BBC TRUST FREESAT CONCLUSION.

AS REPORTED BY THE BBC TRUST IN APRIL 2007.

Sample of comments from respondents who believe the proposal will notminimise impact on the market
“No it does not; the whole marketing and installation etc should be undertaken and
controlled by the BBC”
Question 10 – Is it appropriate for the Trust to impose conditions to prevent
licence fee money benefiting other participants in the proposed joint venture
and to ensure appropriate separation between Freeview and "Freesat"?
Of the 516 responses to question 10, 79% consider it appropriate for the Trust to impose
conditions to prevent licence fee money benefiting other participants in the proposed joint
venture and to ensure appropriate separation between Freeview and ‘Freesat’, while 21% do
not.

Should there be separation between "Freesat" and
Freeview?
Yes79%
No21%
YesNo
This view is less prevalent among responses from organisations, where only 69% of
respondents believe that the Trust should impose such conditions.

Should there be separation between "Freesat" and Freeview?. 79% said "Yes" and 21% said "No".
"The Trust should impose conditions to separate Freeview from "Fresat"". Those agrreing were 79% of individuals, 79% categorised as "other", 79% overall and 69% of organisations. Sample of comments from respondents who believe the Trust should impose
these conditions
“Yes, other participants should pay their fair share of any costs in the joint venture.”
“Yes. Licence fee money should go to providing programming and digital services. It should
be accountable for. It should not be used to help other partners develop technology and
services which will not be available to the freesat viewer. Also some services may be
available on freesat but not on freeview and vice versa. Therefore these should be kept
separate too.”
“Yes, the licence fee should not be used as a profit vehicle for allied companies involved inthe JV.”
“License fee money should only be used for the betterment of this service. Other
participants will see the obvious benefits without needing license fee money.”
“Yes - whilst the government and the BBC insisted on taxing television the licence fee
money should not profit other organisations. The licence fee money should be used purely
for distribution and channel content”
“It is, taxpayers/licence fees should not be used or available to private companies.”
“This is appropriate; there would be ample opportunity for the third-parties to make the
venture into a profitable one themselves.”
“Yes absolutely. The license fee money should only benefit the BBC not any joint venture
partners.”