BBC TRUST FREESAT CONCLUSION.

AS REPORTED BY THE BBC TRUST IN APRIL 2007.

Bar graph showing the following number of respondent who said that current access is not acceptable:
Northern Ireland:80%; Wales: 74%; Scotland: 67%; Overall: 62%; England: 62%; No location: 57%.Sample of comments from those who considered access unacceptable“Access to digital services is often only available via a cable or satellite provider. This is the
case where I live and I do not like having to pay extra to receive a public service.”
“From a licence fee payers view point - unacceptable at the moment. From a technical
executive standpoint in the broadcast industry - a fairly good job has been done so far -
given the technical constraints of terrestrial transmission.”
“No the current digital services aren't acceptable. Freeview coverage is still too patchy and
signal strength/quality is poor in a lot of areas.”
“Current access to the BBC's digital services is not acceptable because to receive digital
services in areas where Freeview is unavailable (e.g. costal areas) or where cable is
unavailable or service quality is unacceptable, the user is restricted to the services offered
through the Sky monopoly.”
“Access to digital services only becomes acceptable when everyone who can currently
access analogue is able to access digital, which I don't think is the case currently. This is
especially important in this situation, where the changeover isn't optional for the viewer.”
“The BBC's current digital service is not available to a large number of rural viewers in
particular, due to the terrain blocking the line of sight signal. Even when the signal strength is
increased this situation will remain.”
Sample of comments from those who considered access acceptable“Access to current services is acceptable (speaking for my area)”
“The current freeview option seems more than adequate access to the BBC's digital
services. DAB radio is also covered, thus the only potential area to be opened up is that of
internet TV.”