage, it has a particular focus on DTT. The report says that while the BBC has driven take up based in part on the robustness of the signal, the corporation should now be prepared to make appropriate trade-offs.
