The meeting will focus on the BBC's proposals to develop what it is calling an "adapter", a set-top box that will be a fraction of the size of the digital set-top boxes used by Sky, the cable companies and ITV Digital. The adapter will allow UK homes not yet signed up for digital services to receive free digital TV channels alongside the terrestrial channels.
The adapter is expected to retail at no more than £150 each and will carry 20 free channels -- including the BBC's proposed channels, BBC3 and BBC4, and ITV2 -- before the analogue switch-off and another 20 afterwards.
Sky is said to be considering developing a Sky-branded channel to capitalise on promotional opportunities, and UKTV, the BBC's joint venture with Telewest content subsidiary Flextech, may give its channels, including Play UK and UK Gold, to the platform.
Yesterday, it was revealed that several European manufacturers were beginning to work on plans for low-cost set-top boxes to receive the free-to-air digital TV channels.
Irish company Novapal and Turkish TV maker Vestel Cabot have confirmed they are working on launching free-to-air digital receivers -- which could retail at £100 -- by the middle of next year.
Pace Microelectronics and French set-top box maker Netgem are working on more sophisticated boxes. Pace wants to offer one that could be upgraded to receive subscription channels and Netgem is working on a box that could provide access to the internet via the TV.
If you have an opinion on this or any other issue raised on Brand
Republic, join the debate in the .
_1.jpg)
.jpg)
